We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ursula Sabia Sukinik. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ursula below.

Hi Ursula, thanks for joining us today. One deeply underappreciated facet of entrepreneurship is the kind of crazy stuff we have to deal with as business owners. Sometimes it’s crazy positive sometimes it’s crazy negative, but crazy experiences unite entrepreneurs regardless of industry. Can you share a crazy story with our readers?

Every business owner has challenging stories. What makes our stories a bit different are the unusual moving parts. Birth You Desire is a doula agency that offers services and products related to fertility through birth, and the first year postpartum.

We have the usual challenges of staffing, training, invoicing, and time management, but we also have on-demand 24 hours call schedules. We are typically on call for our clients from 38-42 weeks of pregnancy for 24 hours a day. That means no surprise trips, weekend getaways, and maybe even leaving your kid’s birthday party to help a family in labor. This is especially challenging when the client goes into labor before the on-call time. Here is a great example and a recent story.

Sarah and Eric worked hard to get pregnant. They knew they needed a strong team to have an empowering low-risk birth. Asking various providers, they received a few referrals for Birth You Desire and interviewed and subsequently hired me as their doula. I worked with them to find a hospital and a provider who could provide concierge-style services.

Shortly after 20 weeks, Sarah started to experience random bleeding of unknown origin. Time and time again she would update me and head to her provider to find out why she was bleeding and check in on the baby. Sarah and Eric also signed up and attended a childbirth class with Birth You Desire. We had multiple discussions about their goals and needs in labor as there were signs that this might not be a straightforward birth.

One day, just before 30 weeks, Sarah’s water broke. She called both me and her Obstetrician. I called her back immediately and she made her way home while we stayed in frequent contact. Eventually, the OB returned the call. She backed a bag and prepared to head to the hospital. Before arrival, her OB called back and sent her to a different local high-risk hospital with a level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Sarah and Eric moved into a labor & delivery room and stayed for 25 long days.

Those days were filled with more bleeding, monitoring, testing, medications, and worry. We checked in daily, sometimes multiple times a day. Discussing concerns, and fears, how to keep track of the conversations, and what questions to ask of the various teams as things unfolded. There were multiple video calls and visits during those long days and nights. On day 25, just before 34 weeks, Sarah went into labor.

Against all the odds, she was able to have a vaginal birth of a healthy baby boy. Right after the birth, Eric followed the baby to the NICU. And I, as her doula, stayed with her until she could go and see her baby. They are still in touch, as they navigated the NICU and recently discharge.

It is critical to note, that it was the doula who has been the only steady point of contact.

This was not the birth Sarah and Eric envisioned when they hired their doula. But it was the birth they had. By having a doula that they trusted, they were able to be flexible and process unexpected events to make game-time decisions.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I became a doula and a childbirth educator in 1999 after the birth of my second son. Birth You Desire was established in New Jersey to support clients from conception through recovery. In 2004, we relocated to Maryland, and I moved the practice and started supporting families in Maryland, Washington DC, and Northern Virginia.

In 23 years, I have personally worked with over 4,000 families and have attended over 1,500 births locally, nationally, and internationally. Additionally, Birth You Desire has grown organically into a collaborative practice covering all aspects of birth from fertility through the first year postpartum. It is a practice where the client chooses their concierge team member and the services that fit their specific needs. We offer in-person services locally and virtual services nationally and internationally.

Our team embodies over 150 years of experience. We have something for everyone, with childbirth educators, fertility doulas, birth doulas, postpartum doulas, sleep experts, CPR trainers, doula trainers, and much more.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The lesson that we keep coming back to time and time again is that our healthcare system is broken. It is not a health care system but a ‘sick care system’. Taking care of you when you are sick or in need of medical help. Not necessarily, helping you to avoid getting sick.

Let’s use Obstetrics as an example. Childbirth is supposed to be one of life’s most significant celebrations. Yet in today’s world, birth comes with stress and uncertainty. Families all over the US are afraid of giving birth due to stories in the papers and online forums. Highlighting the lack of knowledge, skills, and support needed to have healthy pregnancy and recovery.

Most Obstetric providers are not trained in nutrition, supplements, body mechanics, or exercise physiology. Their office visits are limited to 5-15 minutes. Which focuses on clinical criteria and testing. There is not enough time for providers to get to know you and your situation, or understand your needs. So, your leave without coaching specific to your life. Doulas can fill this gap.

This is further compounded by the dynamics of the modern hospital system and the demands on their healthcare providers. In labor, you expect your doctor or midwife will

be fully accessible. At their side, or 2 minutes away, throughout the labor and birth, and available for questions postpartum. Unfortunately, this is not reality.

In labor, most providers work 12-hour shifts coming on and off the call, independent of where you are in labor. Your nurse oversees multiple rooms and is in your  room about 6% of your labor time. Your provider often overlaps with your nurse and is in your room about 3% of the time.

This means without a doula; you would be alone for about 96% of your labor. Alone, relying on your birth class to remember the best strategy to use at each point. Alone, possibly scared, or worried with all the standard alarms going off and not understanding if something is wrong. As a result, it is no wonder cesareans and birth complications are on the rise.

Birth You Desire doulas meet you where you are, filling in the gaps of care. Our doulas understand that it is your body, your birth, and your baby. Our clients
are in the driver’s seat. Their doulas simply hold a map, encourage you, and support you to attain your goals. With you every step of the way, helping you to advocate for your vision, and what you want. Birth You Desire realizes all families are unique and will work with you to create the best birthing and postpartum journey specifically for your family.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

How you got started/reputation Ursula Sabia Sukinik founded Birth You Desire in 1999, to support clients from conception through recovery. Since then, Birth You Desire has grown organically into a collaborative practice covering all aspects of birth from fertility through the first year postpartum. It is a practice where the client chooses their concierge team member and the services that fit their specific needs.

Birth You Desire is the practice it is today due to the support of past and current clients and their providers that refer to us. Our team believes that the quality of their services is the best advertising and referral. We are trusted for evidence-based knowledge, care, and compassion; it is that reputation that brings clients to us. Doulas fill the gap. Let us help take care of you and your needs.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.birthyoudesire.com
• Instagram: @birthyoudesire
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BirthYouDesire/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTq2hbzvKN8INJ_vsAK4Zzg/videos
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/birth-you-desire-kensington-2
• Other: What makes us unique Birth You Desire is one of the established and most experienced doula agencies in the US. They have worked with over 5,000 families. So, you can trust that the Birth You Desire team of doulas and specialists will take care of you. Located in Maryland, they service families in-person in Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. We also offer virtual services nationally and internationally. With over 150 years of combined experience, our team has the skills, know-how, and passion for supporting families in labor, just the way they want. Birth You Desire is a trusted resource to provide you with the tools to understand the many aspects of growing your family. Birth You Desire is dedicated to education and empowerment. Putting control and choice back in your hands. We offer many different services and products for your birth journey: birth and postpartum doulas, birth consulting, birth classes, CPR classes, nutrition classes, TENS rentals for pain relief, placenta encapsulation, and much more. So, you can enjoy your birth experience.

Image Credits
Image Credits for the first 3-4 photos Heidi Daniels https://dcbirthphotographer.com/