Anna The Doula

09/24/2026

I’ve now attending over 150 births and this is a truth I have come to know.

It’s tempting to look to the medical system to save us, to fix us, to make everything “safer”. But, here’s the thing, it’s a fallible system. It can mess up sometimes. AND, there’s no such thing as zero risk.

I’m not anti medicine. I believe it absolutely has a place and access to it does make birth safer when it’s used appropriately.

Taking ownership of your birth can truly transform the experience. If you’re curious to read more, check out my Substack here- https://annasutkowski.substack.com/p/what-ive-learned-from-attending-over?r=226mss&utm_medium=ios

03/12/2024

Announcement time! I am so thrilled to announce the launch of St. Louis Birth and Baby, a collaborative effort between myself and doula-photographer Dana Jacobs Photography. Together, we offer a unique blend of doula support and heirloom-quality documentation, specializing in capturing your journey from pregnancy to parenthood. Our services include birth photography, videography, and doula support, as well as pregnancy and in-home newborn photography.

A little about us: Over the past 7 months, Dana and I have been passionately crafting a more sustainable approach to our beloved work in the birth world, culminating in St. Louis Birth and Baby. With a combined experience of 13 years in birth, we bring expertise and dedication to every client. Plus, we share values of inclusivity and community as well as a love for food and the great outdoors!

We’re beyond excited to embark on this journey together and hope that you’ll support us by following our new social media accounts and spreading the word to friends and family who may benefit from our services.

Visit our website at www.stlouisbirthandbaby.com and connect with us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/people/St-Louis-Birth-and-Baby/61556593803583/) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/stlouisbirthandbaby) for updates and insights.

Thank you for your ongoing support – we can’t wait to be a part of your journey from pregnancy to parenthood.

We are Anna and Dana, doulas and birth photographers in the St. Louis area. When not at a birth, Anna loves to spend time outside with her husband and beagle mix pup. She has a gentle presence, and laughs quite easily. When off call, Dana loves to explore the wilderness with her two daughters and husband. Dana makes anyone she talks to feel like a dear friend, and has a smile that lights up the room. After several successful years building our own businesses, we decided to team up to offer expecting families both doula support and birth photography in a collaborative and community-centered environment. We believe how you’re treated matters. We know having a baby transforms you. This is your story, and it should be held gently and told thoughtfully. We’d love to meet you.

02/23/2024

Capturing precious memories ❤️

02/08/2024

Timeless. The experience of pregnancy and birth spans across years, generations, cultural groups, and locations. It’s a bridge that connects each of us to each other and to humanity as a whole. I think about this often in my work- how we share and pass down experiences, stories, and images.

you are absolutely stunning. thanks for all of the opportunities to create and share life with others.

02/05/2024

Last weekend I went on a retreat in Sedona, AZ with some amazing women, photographers, and birth workers. It was totally a “pinch me is this real?!” type of experience. When I started attending births 6 years ago, I never could’ve imagined the clients I’ve met, the skills I’ve learned, the business I’ve built, and the community I now belong to. Each of these women and there work inspire me to enjoy this life and this work even more. thanks for such a lovely time!

10/05/2023

Isn’t this family beautiful!? It was so fun to capture these moments during the final phases of pregnancy.

I’m currently on call and waiting for several babies to decide it’s time to arrive. Anticipation can build as a due date approaches and passes by. The waiting and the unknown of what might happen and when is one of the hardest parts of birth work for me. I know waiting and not knowing is a challenging experience for many families too.

A huge part of birth work is simply holding space, and that’s what I’m doing now to care for myself and my clients. I hold space, breath deep, think positive thoughts, and channel peace and presence from the comfort of my own home while I wait for the call that it’s time. It’s challenging to lean into the unknown, but it’s also where I can find the most peace.

10/02/2023

Cesarean birth. It happens. As I’ve begun to add photography to my work as a doula, I’ve seen and felt how important it is for families going through a cesarean to have both doula support and birth photography. Advocacy in the operating room is so helpful for ensuring a parent’s preferences are heard. Photos of the time in the operating room can be a huge help in processing birth stories. Cesarean birth is birth. All birth is transformative and impactful.

09/29/2023

The “I did it!” moment. Baby is here! This is one of my favorite parts of birth. Sometimes it happens right away, sometimes it happens minutes, hours, or even days later.
wellmama

09/27/2023

Skin to skin! It’s so important after birth. It’s helpful for both parents and babies. It regulates heart rate, blood sugar, temperature, the nervous system, and helps with establishing feeding. A baby and the birthing parent have been together constantly for months. It makes sense that skin to skin is a vital part of a baby transitioning to existing outside the womb. Skin to skin can also happen all throughout infancy!

09/25/2023

Sometimes in labor, you just need a hug. We can talk about and practice comfort measure tools and techniques, but it’s often the simplest things that can make the biggest impact. A hug, a hand hold, a grounding touch, a deep breath - these can all be so powerful. What kind of touch did you find helpful in your labors?