The Budding Belly

A doula is someone who holds space for anyone undergoing a major life event or transition. Doulas offer emotional, spiritual, physical, and informational support, as well as non-clinical guidance. The Doula also plays an important role in connecting clients with their communities and resources to support a positive pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience. As a Doula, I am trained to provide comfort and care surrounding your perinatal, childbirth, and postpartum journeys. I accomplish this through cultivating a trusting and collaborative relationship with you and your partner, contributing a presence of calm reassurance, providing educational resources, and advocating for your choices in both birth and postpartum. In addition to birth and postpartum care, I also offer support around loss, miscarriage, and abortion.

When building your birth team, it is important to consider who your supports will be, and what their roles will be during labor and delivery. Hiring a Birth Doula is a great way to ensure that you will have a devoted and experienced person there to support your emotional, spiritual, and physical needs during birth. In the context of supporting the physical act of birth, the presence of a Birth Doula has been shown to yield many positive outcomes – at The Budding Belly, we love science and evidence-based practices to inform our approaches to birth support:

Research demonstrates that there are several benefits to including a Doula in your Birth Vision! One study done in 2017 reviewed 27 trials conducted in 17 different countries, observing how continuous support affects birth outcomes in over 15,000 births. They found that continuous birth support resulted in:

• a higher likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth
• a lower likelihood of the birthing person reporting negative feelings about their birth experience
• a lower likelihood of using pain medications or medical instruments during birth
• shorter labors
• fewer cesarean births

A Birth Doula is there with you for the duration of your labor to support your emotional environment as well as your physical experience, in order to help create good conditions for you to bring your baby earthside. Some of the ways they do this include:

• assisting in creating a space where labor hormones can work their magic uninhibitedly
• providing comfort measures to help keep the birthing person embodied and out of their “thinking brain” to avoid tension
• helping family (partner, any others present at the birth) feel supported and calm during birth, as well as providing coaching so they can support the birthing person more effectively
• advocating for the birthing person’s needs with medical staff and bolstering their requests with additional birth knowledge and experience

Following birth, a Postpartum Doula can provide essential support to the new parent(s) and baby. Often, there is so much preparation done for birth, yet the “fourth trimester” tends to be overlooked and under-prepared for, which can have lasting impacts on the family. A Doula supporting you following childbirth may assist with body feeding, household tasks, overnight support, nutritional support, resource identification, and more depending on your individual needs. Most importantly, support from a Postpartum Doula can help lay a wonderful foundation for your family and its new member.

Sources:

“Continuous support for women during childbirth” (2017) (https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub6)

At The Budding Belly, LLC. we are dedicated to providing holistic and gentle support to birthing and postpartum people. Our mission is deeply rooted in:

• trusting nature and the wisdom of the human body
• acknowledging the importance of each individual’s lived experience related to both birth and postpartum, and
• offering equitable, culturally-aware, affirming care

We recognize the current injustices within our medical and healthcare systems, and work diligently to do our part in rectifying those wrongs. Anti-racism and social justice reform are the heart of our work here, as we strive to provide the most conscious care possible to all people within our community.

Birth has the potential to be an empowering, ecstatic event in your life. The Budding Belly, LLC. aims to hold space and advocate for this human right, so that your birth experience may blossom gracefully into a beautiful parenting relationship with your baby. We also serve within the postpartum space, assisting in healthy recovery using mindful comfort measures and strong community resources to bolster you with support.

What Families Say About Samantha & Ildi

Sam and Ildi were the perfect match for me and the birth of my little girl Shea. They were super knowledgeable with Ildi’s more science focused background and Sam’s therapy experience in the prenatal sessions. They make a great duo for bringing a first time mom and dad up to speed on all of the important info for birth.

When it came time for labor, I ended up going 3 weeks early and Sam made sure to be on the phone with us while juggling another birth. Thankfully, she made it in time for delivery. She provided a calming and confident energy and was encouraging throughout. She quickly became a team with my nurse, suggested several different positions and helped visualize how I should be pushing. When Shea was born she kept me calm (and made sure my stressed husband was ok) and reassured us of all things being normal in the craziness post delivery. She also stayed with us until about 2am to make sure we were settled. In the weeks Postpartum, Sam also was in constant contact about lactation and Shea’s weight gain, being a source of support that I found more reassuring than the doctors often were. We can’t imagine going through the birth and postpartum process without Sam, it made everything less stressful and a more informed and wonderful experience. Truly, you can’t go wrong choosing Sam and Ildi!

E.F.

