About Sara.

Hi, I’m Sara Ugino and I am a mom of 2 sweet little kids, 1 giant dog, 5 fish and lots of plants. My postpartum doula practice is based out of my home in New Providence, NJ. My journey to doula-hood began when I was a child in Houston, TX where I started babysitting kids in my neighborhood at age 11. As long as I can remember I have been passionate about caring for children, especially babies. In 2008 I married my husband, Rich, a fellow theatre major at Syracuse University. We started our own family in 2014 with the birth of our daughter, Charlotte. Prior to her arrival, I read tons of books about pregnancy, labor and birth, in addition to taking weekly pre-natal yoga classes, attending doula-led childbirth education and breastfeeding classes. I went into labor feeling prepared, excited and ready. In childbirth education, they tell you that despite all the prep work, every birth is different and prepare to be flexible with your expectations. So we were prepped with every conceivable eventuality when it came to the birth, but what about after?

In our culture, women are subjected to the message that giving birth is not a big deal, and that we should bounce back quickly to our old bodies and to our careers. This concept goes against nature and the truth of what our bodies have actually been through for the last 10 months. There is so little guidance and preparation for caring for our postpartum bodies and spirits, not to mention the varying opinions regarding the care and feeding of infants. As a new parent it is so hard to distill the information that is thrown at you during such a sleep-deprived and vulnerable time.

As your postpartum doula, I want to empower you and your partner with confidence and knowledge to be able to trust your instincts as new parents. I will assist you in feeding your baby without judgement and will refer you to appropriate lactation professionals if necessary. I will make you soup and lactation cookies and throw a load of laundry in for you. I will help manage your household so that you can turn all of your attention to feeding and bonding with your new baby as well as healing and resting your body that just produced a new human/s.

Becoming a parent will transform your life forever. Beginning this journey with an experienced and loving “village” to guide you, you will solidify this period as one of the most precious times in your life.