Lactation Education ▪ Postpartum Doula Care ▪ Attachment Parenting Coach
I am first and foremost a mother – I have been in mindset my whole life, but since becoming a mother more than 12 years ago, it has become clear that helping new parents and babies is what I was meant to do. I have always been a helper and a motherly-type, and translating that desire and my own experience caring for children is a dream come true. I have been advising friends and family about lactation for more than a decade, and have always been inclined to help where possible when someone I know is expecting a new little one into their lives. I am trained and certified in Postpartum Doula Care and Lactation Education with CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association), and also have two years of experience with in-home care of disabled adults. I truly believe that having a doula come into your home to help you have the best start really makes a huge difference.
**Studies have shown that women who have social support during the postpartum period tend to have less postpartum depression, breastfeed/chest-feed for a longer duration, and make a better adjustment to parenthood.
The following is a list of the services that I can provide as a postpartum doula with your family:
Reasons for Hiring a Postpartum Doula:
Fees for postpartum services are offered at an hourly rate. These are my current rates, but please contact me as I can offer a sliding scale in some situations:
Daytime Postpartum Doula Care: $45/hour – minimum of 4 hours per visit
Overnight Postpartum Doula Care: $50/hour ($60/hr for awake overnights) – minimum of 8 hours per overnight
Lactation Education
Fees for lactation education are offered at a per session rate. Please email me for more information at sondra@gentlehandsdoula.com.
Zipmilk
www.zipmilk.org
Christine Fischer-Rothman, PhD, IBCLC
617.447.8411
cbfisch@yahoo.com
www.bfwnewengland.com/christine-fischer-rothman.html
Robin Snyder-Drummond, IBCLC
617.435.0693
robin@birthready.com
www.birthready.com
Healthy Baby Essentials
1600 Boston-Providence Highway, Walpole, MA 02081
www.healthybabyessentials.com
888.495.7491
referrals@healthybabyessentials.com
Lactation Care, Inc.
25 Fisher Avenue, Newton, MA 02461
www.lactationcare.com
617.244.5593
info@lactationcare.com
Co-Leaders, La Leche League of Boston:
Hilary
404.630.5245
Janna
617.775.7602
Margo
617.651.1766
Steve Carter, LMT, CST, CLE
617.797.3602
The Lydian Center
777 Concord Avenue, Suite 301, Cambridge, MA 02138
www.lydiancenter.com
617.876.6777
Chiropractors (specializing in infants)
Village Family Chiropractic
617.566.2001
126 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA 02445
vfchiro@gmail.com
www.villagechiro.com
Dr. Jamielee Shanahan
508.316.1289
355 Kelley Boulevard, North Attleboro, MA
info@lifelongharmony.com
www.lifelongharmony.com
First Connections @ Mama & Me (0-4 Months)
Mama & Me: 284 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
www.mymamaandme.com
Winthrop Mommy Playgroup
www.facebook.com/winthropmoms
Boston Mamas
www.bostonmamas.com/local-resources/
New Mom Fitness
FIT4MOM
www.fit4mom.com
Mama & Me: Mama Yoga (babies welcome) and Postnatal Pilates (babies welcome)
Mama & Me: 284 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
www.mymamaandme.com
Massachusetts Official Web Site: Car Seat Inspection
www.mass.gov/eopss/crime-prev-personal-sfty/traffic-safety/cps/locate-cps-inspection-site.html
Winthrop Police Department
617.846.1212
East Boston Neigborhood Health Center Child Safety Technician
617.568.4740
Maria Dolorico, M.Ed., BCC, CLC, CD (DONA)
A Mom is Born Counseling and Coaching for Pregnancy, Postpartum and Motherhood
581 Boylston Street @ Boston Integrated Health, Boston, MA 02118
www.amomisborn.com
617.869.4310
Leslie McKeough, LICSW
Core Values
7E Kimball Lane, Suite 3, Lynnfield, MA 01940
www.corevalu.com
781.507.2025
leslie@corevalu.com
Fluff Love University
www.fluffloveuniversity.com
The Diaper Lab
www.diaperlab.com
200 Elm Street, Someville, MA 02144
617.764.0192
All About Cloth Diapers
www.facebook.com/allaboutclothdiapers/
Baby Wearing
Baby wearing International
www.babywearinginternational.com/about-bwi/chapters/
Wrap Your Baby
www.wrapyourbaby.com/babywearing-groups/
Breastsleeping
There is no such thing as infant sleep, there is no such thing as breastfeeding, there is only breastsleeping. James T. McKenna and Lee T. Gettler. Acta Paediatrica. 17 August 2015.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/apa.131
61/epdf
Circumcision
Male Circumcision Decreases Penile Sensitivity as Measured in a Large Cohort. Bronselaer, G. et al. BJU International 111 (2013): 820-827.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23374102?dopt=Abstract
Kangaroo/Skin-on-skin Benefits
Kangaroo care for the preterm infant and family. Ann L Jefferies and Canadian Paediatric Society, Fetus and Newborn Committee. Paediatrics and Child Health. 2012.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/
PMC3287094/
Formula Feeding
The Risks of Not Breastfeeding for Mothers and Infants. Alison Stuebe, MD, MSc. Obstetrics & Gynecology. Fall 2009.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/
PMC2812877/
“We were so lucky to have Sondra as our night doula with our second baby. Because of her, my husband and I felt well rested and able to take care of our family/get back to work. We only realized when she left how sleep deprived we are without her! She not only is great with the the baby and my toddler, but became a friend and someone that could listen to my postpartum woes. We love Sondra!” Natasha , Postpartum Doula Services
"Sondra was the most wonderful and perfect person to have helping me during my early postpartum time. I had her come during the day a couple times but she mostly helped me overnight. My husband travels for work and started doing that about 2 weeks after our son was born and I desperately needed a second pair of hands and someone to just be around overnight, as I wasn't ready to be alone with my 2 week old son at night yet. She was so warm, caring, and flexible. She immediately came in and started helping around the house or taking my son if I needed a break. She was so good with him and I never felt uncomfortable leaving him with her, he slept so well with her! For overnights, she would come when I was ready to go to "bed," she would hang out with my son, do diaper changes, burping, and help him back to sleep during the night and would bring him to me when he would wake up hungry. This allowed me to get a little sleep in between feeding him which was so crucial in the early postpartum stage. She also helped with dishes, laundry, light cleaning and my dogs overnight. I would wake up and my laundry and dishes would be done! Sondra also is very knowledgeable about breastfeeding, pumping, sleeping techniques and helped me in these areas in numerous ways. She also checked in with me on her time off which was very helpful and made me feel very supported.
