Oh, hey there!
Hi! I'm Sara, the postpartum doula behind Sunrise Doula Services. I live in Berwick, Maine with my husband and two children. I have a son and a daughter, two different babies with very different birth stories.
I wanted to become a postpartum doula because I felt a strong desire to help change the way we care for new parents. Bringing home a new family member is a major transition. When I had my son I remember leaving the hospital thinking "Wow, I get to leave with this baby? Is someone going to check on me?" and it was scary. My feelings for the unknown kept me wondering "Is this really how it goes?", because even though I was not a child myself, in that moment I felt as if I was not "old enough" to be responsible for something so precious. Fast forward 9 years, I had my daughter. While I had learned a lot in those 9 years of parenting my son, I knew it would soon be time to leave the hospital and be a new mom all over again. This time the "Is this really how it goes?" was replaced with "Is this how we STILL do it?" because there needs to be more. It's not just about "handling it", it's about handling it while feeling encouraged, supported, rested and informed. I want all new parents to feel the best they can in those new moments. I feel passionately about postpartum care and education.
A sunrise represents the start of a new day. In the first few weeks (or in my case, months) of parenthood, the days seem so short, yet the nights feel so long. I remember feeding, rocking, walking and bouncing my new babies feeling deliriously tired and I thought I might not last another minute. Then there it would be, the sun. Rising up to start a whole new day. I didn't have to wonder if I was going to make it, because I had. It was a feeling of regeneration and hope. This is how I want your postpartum journey to feel.
If you need someone to listen, I'm here. If you need someone to help navigate the unknown, I can. If you need someone to tell you you're doing great, I most definitely will, because you are. Let me be part of your sunrise.
The information on this website is intended for educational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical care or to prescribe treatment for any specific condition. Always consult a healthcare provider to determine what is appropriate for you. Doulas are not doctors and do not practice medicine nor diagnose and treat medical conditions. Information presented on this website and in conversations are not intended as a substitute for the medical advice of a licensed health care professional. Doulas do not make specific health claims or promise medical results. Doulas do provide education and guidance, pregnancy, labor, postpartum and breastfeeding support. The opinions on this website are my views and conclusions based on the research I have done, my personal experience and experiences relayed to me from friends and associates. It should never replace medical advice from your healthcare professional.