My Nonprofit Reviews

We first learned about the Pittsburgh Bereavement Doulas after we got the heartbreaking news that our precious baby boy had passed away at 25 weeks. During that appointment, our provider asked if we would like a bereavement doula to meet us at the hospital and I immediately said yes. Within a few hours, our Doula, Sarah Chavis, called me to explain the services that she could offer to us. Even though we were about to face the hardest days of our lives, I felt a sense of relief that we would have the emotional support of a doula. During that first conversation on the phone, Sarah explained that she completely understood how I was feeling because she too experienced a still birth. Not that I wish this pain on anyone else, but I was immediately comforted in knowing that I wasn't alone and that I could talk to someone who truly understood my pain.

When Sarah showed up at the hospital the next day, it felt like an old friend entered the room. Not only were we able to discuss what to expect over the next few hours/days and some of the decisions we would need to make, but also how we were feeling and how we would process those emotions. Sarah also made sure that our wishes for the delivery and the moments after were heard and offered to help facilitate some of the moving pieces, which helped put my mind at ease. While we waited to have our son, Sarah also helped make arrangements with the funeral home; she made phone calls on our behalf and communicated with the social worker so that we had one less thing to worry about during such a difficult time.

After the birth of our baby, Sarah was back by our side. She took the most beautiful pictures of our son (which I didn't understand in the moment how much I would cherish) and she graciously facilitated our son's baptism right in our hospital room. She brought a sense of peace during such a hard time and I will never forget the love and compassion that she showed us during such a hard time. It has been 3 weeks since our son was born and Sarah continues to check in via text. She recommended a few things that have been helpful to her during her grieving process and she validates my emotions. We have had countless people reach out during this time, but there is something special about talking to someone who has been in your shoes and truly understands. I am beyond grateful for the comfort that has been offered to us during this time by Sarah and the Pittsburgh Bereavement Doulas.