Ms. Samantha worked as my Doula. Before explaining anything, I would give her 10 out of 10. She did an excellent job. She was very sincere, responsible, punctual, well planned and well mannered. A good plan is always important. She did a lot of hard work to prepare the Birth Plan for me through a lot of back and forth. This birth plan was submitted to my delivery team in the hospital and it helped the delivery team to conduct the delivery as per my desire. She was with me during my VBAC delivery in the hospital and she was a great part of the delivery team of the hospital. After successful completion of delivery, she stayed with me in the hospital until I was comfortable. Before and after the delivery, she regularly visited me and took care of my needs. In short, I am fully satisfied with her service and I wish her every success in the future in her profession. 

T.S.

I want to start by thanking Samantha, for the support and her dedication with me, it has been a journey of many learnings that thanks to you Samantha I was able to live in a good way. Thanks to her experience, she helped me a lot.
Samantha is a sweet person, with a very good energy and a unique personality that from the first moment we spoke I felt very comfortable and confident with her. Samantha transmits peace, confidence and tranquility. If I have to relive this same experience I would always like to have you close Samantha. the best doula I’ve ever met. Thanks to your experience as breastfeeding counselor, I can say that my success breastfeeding my baby is thanks to you . God bless you always Samantha.

E.L.

It was getting near the end of my breastfeeding journey and I wanted something to remember the special bond between me and my booby guy. I couldn‘t think of a better way of honoring and memorializing this time than with an art piece of us together. Samantha brought the simple moment of breastfeeding between me and my baby to magical proportions. The art is beautiful and captures the love. I have a print copy on my desk I look at everyday while I work and it brings me such joy, reminding me of my beautiful babe.

S.C.

I loved having Ildi as my doula! Her calming, gentle presence really made a difference for me and my husband when we had our son. She is incredibly experienced and very knowledgeable and we felt completely at ease throughout the whole labor process because she was giving us really great advice, but also letting us have the space to make our own informed decisions. A few days before I was due, Ildi came by and had us do a little exercise on various scenarios of labor. I didn’t know it then, but that exercise made such a huge difference in helping me manage my expectations (in the chaos of having really bad contractions!) when I was going through labor. Beyond labor support, Ildi also visited us at home postpartum and I remember being so incredibly grateful for her coming by because I was so overwhelmed with having a newborn, being in so much pain from labor, while learning how to breastfeed, being very sleep deprived and having told (incorrectly) by our pediatrician that our baby is not getting enough milk…! I was so thankful for having her and for all the advice and practical tips on how to manage the pain and help with our newborn. Can’t recommend her highly enough!

J.T.

Sam has a gift with babies, but during her time with us it felt like every member of our family benefitted from her presence.  I was comfortable leaving my days old baby with her.  She fit right into our household and I was at ease both leaving the house with her there, but also having her there with me as well.  It was never awkward and it was always extremely helpful.  Whether she was caring for the newborn, feeding him my pumped milk, helping with laundry, unloading the dishwasher or making meals for my older two boys, her time with us was invaluable.  If we were ever to have another baby, I would text her immediately upon finding out I was pregnant to reserve her time again.

E.K.

My experience with Ildi was exceptional. She was not only there supporting me 100% but she also took the time to support my husband and my mother throughout my birthing experience. I was supposed to meet with Ildi before the birth of my child however, my child decided to arrive early. Ildi had sent me an email saying that I could call her before our meeting if I needed her help. So, I did call her once I was at the hospital, and from the moment she came into the room I felt relieved. I don’t think that I could have make it through natural birth without her help. She helped me to relax and to focus using different methods to help me deal with the pain without the use of pain medications. She made me feel like family and I felt that I could trust her to help me through my birthing experience. She has also been helping me postpartum to find things my baby and I need such as obtaining a hospitals grade pump and finding the right pediatrician for my child. She does go the extra mile. My family and I really appreciate all that she did for us. She truly has what it takes for this job because she has the passion and heart for this profession. I highly recommend her, for she is great in what she does.

N.H.

Sam’s communication style and strong people skills make her a perfect match for the doula role!  Sam is the kind of person who you end up spending more time than you realize talking to, because of how intently she listens.  She has captured the hearts of all 5 of our family members in the time that we’ve worked with her. Her calm demeanor, organizational skills, and strong knowledge of newborns made working with her such a wonderful experience.  Sam not only spent time with my older boys and developed meaningful relationships with them, but was also able to navigate the newborn stage with ease.  Her knowledge of feeding schedules, naps, and her ability to take in information regarding changes in baby’s schedule/routine never ceases to amaze me!  My husband and I thoroughly enjoy Sam’s company.  She’s a pleasure to be around, and when we are not home we feel nothing but the utmost confidence that our kids are in a safe and nurturing environment!

L.B.

