My Journey To Becoming A Doula

I was once told before having children, by my sister who'd just had a baby, that I would make a great Doula. At the time, I couldn’t have been more opposed to the idea. I thought doulas were only present at births, helping to catch the baby – I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Fast forward about six years, and I’m having my first child. Suddenly, I’m navigating breastfeeding challenges, exhaustion, and a lack of support. That’s when I realized the only help I was truly going to get was from my myself. It was during this time that my passion for lactation and breastfeeding support began to grow.

Then came my “oops” baby – because, well, I did it again! Baby number two was a lot easier. I knew what to expect and could tell the difference between gas pains and a trip to the emergency room. I’d had time to master breastfeeding, so that wasn’t an issue. But, what I didn’t expect was postpartum depression, which lingered far longer than I anticipated.

When I found out I was pregnant with my third, I knew I wanted to pursue a career as a lactation consultant. After having him, I started looking into classes while working as a breastfeeding counselor. The full-circle moment came when I met an amazing IBCLC who referred me to someone who encouraged me to become a doula while I continued my lactation education. Although I never became an IBCLC, I found my true calling in supporting families as a doula. It turns out that what I truly needed wasn’t just to help with lactation but to be there for families in every way – providing not just physical support, but emotional, mental, and practical guidance as they navigate the beautiful, challenging journey of parenthood.

Becoming a doula allowed me to do just that, and now I’m honored to be a part of so many families' stories, helping them feel empowered, supported, and ready to embrace the new chapters in their lives.