About Sanctuary Doulas + Family Care
Sanctuary Doulas + Family Care is proud to be a team of over fifty compassionate, perinatal health professionals supporting growing families through fertility, pregnancy, birth, postpartum and beyond. Sanctuary’s interdisciplinary team is made up of birth and postpartum doulas, overnight doulas, infant feeding specialists (IBCLCs and CLCs), massage therapists, psychotherapists, family chefs, nutritionists, and herbalists, all of whom are honored to play an integrative role in supporting families during this special season of life. We believe it takes a village to birth and raise a family and that every season has its own story. We are honored to walk beside our clients as these stories come to life.
What sets Sanctuary Doulas apart?
We pride ourselves on being the only agency in the area that offers an interdisciplinary team that is centrally scheduled and managed through one interface, with involved and available leadership ready to support the team and our clients in carrying out our care during this special season of life.
Continuity
From prenatal care through family support in the months after the immediate postpartum season, Sanctuary Doulas has support built in to support your needs as they ebb and flow throughout the childbearing years. No matter when your family finds Sanctuary, we can help, and we’re honored to have the opportunity to do so.
Flexibility
Whether you are planning ahead for ideal support before, during and after your birth or you’re already home with babe in your arms, Sanctuary Doulas is here to support your journey. We tailor each family’s care to their specific needs and desires and are honored to ebb and flow with the changes that come during this precious season.
Professionalism
DONA International (DONA) and Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA) Standards of Practice, among other highly accredited perinatal care programs’ guidelines, set the standard for our care. All of our care providers have completed Infant CPR training, carry professional liability insurance and have passed all background and reference checks.
Inclusivity
We know that not all pregnant and postpartum people identify as women. We see you and respect you. We are here to serve everyone in their journeys and are happy to tailor our language and pronouns to be inclusive of you and your loved ones’s identities. We welcome open, honest communication so we can provide care that honors your whole self, not society’s construct of it.
Access + Insurance
We work side-by-side with our local non-profit sister organization, The Abundance Project, to provide access to care to families facing economic, racial and ethnic disparities in birth and postpartum doula care. We are involved and monitoring the access challenges families in our state and around the country are facing and are connected and engaged in conversations with private and state-funded insurance carriers, as well as employee benefit programs such as Carrot and Progyny, working hard to open access to this vital layer of support and care for all. It’s our honor to advocate in our community, and we won’t stop until all families can reap the benefits of exceptional perinatal and family support at home.
Technology + Communication
We have our very own free mobile app (available for download in Apple App and Google Play stores) to manage your care schedule, book a massage in our office in Boulder, or book an info call to learn more about our services. We can push out notifications about new group offerings, last minute visit availability, and you can update your payment right in the app, bringing ease to the logistics of care during what can already be a complicated time of life. With both mobile and desktop capabilities and secure, internal team communication software, our process allows for coordination of care to flow seamlessly ahead of and throughout the duration of care.
Why do our doulas love this work?
“I love working shoulder to shoulder with my dear, skilled professional birth and postpartum doula sisters to offer the most exquisite care to families as they journey toward and through pregnancy, birth and the postpartum time. I am passionate about this portal of change, growth and transformation being served and held as so very special and sacred - as each family defines their dreams and hearts’ desires.”
— Michele
“The best part about being a doula is getting to witness and support new families in finding their own voice and rhythm. I love to nourish mamas and their people through food, baby snuggles and connection. Working in collaboration with other amazing doulas allows us all to grow from each others' strengths and provide the best of care to our clients.”
— Anna
“I love supporting clients to feel both at ease and powerful by providing witness, education, self-advocacy and spiritual guidance to navigate the unpredictable terrain of early parenthood. In my birth & postpartum caregiving, I am passionate about reminding families of their innate knowing, and I encourage them to surrender to the support needed to thrive and heal during this potent transition.”
— Jetha
“I love supporting families while in community. It is such a gift to have a team of professionals to work with, and alongside while supporting families' needs. It truly takes a village.”
— Julie
“I get immense satisfaction in helping new mommas, what a wonderful feeling to know I may have changed the course of a new mommas journey for the better simply with good support, good listening, encouragement and empathy!”
— Jill
Sanctuary’s Owners
Sanctuary is owned by Jess and Ali - two passionate postpartum doulas who are dedicated to supporting families and increasing access to care in this special season of life!
Jess Hanlin
Co-Owner, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Postpartum Doula
Jess began this work after becoming a mother herself, recognizing the importance of support around all aspects of postpartum care, especially maternal mental health. Her own experience with postpartum depression and anxiety after the birth of her daughter was a ground-shaking and deeply humbling experience. Having a drastically more grounded and supported postpartum experience after her son’s birth drew her back in the field, interweaving the roles of postpartum doula and therapist, leading to a beautiful marriage of nurturing postpartum care and mood support in the home setting. Jess is a CAPPA-trained postpartum doula, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, postnatal and restorative yoga instructor, having completed advanced training in Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders. When not working, Jess enjoys spending time with her two children, soaking in the fresh air in the mountains, and hanging with her sweet pup, Ivy.
Ali Batwin
Co-Owner, Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), Postpartum Doula
Ali feels passionately that all families deserve support and strives to bring doula work to families in Colorado and beyond. She was inspired to work in maternal and infant health from a young age as she watched her mother create nutrition programs for moms and babies in developing countries. She is a CLC with the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice, a CAPPA-trained postpartum doula, a yoga instructor and family chef. Prior to her career in maternal health, Ali worked in media and managed several small film and marketing firms. She’s particularly passionate about cooking and baking and continuously studies postpartum healing recipes from various traditions and cultures. Ali also loves leading new moms in restorative and yin yoga private classes to promote relaxation and awareness. Ali speaks conversational Spanish and Mandarin Chinese and loves working with families of all cultures. When not working, she’s traveling, skiing, foraging for wild mushrooms, camping or baking with her niece.