Sarah Gulke

Recently Hired
Birth & Postpartum Doula
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
7 years of experience
5.0
About me

Mission~~~ I am a “pick-your-own-adventure” kind of doula! With tailored care to your unique dreams for this journey, we navigate the waves with a spirit of confidence and bravery. I promise both to help you find the strength from the Lord that He has already given you and ensure informed consent, so that you may be at peace with the choices you make for you and your baby. ~~~Impact: My passion is to help women reclaim their confidence in their God-given intuition, and ability to trust their body & this process. My goal is not a specific birth for mothers - my goal is that after working with me, they are able to look back on their birth and say, beaming with pride, “I could do that again”. Birth is hard - but it doesn’t have to be traumatic. My aim is to help create a day that is beautiful, that doesn’t elicit a stress response when remembered. (And bring fun into birth, whenever possible!) Tulip Doula Services celebrates our beautiful, heaven ordained biology as women - honoring our sex’s special gift to be our babies’ first home, of mothering, and to be a mother! My present calling is to help women discover that they are STRONG, ABLE, & RESILIENT.

Certification and training

DONA International (2019)

The VBAC Link Advanced Doula Training (2023)

Credentials
CD (DONA)
Specialties
Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)
Languages

English

Service introduction

As a certified doula, I offer a free consultation, up to two prenatal visits, phone and text support leading up to the birth, in person labor support within an hour of requesting my assistance, and finally a postpartum visit to process the birth experience and give a baby gift. Labor support is my passion and joy. I can't wait to share this wonderful birthday with you!

Packages
Birth Doula Package
Birth Doula Package (Payment plans may be created on an individual basis. I am more than happy to make this work for you! I also accept HSA and FSA cards through my square reader.) Free/no-strings-attached consultation 1 birth planning visit, reviewing the following: your history and experiences in pregnancy and birth, what to expect from me, what to expect during labor and birth, birth planning outline, explanation of comfort measures/techniques, letter of agreement signing, and anything you’d like to share with me about this exciting steppingstone of life! Text support at any time, after hiring me Constant, present care within two hours from the time you call me to assist you in labor until about 1 - 2 hours after delivery Packet of local area resources to make your transition to extra-uterine parenting as smooth as possible - support is key in all phases of life :) 1 Postpartum visit at a coffee shop to give you a gift and process the birth with you (A virtual postpartum visit is an option as well. Should you choose this option, I will mail the gift to you!) The joy of knowing that 2% of the doula fee goes to saving babies through PreBorn!’s amazing mission Total fee - $1,050 (This includes the $200 non-refundable retainer fee, which is due the date of hire.)
$1,050.00
USD Flat rate
Ratings and reviews
Average
5.0
# of Reviews
8
5.0

My husband and I asked to work with Sarah based on other great reviews and a personal recommendation from a mutual friend. In every respect, Sarah was wonderful. Right away she was professional and prompt in getting back to us and setting up a no-pressure meet and greet at Panera so we could see if she'd be a good fit. Just minutes into that conversation, I knew that her positivity and strong Christian values would be a great fit for us. We were attempting to do this birth naturally with no epidural with our second child, and we wanted a support person to help with every step of labor. As a quieter person, she met me where I was at and conversations with her were so natural and joy filled, like a ray of sunshine. She was available at every step of my pregnancy if I had questions and worked with us extensively when we asked about payment with HSA/FSA cards; by the time we paid the amount in full at 37 weeks, she had figured out all the specifics to make this happen! At 38 wks 6 days, I went into spontaneous labor at work and started tracking contractions; Sarah helped me determine if this was the real deal and if/when I should head home. I ended up making it to the hospital in West Bend at 6cm dilated and Sarah headed our way after that update. When Sarah arrived she started helping me get through the stronger contractions when I suddenly jumped straight to transition! Only about 5 minutes later, my daughter was born! As my late stages of labor and transition were crazy fast I didn't get to experience all of Sarah's expertise, but she ended up staying hours after delivery to help me relax in those first golden hours with my baby with soothing music, massage, and lower lighting. She also had taken beautiful photographs documenting the delivery process and our first moments with baby girl. My husband had yet to get supper, so she also helped me while he stepped out and she was able to get some great photos then of baby as she was being measured and weighed. There is nothing more I could have asked for from Sarah. She was truly a blessing, and I pray she will be available for us again if and when the Lord blesses us with another child. Thank you for everything!

- Hannah S.

