Syracuse Doula

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Syracuse, NY
Syracuse Doula

Lactation, birth and postpartum support services, for CNY families, offering in-person and virtual options. I provide services within 1 hour of Syracuse, NY.

I’m Alicia, a DONA trained birth and postpartum doula, and Certified Breastfeeding Specialist, supporting families throughout Central New York. I completed my birth doula training in 2019 and postpartum doula training in 2022, both through Beautiful Birth Choices of Rochester, NY. I became a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist through Lactation Education Resources in January 2024. I will work with you to uncover your confidence, strength, and natural intuition. Whether you desire a hospital birth, home birth, medical interventions, or a drug free experience, I will work with you to discover what’s most valuable and create a plan that empowers you throughout each trimester. I also offer virtual support for families outside of my radius, or who are looking to keep their in-person support to a minimum.

10/28/2025

A doula’s role is never to replace your partner, it’s to help both of you feel supported and confident.

Through virtual doula care, I guide families in preparing before labor begins, so that when the big day arrives, you and your partner feel informed, empowered, and prepared.

Your baby’s birth is an important day for both of you, and with the right preparation, your partner can feel calm, capable, and ready to hold space for you every step of the way.

Interested in learning how virtual doula support can help you both feel prepared for birth? Let’s connect.

10/22/2025

Happy due date to me! Five years ago today I was due with my daughter… and she took her time, arriving 8 days later 🫠

If you’re past your due date and feeling nervous, frustrated or anxious, you’re not alone. I’ve been there, and so have many of my clients. It’s easy to be “over it” and want to throw all plans of going into labor spontaneously out the window, even if you and baby are healthy.

Waiting can be such an emotional time. Having a supportive partner and medical provider who respect your wishes makes all the difference.

I was lucky to feel safe and cared for while my team kept a close eye on me and reassured me that it’s very normal for babies to come on their own timeline.

If you’re in that waiting space right now, know that you’re not alone and that doulas provide support throughout all stages of pregnancy, not just during birth. I’m here to help you feel grounded, informed, and supported while you wait for your baby to arrive 🫶

10/17/2025

Is it about time for your baby to start eating solids? 🍓🥦🥑

If you’re breastfeeding (this includes you pumping moms!) you might be worried about how starting solid foods could impact your milk supply.

These three tips will help you get started, so that you can introduce your baby to the solid foods that they need while also protecting your milk supply.

As you gradually introduce more solid foods into your baby’s diet, it’s normal for your milk supply to gradually decrease.

If you still have questions or concerns, I am a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist and available for virtual support. I’m also always happy to discuss your concerns and refer out to the many wonderful IBCLCs in our area who can also support you 🫶

10/15/2025

This photo was taken in 2022, shortly after I found out I had miscarried my second baby.

1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss. Knowing I’m not alone in that statistic brings some comfort, but it doesn’t make the pain any less real.

To my clients, friends, and followers who have experienced loss: your baby mattered. 🫶No matter how long you were pregnant, your love and grief are valid, and your little one is remembered. Whether or not I’ve walked beside you through it, please know I’m here if you ever need someone to talk to.

Today, October 15, is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Today I remember my own baby, and my sister who was stillborn. I hold space for all the tiny lives gone too soon, and for the families who carry them in their hearts every day. 🕯️❤️

08/23/2025

It’s and I’m so grateful to be able to celebrate my own rainbow baby for the second year, on this day.

Miscarriage and pregnancy loss is unfortunately so common, and it’s a “club” I would never wish to be part of. I’m grateful I’ve been blessed with two living children of my own, but there will always be a part of me that feels incomplete because of the baby I never got to meet.

It’s important that we not only raise awareness on the subject but also acknowledge how common this is. So many families have had to struggle with the early loss of their baby, and yet it can feel so lonely when it happens.

If you have experienced pregnancy loss in any way, please know you’re not alone. There are people and resources out there to support you. You’re not alone.

📸:

08/01/2025

Happy World Breastfeeding Week!

This week means so much to me, as both a mother and as a breastfeeding specialist.

My first breastfeeding journey was tumultuous, and ended earlier than I wanted it to. It made me realize how hard it is to get access to support and good information, and as a new mom who thought I was educated on the topic it was all very overwhelming.

Now, as a second time mom who is still breastfeeding almost 15 months into my son’s life, I’m honored to be able to regularly support moms and their babies on their own breastfeeding journeys.

Breastfeeding alone can be hard enough, and I believe that anyone who wants to feed their infant human milk has the right to do so. Everyone should have access to good education and a support system. Breastfeeding (whether it’s directly from the body, exclusively pumping, or donor milk) needs to be normalized and talked about. It provides important nutrients for our babies in their earliest days and all families deserve the choice and ability to give their baby breastmilk if they decide that’s important to them.

If you are pregnant and planning to breastfeed, or already on your journey and find yourself asking a lot of questions, know that I’m here to help ♥️

07/16/2025

‼️This is one of the most important pieces of advice I will share with anyone who is feeding their baby breastmilk!‼️

It can be so tempting, especially early on when you’re super sleep deprived, to skip a session and feed your baby formula or previously pumped milk. But, skipping sessions isn’t going to do you any favors.