Ildi was compassionate, kind, considerate, competent, patient, forgiving, accepting, forthright, respectful, and nurturing. She is exactly the type of person I needed beside me during the life altering experience of childbirth. The greatest gift Ildi gave us was knowledge. She provided more information and support in our two prenatal sessions than any of the classes I attended or books that I read. She provided handouts, books, articles, and links. She did this because she knew that I wanted to learn everything and was comforted by the information. I appreciated that she knew this about me, and was respectful of my needs.  She was there for me 24/7 during my last few months, answering my texts at 1 am, and alleviating my concerns when my due date came and went. Because my baby was twelve days overdue, I was induced, and Ildi never left my side. When labor really began, and the pain of back contractions kicked in full force, I was terrified and Ildi helped me manage my fears.  What I appreciated most about Ildi was how much she respected and aided my phenomenal hospital nurse, Jen. They worked as an incredible team around me. Ildi also directed my husband and mother, who always felt useful and involved. I needed them all. My entire experience was conflict free, with everyone focusing on the health of the baby and my ability to deliver her safely. When I wanted to give up, I heard Ildi say “You are doing marvelous.” When I had just 1/2 centimeter to go, I said, “I can’t do this!” And Ildi urged, “You ARE doing this!” It gave me such courage! Ildi was so helpful after the birth, aiding with nursing and the blues. It was wonderfully cathartic to process and celebrate the experience of childbirth. Having Ildi there as a part of my pre-natal, labor, delivery, and postpartum experience was invaluable. I cannot imagine what my experience as a first time mom would have been without her support.

K.P.

I feel blessed for having Ildi as our birth doula. She is a caring, enthusiastic, mindful, warm doula. We had two prenatal meetings with her when she provided us with lots of information on the process of labor and delivery. She was very knowledgeable; she answered all our questions. Her presence during my labor and delivery was as essential as my husband’s. She became a family member in a second and she was caring for both me and my husband in the way nobody else could have been able to care. I wished to have an unmedicated labor and without her I couldn’t have make it through. She provided both physical and emotional support, suggested various laboring positions and coping technique and remained calm, caring, encouraging and professional for the entire time. When I was about to give it up, her encouragement helped me to get through the toughest moments. She also assisted my husband to be a true support for me. After our baby girl was born, Ildi also helped me with the first breastfeeding and she made sure we are all settled down before she left the hospital. Both my husband and I are so thankful to Ildi for all she did for us that there are no words for that. I highly recommend Ildi’s doula services!

P.N.

My wife and I were fortunate to have Samantha recreate a photo of our SONshine! Sam did an amazing job of capturing our baby boy’s radiance. She has an eye for detail and is a master at recreating a moment of emotion! Highly, highly recommend!

D.F.

We decided to work with Ildi after a brief phone interview.  We were drawn to her warm personality and her passion for natural labor and delivery process.  We found her to be very enthusiastic and eager to offer suggestions and recommendations for various coping/relaxation techniques and positions.  We felt that she had great respect for our birth wishes, and also for our decisions throughout labor and delivery.  We were impressed that she was always present every minute of labor, always there with a soothing voice and encouraging words. She was such a calm presence for me, and a huge help to my husband. Post-delivery, she stayed long enough to help establish breastfeeding and ensure my comfort but she then quietly left to give us space to be a family.  We’re very thankful for Ildi’s assistance with our labor and delivery!

J.T.

Ildi was exactly what we needed at our birth. Upon first meeting her, I immediately felt comfortable around her. She had a lot of positive energy and warmth and anyone can see that she was dedicated to what she was doing. When talking to her, it seemed like she had all the time in the world to answer our questions. Ildi has a ton of comfort measures in her “tool box” which she practiced with us at our pre-natal visits. She also provided tons of resources, videos and documents for us to feel well informed. At the birth, she was present every minute of the 12 hour labor. It was my first baby, so I was nervous about what to expect, but Ildi provided the reassuring touch, and encouraging words that helped me keep going. She was right by my side the minute I needed a drink of coconut water, or some light touch. Like she said during the interview, it really is her gentle reassuring touch that got me through. At our post-natal visits, I admitted that I preferred her hand on my shoulder over my husband’s! Ildi stayed over 2 hours after the birth,  due to some bleeding. She always advocated for us and wanted to make sure we established a good latch. At our post natal visits, our baby was still having problems latching well. She sat with us while we called a list of lactation consultants. She didn’t leave until we had an appointment set and she knew help was on the way. We have only positive memories of our birth!

M.W.

Doula Ildi was great part of our birth experience. We immediately liked her calm presence when we first met. She is a wealth of knowledge about the whole process and helped us consider all our options. We spent a lot of time together in the prenatal meetings and she taught us some new exercises and relaxation techniques and directed us to several learning resources. When the big day arrived, Ildi was quick to get to our house and then accompanied us to hospital. She had some great direction for me on how to breathe through the contractions and stay grounded. She really pampered me and made sure I had everything I needed, from a headband to keep my hair back to adjusting the water temperature in the bath to suggesting coping techniques to try. The little things matter and Ildi really pays attention to detail. I was able to easily achieve my goal of a natural birth and can credit that to Ildi as a great guide and confidence booster. Right after the birth, she was helpful in making sure we had everything we needed and that the baby was starting to nurse. In our postpartum visit she also had great advice for nursing and general well being. Ildi is truly passionate and dedicated to her work and will add immeasurable value to any birth.