I would highly recommend her to any women and her family. She was a lifesaver at the time when I needed it most and I felt so comfortable with her in our home, helping out and caring for our newborn son. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions." Jesse , Postpartum Doula Services
"Sondra is wonderful. With no family nearby and and a difficult postpartum recovery, she came in and knew what to do to nurture me and to put our new family of three at ease. She taught me how to care for a newborn and was so good to him. I highly recommend Sondra's services." Stephanie , Postpartum Doula Services
"She was an exceptional help with everything from newborn care to basic breastfeeding practices. She assisted with some organization and accompanied me to appointments. I think she will be an asset to the birth community and any future family that gets to work with her is very fortunate." Jodi , Lactation and Postpartum Doula Services
"Sondra worked with me during a critical time after our birth, when I was feeling overwhelmed by the transition of one child to two. She was able to help provide space for me to rest when needed, help with running errands and light cleaning, as well as help me brainstorm ways to manage two children under the age of two. I felt more confident in my ability to care for my newborn and toddler at the end of our time together. Having consistent help during those critical first weeks was extremely valuable to me, and Sondra was a good listening ear, and provided information or suggestions without judgement and without being pushy." Liz , Postpartum Doula Services
"Sondra helped me immensely with my baby daughter in several ways: she cooked for me when I was too busy to get it all done myself, she cared from my baby while I could do other things like take a shower or pay bills, and most importantly she provided expertise about infants and mothering that was expert, sensitive, attuned to my parenting style, and reassuring. She also helped when I had some issues with breast feeding, like blocked ducts and blebs. Being a mom herself also really helped me, knowing that she has been through this too! I highly recommend Sondra." Deb , Postpartum Doula and Lactation Services
"Sondra is very passionate about her job and loves to help mothers at all different levels. I would highly recommend Sondra as a post-partum doula. I found her services extremely beneficial for my sanity and logistics while being alone with 2 kids (newborn and 2 year-old)." Esther , Postpartum Doula Services
“We worked with Sondra for postpartum care after the birth of our daughter. Sondra exuded kindness and compassionate care from the moment we met her. She even came to meet us in the hospital, where I was for a month prior to the birth of our daughter. She made sure to keep in close contact with us before bringing our daughter home after a 5-week NICU stay, ensuring that she was thinking of us and was ready as soon as we brought our baby home. During her 2+ months with us, Sondra was an irreplaceable support. She provided so much care, thoughtful advice, and compassion. Her presence was also so calming, we immediately felt a sense of relief when she was with us as we knew we were in good hands. As first time parents, we greatly valued Sondra’s reassuring nature and as a first time mother, I truly was empowered by Sondra’s advice and words of encouragement. She was able to see both the enormity of parenthood and acknowledge and value each day’s successes and moments, no matter how small. And on a personal level, Sondra provided me much emotional support during very difficult days. Our family will forever be grateful for Sondra’s care, support and compassion.” Lisa , Postpartum Doula Services
“Sondra was everything I could have hoped for in a postpartum doula, and more: a true fairy godmother! As a single mum by choice, I knew I’d need some help after my daughter was born, and Sondra was a wonderful presence in my house, looking after both my daughter and myself with love and compassion. Between caring for my baby so I could sleep, cleaning up, making me cups of tea, endless hours of chatting about my anxieties and challenges, doing my laundry, and teaching me so many aspects of baby-caring, I was quite bereft once she left! I cannot recommend Sondra highly enough – you won’t regret it.” Jenny , Postpartum Doula Services
“The first 30 days of our son's life were intense and joyful and gorgeous, and Sondra's presence was a major part of them being as special as they were. All the gifts and second hand items we had no idea how to use, all the clothes we had no idea how to sort, she helped. How does this carrier go on again? She knew! Beyond her expertise in all things baby, Sondra gave us the simple gift of time together - with her holding our son, we were able to take some time for ourselves, and sleep, or simply share our wonder at the change in our lives with each other. We were very lucky and are grateful to have worked with her.” Carmel , Postpartum Doula Services