I don’t even know where to begin in describing how grateful I am for Petra and the incredible support she gave me, my husband, and our son born in April 2024. She was, in every sense of the word, the doula of our dreams. We call her our 'fairy godmother.'
We were first-time parents who truly didn’t know what we were doing. Petra walked into our home with a calm, reassuring presence that immediately made us feel safe and supported. Petra never made us feel judged or inadequate — instead, she showed us step by step how to care for our newborn, starting with the first step into our house from the hospital, and my question of, "umm, so where do I put him?".
From there, she patiently taught us all the practical skills (feeding, burping, bathing, diapering, soothing, etc.), as we had no idea what we were doing. All the books I read while pregnant did not prepare me for the real thing. Petra prepared us for the real thing.
More than the “how-to,” Petra gave us peace of mind. She answered every question with kindness and expertise. She normalized our fears, reassured us when we second-guessed ourselves, and reminded us that we were doing a good job.
She also cared for us as parents. She encouraged us to rest, to eat, and to breathe. Her presence lifted so much of the anxiety from those early days and gave us space to bond with our baby rather than drown in uncertainty.
Petra was everything we hoped for in a doula: knowledgeable, nurturing, reliable, compassionate, and endlessly patient. She went above and beyond. I can say without exaggeration that she helped us survive and truly enjoy those first weeks as a new family.
Suyin also contributed to the post-partum support of our family as my lactation consultant. You really just don't know how difficult breast feeding is until you try it!
Suyin helped me with latch, positioning, and confidence. Her visits at our home were comfortable and stress-free, and she helped turned breast-feeding into something I could actually enjoy. I can’t recommend her enough!
- Julie C.