M.G.

I had a wonderful experience with Ildi. We met with her twice before the birth and both times I felt like she was really listening to what we wanted. She also kept in touch through email and phone and was always there if I needed a question answered with advice and good information. She has such a warm personality, was very respectful of our wishes and encouraged us in whatever we decided on. This was my second child and my labor was very short, but intense. It was such a relief to have her there. From the moment she came in she was trying to help me focus and keep calm while making sure  my husband was doing okay and being informed of the situation by the nurses. She was so encouraging and helped me to use my energy and strength properly. After our child was born Ildi stayed with us to help get breastfeeding started and to make sure we were feeling comfortable. She also came to visit postpartum to see how we were doing and help answer any questions we had. Because my labor was so short she was unable to count it towards her certification, but she still was there for me 100%. I so appreciate everything she did for us.

K.P.

I am happy to recommend Ildi Sebestyen as a birth doula.  She recently assisted my daughter with the birth of her daughter. I was my daughter’s birthing partner, and we were both quite apprehensive about the delivery.  We were referred to Ildi by the instructor of the birth preparation classes we took at the hospital, since my daughter was very anxious about the delivery. My daughter called Ildi and liked her immediately.  Ildi came to our house on two occasions prior to my daughter’s labor.  We learned a lot from her in those meetings, and felt less stressed.  My daughter went into labor shortly after the second meeting.  It was a long labor.  Ildi came to our house in the middle of the night to help assist.   The next night, when my daughter went into heavy labor, Ildi coached her and helped her to breath through the contractions, focus, and try different positions during the contractions.  We went to the hospital around 1:00 in the morning.  My daughter’s labor continued all night, and all day – she worked hard and Ildi was there every step of the way.  Ildi was very calming for both my daughter and myself, and was great at explaining what was going on.  That evening, after many long hours of labor and trying to push the baby out, it was decided that a C-secion was needed.  Ildi and I were both allowed to be in the operating room, and her presence and support made an amazing difference for both of us. Ildi is an angel on earth, I swear.  I really don’t know what we would have done without her.  I would recommend Ildi to anybody who is looking for a  birth doula.  Just talk to her once and you’ll know what I’m talking about.

M.N.

I found Ildi’s assistance essential during the delivery of my son, and I highly recommend her to anyone who would like a strong, knowledgeable, and compassionate woman’s care during the birthing process. I met Ildi when I was halfway through my second pregnancy. Although I envisioned an unmedicated delivery, I had not yet thought about how to achieve that. Ildi came into my life just at the right time, as if she was sent to help me.  She was very warm and personable, therefore I welcomed the chance to get to know her better and explore the option of using her assistance as my doula. After meeting with her, her passion for helping pregnant and laboring women was apparent. Along with the knowledge and care for making sure we had the information we needed to make the right decision for us, she was compassionate, which made the right decision apparent: she was the one to help us through the birthing process. Ildi is very thorough and made sure that the preparatory meetings and other information she shared with us helped us get ready mentally and physically for the last part of the pregnancy as well as labor and delivery. When the time came, she guided me through the contractions and pushing, and helped my husband so he could comfort me the most effective way possible too. She ensured that that my birth wishes that we prepared with her were followed by hospital staff as closely as possible, and she ensured that we understood all of our options when there were decisions to make. With her encouragement, emotional support, and expert guidance I was able to avoid an episiotomy and deliver my son without any pain medication, just like I envisioned. Ildi stayed after delivery to help start breastfeeding and to ensure that my nutritional needs were also replenished, to give us the best start possible. Once she made sure that we were taken care of, she respectfully retreated so we could enjoy some quiet family time with our newborn. Ildi helped me achieve the birth experience I wished for and for that I am forever grateful to her.

E.F.

Ildi was a crucial part of our birth experience. When we found out we had to have a C-section, it felt like we had lost the ability to actively participate in the experience, and we were very disheartened. Ildi empowered us by showing us that there were indeed measures we could take to be more involved in the decisions surrounding our own birth. Ildi was very respectful of our personal needs and decisions, and went out of her way to help provide us both with solid information as well as some much-needed emotional support. On the day of our birth, Ildi helped to create a positive atmosphere and ensure that we were comfortable and our wishes were being met. Her presence in the delivery room was very calming, and she provided support to Mommy so that Daddy could be with our baby right when he was born before he came to Mommy’s chest. We deeply appreciated Ildi’s genuine sense of care and commitment, and are so thankful that she was a part of our journey.

A.B.