Especially in the first ~8-12ish weeks, your supply is still establishing and skipping sessions can significantly reduce your milk supply.

⭐️Breastmilk supply can only be maintained by proper demand, so if you’re choosing to give your baby formula or previously expressed milk, make sure you’re pumping to send those signals to your body.

In addition to a reduced supply, skipping sessions can result in uncomfortable engorgement, clogged ducts and even a serious infection called mastitis.

Don’t let any of this scare you though. As time goes on, your supply will regulate and your baby won’t be eating around the clock. Breastfeeding and pumping gets easier for a lot of people, especially when you are armed with the right support and education around it.

If you’re constantly running into questions about direct body feeding, pumping, etc. reach out to me. I’d love to work with you and support you on your journey ♥️

06/16/2025

As someone who lost my father at the age of 12, celebrating Father’s Day has always been tough. I feel so grateful that my children have such a wonderful dad of their own to celebrate, but the pain so many feel on this holiday is not lost on me.

This year, my perspective has shifted a bit. I’m recognizing that there are so many unique ways to celebrate Father’s Day.

I have been lucky to have many father figures in my own life, to step in and support me after my dad passed away. And now I recognize how many men support my own children, loving them as if they were their own.

My daughter wanted to make cards for Father’s Day for her dad and grandfather… and then proceeded to ask if she could make cards for one of her uncles, and my mom’s boyfriend. At first I said “no, they aren’t your dad or they have their own kids to celebrate them”, but then I realized that these men play such an important role in her life and they deserve to know how much they mean to my kids.

If you are a mom who is grieving not having your own dad to celebrate, or for your kids to celebrate today, I want you to know that I see you. It has taken me 25 years without my own dad to really grasp that father figures come in all shapes and forms, and even though no one may be able to replace the loss of a biological parent I hope that you can find the love and support from other men in your life for both yourself and your children.

It does take a village, and I think we too often overlook the men who lift us up and care for us.

Happy Father’s Day to all of the dads out there, the men who serve as a father figure, and to the moms who step up to play both roles. ♥️

06/06/2025

Today is International Homebirth Day 🥰

Did you know I’ve had one hospital birth and one homebirth? I feel blessed that both experiences were overall positive, and I had supportive midwives and nurses at both. I know that’s not always the case.

People are always surprised to hear I gave birth at home. Yes, it does feel very badass… because everyone who births a baby should. It’s HARD no matter how you do it.

I recognize that having a baby at home is not the right choice for everyone, but I do hope to normalize it. People are interested in it, but also so scared of it. To help foster that conversation, here are my top three favorite things about having my baby at home vs. the hospital:

1. Prenatal care that was personalized to my needs and visits that lasted about ~1 hour, if not longer.

2. How my son’s emergency shoulder dystocia was handled. People fear emergencies in homebirth, but I feel confident my emergency was handled perfectly, calmly and professionally. I do not think the outcome would have been as positive in a hospital.

3. The postpartum care. There was nothing better than being able to rest in my own bed, have follow ups for me and baby at my own house, and truly get to relax and enjoy my baby with minimal interruptions.

Are you interested in homebirth? What questions can I help answer for you?

05/21/2025

Are you liking color prints or all natural better?

Placenta prints are such a unique way to commemorate your pregnancy, and the organ that provided your baby with the oxygen and nutrients they needed.

I’m so excited to now offer placenta prints as a standalone service, or as an add on to your placenta encapsulation order.

Order before June 30 (your due date can be later in the year, or even in 2026!) and prints are only $25! Comment below or send me a DM to discuss ordering yours 🥰

04/21/2025

💲🐰💲BINGO FLASH SALE!! 💲🐰💲

🎁Looking for a last-minute Easter gift this weekend? 🐣
🎟We're running a flash sale on tickets for our Second Annual BINGO for Mental Health with The Wildcat this weekend only!

⏰From now until midnight tomorrow, not only will you save $5 off your ticket, but the booking fee is also waived! For a limited time, tickets will be a flat $25!!

👇🏼Head on over to our ticket page to scoop up this deal before time runs out! Enter code BUNNY25 at checkout.
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/safespaceorganization/1610449

04/19/2025

Did you know April is International Cesarean Awareness Month?

Let’s talk about doulas and c-sections. A lot of people think there is no reason to work with a doula if you’re planning to have a cesarean, but that’s just not true! Doulas help support ALL types of births, and having a c-section doesn’t change that.

Doulas provide so much more than physical support during labor. I also support my clients by talking through decisions and worries that come up throughout pregnancy, figuring out questions to ask their medical providers, creating a birth plan so they can have an empowered birth, referring them to local resources, and lending a listening ear for all of their early postpartum questions. Having a c-section doesn’t change the fact that moms still deserve that support.

If you’re scheduled for a c-section and interested in working together, reach out! I’m available for both virtual and in-person support.

**Please note that the local Syracuse hospitals unfortunately do not currently allow doulas in the operating room, unless it’s in place of your partner. If your partner is going to be in the operating room with you, I am able to support you in the hospital afterward.

Address

Syracuse, NY

Website

http://www.aliciasuskin.com/

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