Sedef was an incredible doula. Her guidance and training gave me the confidence and tools to have a joyful pregnancy, birthing experience, and postpartum. I wholeheartedly believe she is a one-of-a-kind person who is perfectly fitted for her role as a doula. Although there were many incredible resources and ideas I gained from my time with Sedef, one of the most grounding for me was the Mother's Blessing. I had some big emotions and thoughts about my pregnancy, parenting, and motherhood and was feeling like these were things no one else experienced or would understand. The Mother's Blessing changed that for me. Hearing the readings and quotes that Sedef shared during the Mother's Blessing opened my heart and eyes to the shared experiences and emotions that pregnancy brings to all women. It helped me understand that although these were new emotions and ideas for me, pregnant women have been tuned into them for a very long time. It helped me accept that however I was feeling was normal and I could learn to positively manage my thoughts and actions to move into a better space. Additionally, hearing from the other women and being able to hear their experiences and expectations created a very warm and supportive environment which would continue to assist me as I moved through my pregnancy and the first year of motherhood. I am forever grateful to Sedef for helping make childbirth such a wonderful experience and think any expectant mother would be lucky to have her as their doula.

Thank you!

Heather

I can say that having met Sedef was a game changer – we felt so lucky having found her during my pregnancy and delivery process. Although we have met in the last weeks of my pregnancy, I felt her love and compassion all around me, which felt great! Each pregnancy is unique and so are the needs of the mother. I believe Sedef has the capability to understand those needs and can provide the necessary motivation, support and relief to the mother she is with. Sadly, I wasn’t as lucky with my obstetrician, and so I didn’t have a harmonious relationship with them during the delivery. Thanks to my husband and Sedef’s support I was able to overcome this. Since Sedef knew what kind of birth I wanted, she supported me 100% physically and emotionally and helped me hug my son at the end.

I have to admit, I was skeptical about the added value of a doula - especially since I thought I’ve had quite a positive birthing experience with my firstborn without the additional help. However, finding myself pregnant in a foreign country with little knowledge of the language and coupled with the strange and uncertain circumstances brought on by the pandemic*, I found myself searching for the extra support.

The experience of having a doula was invaluable and eye-opening in so many ways. It also taught me a lot about my first birthing experience. It answered questions that I had pushed to the back of my mind, partly because I was not as informed and empowered to say what I felt or what I wanted my birthing experience to look like in an ideal world.

My husband was also a lot more involved. Having the sessions with our doula prior to the birth helped him feel much more a part of the process. When labour day arrived we were both a lot more prepared, and he was comfortable in the knowledge that he could help manage my pain with me and keep my energy and spirits up!

Sedef is a wonderful doula. Softly spoken, caring, without being overbearing. She listens intently to your needs and does whatever she can to make your pregnancy journey and post pregnancy life as stress-free as a possible. I’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve said, we wouldn’t know what we’d have done without her!

*Pregnancy and birth took place during the pandemic in 2020

We moved from Kenya to Turkey just two months before our due date and we were quite nervous doing so. Will we find a new, good doctor? Will we choose the right hospital? Can we navigate the language barrier? These and many other questions swirled through our minds. The answer to all of them: Sedef.

Sedef helped us find the most amazing doctor, who stayed with us throughout the entire labour. She also helped us take away fears we had around birth, postpartum and parenthood. She’s very calm, patient and reassuring and has the kindest heart. She’s also very well connected in the birth community and whether you need a trained antenatal massage therapist who is also a midwife and paediatric nurse or the best newborn photographer, Sedef always has the best recommendations.

As the father to be you can sometimes feel superfluous to the birth process. Sedef immediately brings you in, and makes you feel integral to the event. She helps the father define his role and give him the tools to support the mother. She makes the father feel not only welcome but important for the process and ready and confident to help their wives through this difficult but wondrous journey.

Our relationship with Sedef bloomed way beyond birth support, she’s become our Turkish sister and an ally. There’s no words that can truly describe the type of service Sedef gives you. She’s selfless, knowledgeable and just like a warm light you want to wrap yourself into.

People often say "nothing can fully prepare you for being a parent". While it is true in many ways, the help and guidance from a doula like Sedef can make a huge difference in getting us started on the right path and give us much needed confidence to persevere through any challenges that come our way.

Becoming new parents a time of isolation* is extra challenging, so having had Sedef with us on this journey has meant the world to us. Sedef is a midwife, mother, sister and psychologist all in one and she will forever remain our baby girl Rosie's fairy godmother. We will never forget her kindness, wisdom, generosity and loving spirit. Our family owes her a debt of gratitude and we thank her from the bottom of our hearts!

*Pregnancy and birth took place during the pandemic in 2020

I can’t recommend working with a doula enough, both before and after giving birth. That’s what I did and I believe that having Sedef with me throughout the entire journey makes me one of the luckiest women on earth. Her birth preparation classes for me and my husband were worth gold. Although I had to have an immediate c-section, she was there for me the minute I came out of the operating hall. Her calming and soothing voice is remedy enough to make you feel better.

She is really good at her job: both during pregnancy and postpartum I felt good, comfortable and not judged around her. When everyone around you, with all their good intentions, focuses on your little one, she takes care of YOU and she does it so well. She also teaches your husband coping strategies and how best to support the mother - something that my husband was really grateful for.

If you want to enjoy this wonderful journey of pregnancy and welcoming a child, I strongly recommend you to work with a doula - with Sedef in particular, if you are lucky enough. It takes knowing her to understand the true meaning of my words here - only then will you also understand that she is much, much more than anyone could ever put into words to begin with.

I feel very lucky to have been under the wings of a doula like Sedef during the most precious hours and in preparation to meeting my baby girl.

Feeling Sedef’s warm support and hearing her calm voice boosted my courage and self-esteem. Whenever the feeling of tiredness was about to surround me, Sedef was there to hold my hand and offer solutions or relief.

Had it not been for her, I may have made decisions which I now know I would have come to regret. She helped me find myself and accompanied me on my walk through the corridors of my inner labyrinth, at the end of which I was holding my baby girl. I hope I can work with her again for the next time(s).