5.0

I can't say enough good things about Sarah and Tulipdoula. We wanted to go as natural as possible and Sarah was a wealth of resources and always had words of encouragement and advice when I came to her with concerns and questions. We ended up getting an induction at 40.5wks due to doctor's concerns. Sarah came right away when it felt like the experience was getting too intense for me to handle on my own. She showed up right away and created a beautiful atmosphere and helped my husband and I through this new & unknown process. I truly believe if it wasn't for her I would have ended up getting pain medication, but with her help and the support of my husband and hospital staff, I was still able to have the unmedicated birth i was hoping for. This was not the original birth scenario I had envisioned during pregnancy but it ended up being perfect for our family and needs and Sarah was supportive and positive the entire time. ❤️ I fully recommend her services and intend to employ her again for all of our future births. 10/10! Even the staff were super impressed by her and the atmosphere she created.

- Geena E.

5.0

I cannot recommend Sarah enough! Wow! We finally decided to hire a doula for the birth of our third child. I had difficult deliveries in the past and struggled to keep a good mindset. We wanted to try an unmedicated birth because of how my body reacts to medications… and we did it! We absolutely could not have done it without Sarah. I decided to hire Sarah around 34 weeks pregnant and she was so accepting and relaxed about it being so close. Then a week later, I was diagnosed with a condition that forced me to be induced before 38 weeks for the safety of baby. Sarah offered many natural approaches to get my body prepared for labor. Considering I went full term with the first two pregnancies, I know her advise helped- there was no way my body would’ve been ready and handled the induction so well otherwise. During our initial meeting she was very open and friendly. We didn’t even need to discuss it much after meeting, my husband and I knew right away after that meeting we would hire her. For the meeting about birth plan, Sarah had so much prepared that I hadn’t thought of. She is very well educated and always reading and learning more. She really kept us informed and gave options and ideas for everything. During labor, Sarah set up candles and lights and played my favorite calming music. She set up a diffuser and put my favorite essential oil scent on. We went for walks around the hospital, she taught me how to breathe through and lean into each contraction. She encouraged my husband to be involved, which really helped me stay calm and focused and feel safe during the whole thing. Our hospital had a deep bathtub in each room, so we utilized that. Sarah added some essential oils that promote calm. She set up different color lights and that created a certain helpful, calm mood. She had her own blend of massage oils that she used and rubbed my shoulders often. This really helped me stay calm and breathe through everything. Her directions and encouragements the entire time were always proactive and helpful. Her tone was direct yet supportive and loving. I knew she was there to be my advocate. It was very evident that she wanted what was best for me and my baby! As things got more challenging throughout the labor and pain increased, she remained a steady constant. My husband was in pain watching me in pain. I almost fainted multiple times from the pain and overwhelmed… Sarah remained confident and grounded and helped the entire time. Her faith and bright personality are exactly what we needed. We had great conversations and made fun connections throughout the whole process. I cannot emphasize enough how much of a blessing Sarah was to my labor and delivery. I will absolutely be hiring her for all future labors and highly recommend her to everyone! Worth every penny!

- Liz E.

5.0

I would absolutely recommend Sarah to anyone and everyone that is going to have a baby. My husband and I started working with Sarah when we were 10 weeks pregnant. The bond I grew with Sarah over the course of my pregnancy was exactly what I was looking for when I originally thought about having a doula. Sarah was always there to answer any questions I had, and she is very knowledgeable. You can tell Sarah loves what she does. She was truly amazing and the best support my husband and I needed when it came to the delivery. Thank you so much!

- Allyson W.

5.0

Sarah was amazing, before, during, and after the birth! She took the time for me, day or night, to check in on me or reply to my texts, gave us great resources and tips before birth, and helped with different ways to support me throughout the hours of labor! I had such a beautiful birth experience and am so happy that I had Sarah's help.

- Christina T.

5.0

I have used Sarah as my doula for 2 births and each time she has gone above and beyond and was a great asset to my birth team. My first birth was in the hospital and my second was a home birth - each time, Sarah was extremely helpful with positioning, comfort measures, and many little details that would have otherwise been overlooked, but added to make a wonderful birthing environment. Afterward, we were even given a story of the timeline of events of labor day, which is so special to me to help me remember it. She is extremely educated and shares her knowledge in a gentle way to help you be as informed as possible about everything, but in it all, respects that your choices are final. Sarah is all-around amazing, if you are on the fence about hiring a doula, I highly recommend her!

- Jolynn V.

