People always ask me how and why I decided to become a doula and really, it was a dream almost 20 years in the making. It started when my mom was pregnant with my sister. I loved watching her belly grow and I was so excited to be a big sister! I was present when she was born, being 9 at the time. I don’t remember everything, but I do remember being face to face with my sister entering the world, touching her little head as she came out, being one of the first to hold her, my face beet red from crying. I never realized what an impact that experience would have on me, but looking back I can definitely say it helped shape my love of babies, pregnant women, and birth.
It wasn’t until I was almost 28 that it all came full circle. I was unhappy with my meaningless restaurant job and I knew I wanted something else. I was discussing options with my mom one day and as we talked I flipped through Pinterest, not realizing how a previous timewaster was suddenly going to change my life.
I came upon a picture of a baby born encaul, which means born in the sac of waters. I stopped immediately and handed my phone to my mom, tears welling up because it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
It was at that point she suggested I become a doula.
I had never heard the term before and looked it up. I was shocked to find such a job actually existed. One can hardly call it a job, it’s a passion, a way of life even. I started looking up everything I could about it. I was fascinated. This was it, this was what my life had been waiting for.
Within one year of that memorable day, I had quit my restaurant job, signed up for a doula training with DONA, and started down a path that would open up so many doors and options to me.
Over the 3 ½ years that I have been doing doula work I have developed a passion for health and wellness I didn’t know existed in me. That passion led me to follow my dreams I had had since I was 15 to attend school for massage therapy. Doula work and massage go hand in hand and I am thrilled to be able to offer such complimentary services.
Massage school only scratched the surface of nutrition and fitness that I had already been getting into. As an active, health-conscious individual I desire to bring more awareness to my clients as best suits them. I will be adding more training and education with nutrition and fitness in the future for my clients.
Something I truly didn’t expect but have actually enjoyed, despite the initial difficulties, was learning how run my own business, how to market myself, build a website, engage customers, design eye-catching ads, and create content. It’s more challenging being self-taught and it definitely takes me longer to figure things out. But now it’s a skill that I will also be honing in the future with social-media marketing and design classes.
Five years ago I was almost 30, frustrated, and unsure. Now I have so many ideas and options ahead of me I have to actively tell myself to slow down and focus on one plan at a time. I don’t believe everything would have lined up so perfectly before now. This was the right time, and I am so thankful. I have big plans for M.O. Body and Birth, for my clients and myself. Stay connected and grow with me!