Building the Village: Holistic Birth and Postpartum Support with Sarah Shugar Doula
At Aspen Grove Counseling & Wellness, we know that early parenthood can feel both beautiful and overwhelming, especially when you are navigating it without a trusted support network. That is why we created our Building the Village blog series to highlight local professionals and small businesses offering thoughtful, compassionate care to new and expecting parents throughout the Atlanta area. You can explore the full series here.
Each feature introduces you to the people behind the services, what they do, why they do it, and how they are helping families feel more supported and confident during this profound life transition.
This week, we are honored to introduce you to Sarah Shugar, a full-spectrum doula and yoga practitioner offering holistic support through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Sarah’s work centers self-trust, embodiment, and the belief that birth is not just a medical event but a deeply transformative experience. From prenatal education and labor support to postpartum nourishment and emotional tending, she walks alongside families with intention, reverence, and care.
Getting to Know Sarah Shugar Doula
Welcome, Sarah, and thank you for sharing your story with us! Can you start by telling us a little about yourself and the work you do?
“Hi, I'm Sarah! I'm an avid traveler, perpetually barefoot, devoted to my yoga mat, and always on the hunt for the best historical fiction novel. You can often find me sitting at Little Tart, oat milk latte in hand, chatting all things birth with one of my clients.
My work comprises of providing full-spectrum, holistic doula care and one-on-one yoga sessions tailored to each individuals needs. Most of my clients hire me during their first trimester and I support them through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Throughout our prenatal meetings together we discuss the importance of creating a village, the evidence behind common hospital interventions, their specific birth preferences, and how to create a successful postpartum experience. We also practice different labor and pushing positions, breathwork, comfort measures, and pain management techniques. During the fourth trimester, my care shifts to tending to the birthing person's physical recovery, assisting in newborn care, and creating a space where all emotions are welcome and safe to feel and express. Often times, in the postpartum period, I'm whipping up a batch of lentil stew, teaching parents how to use the Solly wrap, or caring for baby while the parents catch up on much needed sleep.
My work is individualized, intentional, and heart centered. It is an honor and privilege to walk alongside families during this pivotal time of expansion, both physically and spiritually.”
Do you offer in-person, virtual, or hybrid services?
“I offer a bit of both - certain prenatal meetings or yoga sessions can be held virtually to accommodate family's busy work schedules. However, some of the prenatal meetings, labor support, and postpartum care is always done in-person. I'm a huge proponent for meeting in-person because I am able to connect with my client on a deeper level, to witness their relationship dynamics, to learn where they like to receive touch, and to bring them a warm cup of tea while we chat.”
What inspired you to start working with new and soon-to-be parents?
“From a young age I've always loved working intimately with families and had a fascination with birth. I began to notice that the level of care and support folks receive during pregnancy has a direct correlation to their birth outcomes and how one feels postpartum. To have space to ask questions or express concerns, be given evidence based information, have autonomy over your own body and decisions, and to build confidence in your ability to birth and raise a little human - all of that can impact one's birth and the bond they create with their baby.”
“The early stage of parenthood feels a lot less scary and isolating when you have an entire village set up to support you.”
What are some of the common challenges your clients face in early parenthood, and how do you support them through that?
“Aside from the pervasive lack of sleep and challenges of meeting an infant's needs, what I hear most time and again from clients is the feeling of isolation and helplessness. New parents are juggling so many moving parts and are constantly having to adapt to the ever-changing demands of a growing baby.
My clients and I really prioritize creating a postpartum plan and ensuring the right support network is in place. I give referrals for lactation consultants, pelvic floor pt's, chiropractors, mental health professionals, and overnight doulas. We schedule daytime postpartum support so I can help lighten the load with laundry, meal prep, and general tidying up. We also discuss some of the more nuanced topics like how to communicate boundaries surrounding the baby with eager to help family members.
That early stage of parenthood feels a lot less scary and isolating, and way more uplifting, when you have an entire village set up to support you.”
What makes your approach unique or different from others in your field?
“My view on pregnancy and birth can be summarized as 'the body as home, wisdom as internal, and care as reverent and cyclical.' I believe the tools needed for birth reside within us already and I work to help folks develop that deep sense of self-trust needed to access those tools. I am an unbiased supporter and willful advocator, helping my clients to achieve the birth they envision for themselves.
My care is designed to not only be inclusive of one's mind, body, and spirit but also for families in all forms. I have a passion for working with non-traditional family structures ranging from single mom's by choice, same sex couples, non-binary folks, and surrogates to name a few. It is my belief that the whole world will be a better place when all birthing people and new families are treated with the care and respect they deserve. ”
Are there particular moments in your work that feel especially meaningful or rewarding?
“One of things that makes a doula/client relationship so unique is the level of trust and understanding you develop with one another. I have been entrusted with their traumas and life's hardships and I bear witness to the struggles they navigate through pregnancy and the complex healthcare system. Hearing a client advocate for their needs at the hospital after we practiced navigating these tough conversations, watching a birthing person hold their newborn for the first time after experiencing a loss, or seeing the joy in one's face when they successfully breastfeed after a challenging journey to get there. Those are the moments that remind me why this is my calling, why I choose birthwork again and again.”
Can you share one thing you wish all new parents knew or believed about themselves?
“I wish all new parents knew they were the perfect and right parent for their baby. We live in a world filled with comparison, polarizing opinions, self doubt, various parenting styles claiming to be the best, and "mom's who can do it all and look good" on social media - it's exhausting and self-deprecating thinking you can please the masses. I urge everyone to quiet the outside noise and to tap into what feels right for themselves and their babies, only you know what is right for your family.”
What’s something you wish more people understood or asked about your work?
“Doulas are for everyone and every type of birth. We support births in hospital settings, birth centers, and at home; we support births that are unmedicated, epiduralized, or cesarean sections. No matter what type of birth you chose, we can offer guidance and reassurance.
Also that doulas are present to support the family as a whole and to work in conjunction with healthcare providers. We educate and help build the confidence of partners, and we foster a team environment amongst nurses and doctors. Our role is to create synergy.”
How can someone know if your service might be a good fit for them?
“If you're pregnant and wanting a supported, empowered, and embodied birth experience than hiring a doula is a necessity. Reach out and we can schedule a consultation to see if we're a good fit for each other - if not, I can point you in the direction of another amazing doula.”
We are so grateful to Sarah for the grounded, inclusive, and deeply personal care she offers to families in our community. Birth and the early postpartum period are expansive seasons of change, and having someone who honors both the physical and emotional layers of that transition can make all the difference.
Sarah’s work is a reminder that support during pregnancy and postpartum is not about doing it “right,” but about feeling informed, respected, and held. When families are given space to trust themselves and build a strong village around them, the entire journey feels steadier.
You can learn more about Sarah’s services at www.sarahshugardoula.com, or email info@sarahshugardoula.com.
About the Author - Aspen Grove Counseling and Wellness
Aspen Grove Counseling & Wellness is a Decatur-based therapy practice supporting individuals and couples across Georgia. We offer warm, steady, emotionally attuned care through all stages of parenting — from pregnancy and postpartum to the ongoing changes of family life.
Our specialties include pregnancy/postpartum therapy, couples counseling for parents, and The Intentional Babymoon — a private, retreat-style intensive designed to help partners reconnect, communicate, and prepare for life after baby.
Whether you’re navigating new parenthood, shifting identities, or the long-term work of caring for others while staying connected to yourself, you deserve support that honors the full complexity of your experience. We’re here to walk alongside you.