5.0

I knew I wanted to hire Sarah as my doula the moment I met her. She is so sweet and she listened to all my fears I had about labor and birth, which were many since this was my second pregnancy (I was hoping and planning for a VBAC with this one!) and I’d had a very negative experience with my first birth. She gave informed answers to all my questions and helped me work through all those fears. Before I even hired her, she was giving me helpful tips and sending lots of podcasts and videos about topics I had expressed concern about. By the second time I met with Sarah at the coffee shop, I felt like we had known each other forever and that I could talk with her about anything! During labor, Sarah set up the birth space with string lights, posted positive scripture affirmations around the room, started up the essential oil diffuser, and played the most serene music on her portable speaker. It really felt like an oasis! Sarah was by my side for at least 17 hours, from 10am that morning until the wee hours of the next morning; she even came with me to the hospital when I ended up needing stitches. Her presence lit up any room that she walked into, so of course I wanted to take her with me wherever I went! She held my hand through many many contractions and offered helpful tips on different things to try. My baby was malpositioned, so we had many hours of moving around and trying different positions and methods to get baby to move. She stayed positive the whole time and offered encouragement when I felt like I could not go on. Postpartum, she made sure I was adjusting well and continued to offer encouragement and support. Sarah made my home birth experience so much better than I thought it was going to be, and turned my negative view on birth completely in the opposite direction. In the past, my perspective on doulas had been “what’s the point? Do I really need one of those?” Now I don’t even want to imagine what my labor and birth would have been like without a doula! Or maybe I was just very blessed to have found this one in a million kind of person who made such a huge impact on my birth experience….and on my life! If I ever get pregnant again, there is no doubt in my mind that I would hire Sarah again in a heartbeat!

- Rachel H.

5.0

From the moment I met Sarah, I knew I would love working with her. At our first meeting, she was kind, gentle, positive, affirming, professional, knowledgeable, and serene. All of these wonderful qualities were on full display throughout my birth experience with her. Unsure of whether or not I should start getting ready to go to the hospital, I called Sarah in the middle of the night and described my contraction patterns to her. Predicting that I would be admitted to the hospital soon, she gave me great advice about how to cope with the contractions and how to determine when I should go to the hospital. Sure enough, my husband and I were packing up our car for the hospital an hour later. When I was admitted to the hospital at 6:00 AM, I was five centimeters dilated. Sarah joined us there and immediately turned our hospital birthing suite into a peaceful oasis. She dimmed the lights, draped string lights around the room, and hung up scripture-based birth affirmations. Throughout active labor, my favorite coping mechanism was to walk through contractions, exhale longer than inhale, and apply counter-pressure to my lower back with my thumbs. I stubbornly did not want to try different positions or coping mechanisms. Fortunately for me, Sarah knew that frequently changing positions helps babies navigate through their mother’s bodies, which allows labor to progress more quickly. So, she continued to gently suggest new positions throughout my active labor even though I declined most of them. Without her constantly prompting me to change positions, I probably would not have progressed as quickly as I did. Sarah also never stopped monitoring my contractions. My husband often got distracted by a nurse or doctor who suddenly walked into our birthing suite, but Sarah always kept her eyes on me during contractions, making sure I was still coping well. Suddenly, my tried-and-true coping mechanism stopped working when I hit transition. Sarah noticed this right way and immediately suggested that I get into our birthing suite’s shower. Five minutes after being in the hot shower, I felt the urge to push. I got out of the shower and had a nurse check me. She said I was eight and a half to nine centimeters dilated, so Sarah suggested that I get back into the shower. Five minutes after I got back into the shower, I felt a greater urge to push and something descending. It was my amniotic sack, which still hadn’t ruptured yet. I got onto my hands and knees on the hospital bed, and a nurse told me that I was fully dilated and ready to push. After forty-five minutes of pushing, my daughter was born at 3:08 PM. As a first-time mom, I couldn’t believe that my active labor, transition period, and pushing phase only lasted nine hours. Sarah’s constant care and advice played a huge role in this. Without her, I am sure I would have lingered in active labor for much longer, and I might not have coped throughout transition. She was an invaluable part of my positive birth experience, and working with her was an absolute delight. I cannot recommend her enough!

- Elizabeth S.

Frequently asked questions
Will the doula take the place of my partner?
Are birth outcomes better with doulas?
Aren't doulas and midwives the same thing?
Can a doula help, even if I have an epidural?
Will a doula force her opinion on me or shame me for my choices?
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