jonathan-borba-6Q-JXE5720o-unsplash-bg-crp
josephine_wave_graphic_dark_pink

Welcome!

I'm Laurie Suggs,

Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula (CBI), Evidence-Based Birth® Instructor, Hypnobabies® Trained Hypnodoula, and certified Body Ready Method® pro

I am a doula and childbirth educator who is passionate about helping birthing families receive evidence-based care and have an empowering birth.
 

Support, Encouragement, and Presence

This birth is your story! I offer a calm presence and years of experience to help you and your partner explore options and prepare for your birthing and postpartum time.  I will offer suggestions for ways you can prepare your mind and body for this transformational experience, always listening for what your goals are to give personalized guidance. I am inspired and awed by the transformational power of each birth, and consider it an honor to be a witness to your story.

About

Being very uninformed at my first birth I was left feeling like it was something that just “happened” to me. I felt like the doctor delivered my baby rather than me giving birth to her. During my subsequent five pregnancies, I educated myself about the process and felt empowered to make choices for my births.  After raising my family I felt called to birth work and have a passion for helping new parents navigate their journey.


I am a certified birth and postpartum doula through Childbirth International and currently work in partnership with Tina Lyon at Seasons of Birth. I am an Evidence-Based Birth® Instructor, offering private and group childbirth classes for expecting families. I am a certified Body Ready Method® pro, with training in Spinning Babies® and Hypnobabies®. I have been a volunteer doula at Sutter Davis for several years and currently serve as a lead mentor for the newer volunteers. I have gleaned so much wisdom from my years of experience and various trainings, but am still humbled by each unique and beautiful birth.
 

My role as a doula is to follow the lead of the birthing family for what is important to them, offer information, and then support them in their choices.

Hear from my families

Tina and Laurie were amazing throughout my pregnancy, labor, and postpartum, which happened entirely during COVID-19. They are actively involved in the pregnancy/childbirth community, and they are constantly gaining more education and certificates in their field. The two work great together and provide a warm and nurturing energy. They got to know me and my birthing wishes and were very supportive. They were quick to answer my pregnancy and labor/delivery questions, which gathering two perspectives was quite valuable. They had a wealth of resources, including EBB, Spinning Babies, affirmation cards, rebozos, acupressure, and laboring positions, and they conveniently dropped off books and tools at my house. They were very respectful with social distancing, hygiene, and checking with our comfort levels, and they shared relevant COVID-19 articles and community news as it came to their attention. Based to my due date, Laurie was with me during my labor. We texted throughout the day and she joined me at my home as soon as I called upon her. She took the best care of me and was so calming! She included my husband throughout the process and was very encouraging to me. She explained everything that was happening, which really helped me through the process. Once we left for the hospital, she followed us and escorted us to the hospital. Unfortunately she couldn't join due to "one visitor" rules, but she made herself available via Zoom. She also provided us with postpartum services, however we ended up not needing the help. Regardless, she came to visit often, searched in stores for nipple shields, and even made me lactation cookies! I highly recommend Seasons of Birth! They have an endless supply of knowledge and love their jobs. They are a true asset in this life-changing journey.
Becky
I highly recommend Seasons of Birth! My first labor and delivery was traumatic for me. It ended in an emergency c-section where I didn’t get to meet my daughter right away. The second time I wanted something different so we hired Tina and Laurie. They were exactly the support my husband and I needed! They gave me the confidence to trust myself and try for a VBAC, which was successful! Funny enough, my son was born within an hour of arriving at the hospital so there was not a lot of time spent with Laurie while I labored (the whole labor was less than 4 hrs). Thank goodness Laurie was there to help support my husband though. The staff was very busy with an imminent delivery and my husband was overwhelmed with how quickly things were happening. He says he’d still be standing at the doorway if Laurie hadn’t guided him to my side. Hiring Seasons of Birth was so worth it!
Ali