Meet Sandy Petriccione

When people ask me how I became a postpartum doula, I always smile—because in many ways, this path has been woven into my life from the very beginning.

I grew up with just one sibling, an older brother, but I was also the oldest girl out of 20 cousins. That role came with its own unique responsibility. From the time I was young, I became the one the family called when they needed help with childcare, pet care, or even house sitting. For years, I was the go-to support person, and I carried that role proudly until my cousins grew up and didn’t need me in the same way anymore. Looking back, it was my first “training” in caregiving—and I loved it.

When I went off to college, I pursued two degrees—one in Media and one in Spanish. After graduation, I built a career as a children and family photographer. I cherished that work deeply. Capturing families in moments of joy, love, and connection was beautiful. But after a while, I felt this tug inside me. I loved creating art and memories, but I wanted to have a more direct, lasting impact on families in my community.

That feeling paired with my lifelong experience in caring for children and supporting families naturally led me to doula work. Becoming a postpartum doula felt less like starting something new and more like stepping into what I was always meant to do.

For me, being a postpartum doula is so much more than a job, it’s a privilege. I have the honor of walking into a family’s life during one of their most tender and transformative seasons. I get to make sure parents feel seen, heard, and cared for in ways that often go overlooked. Sometimes that looks like holding a baby so mom can nap, other times it’s making a warm meal, or simply listening to a new parent’s recap of the day.

I believe this work matters because no family should feel like they have to navigate the fourth trimester alone. Parents deserve support that nurtures both their healing and their joy. And every time I see a tired, uncertain parent grow into a more confident, connected version of themselves, I’m reminded why this path feels so right.

This isn’t just my career—it’s my calling. And I feel grateful every day to be able to serve families in such a meaningful way.

In her own words, why Sandy loves supporting moms in the postpartum period.