It all started honestly after I gave birth to my first daughter. I say that each birth taught me so much and the first time I learned everything I didn’t want for the next time. I went in blind, uneducated, and scared. This led to me feeling like birth “happened to me”. That feeling propelled me to immerse myself into all the birth education I could afford to get my hands on. For my second birth, I desired to have unmedicated labor. With mental training and education, I conquered that mountain. However, I knew there had to be more. My unmedicated birth was great compared to my first one (induction with an epidural), but I deeply desired to birth on my own terms. I didn’t want anyone telling me I HAD to lay on my back to push, and I wanted to feel more in control of my body. 

Before I got pregnant with my third baby, I started researching homebirth (without my husband being aware that I was doing so). When I finally brought the idea up to my husband, I was met with fear (understandably so because all he knew was our society’s version of birth). After a lot of prayer, education, and unlearning, he knew that he had to trust that I was being obedient and that I knew my body was capable. We pursued homebirth, and boy did it bring our family closer together. Pregnancy is supposed to be a time of growth for more than just your body and baby. It shows you how to lean on God, makes you realize that you are not the one in control, and teaches you to be grateful for every day you have with your family. I ended up having a wonderful homebirth. 

The funny thing is that I thought the birth itself was going to be the lesson. However, the moments after I delivered my baby were the tougher parts. In those hard moments and throughout my pregnancy and labor, I was held and comforted by the women I invited into my birth space (my husband too, of course, but there’s a different feeling when you have a group of women surrounding you) : My daughter encouraging me through surges, my midwife feeding me while I fed my baby for the first time (and obviously caring for me and my baby through it all), my best friend letting my squeeze her hand as we navigated a blood loss situation (it worked out just fine, but it was a tough few moments), my other friend (and photographer) encouraging me in labor and watching me during labor for anytime I needed something, my mother-in-law being there for my other kids and any need I had, and my mom serving me in the days of pregnancy and postpartum. While all these women aren’t in my photos, the memories of them caring for me are ingrained forever. I felt so blessed to be gently and deeply cared for throughout this time. This was the biggest lesson for me throughout the entire pregnancy and birth. It wasn’t just birthing at home that made my experience incredibly positive, it was the support and care I had through all of it. Over the next few days of recovering, I felt this burning in my spirit and thought “THIS is how all women deserve to be cared for.” I knew at that moment that I was being called to step into supporting women through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I wasn’t sure when or how, but I knew that was where I was headed. 

So here I am today, stepping into my calling. I am finishing up my doula course through Pain Free Birth and will have a Certificate at the end of May. However, I believe it doesn’t take a certificate to be a great doula. It takes a woman with a servant’s heart bringing peace and strength to a birth space. That is what I would love to bring to YOU! The world tells us to FEAR birth and the sensations that come with it. When we learn about the physiology (the Design of birth), we realize what is actually happening in our body and how incredible it is. 

What IF we invited each sensation with welcoming arms, knowing that the Design of birth is inherently Good for us AND our babies?