Birthed: Why I Decided to Become a Doula
In early 2022, I set out on a journey to become a certified birth doula. Although I lacked clarity about where the path would lead, I felt an undeniable tug at my heart to pursue the process and allow it to form me. I wanted to share a few thoughts about the journey thus far, and answer some questions I’m oftentimes asked.
So what exactly is a birth doula?
A birth doula is a non-medical support role that assists in preparation during pregnancy through education, and provides comfort measures, hands-on support and advocacy during labor and deliver. Although doulas are more often requested by persons wishing to have unmedicated and low-intervention births either at hospitals, birthing centers or home births, they can be of great help and comfort for those opting for inductions, medication and cesarean deliveries as well.
Doulas are experts when it comes to the physiological and psychological processes of birth, and they maintain a calm and steady presence that helps their clients feel safe and supported. They use techniques such as hands-on support and massage during contractions, aromatherapy, as well as making recommendations for different laboring positions and breathing techniques to cope with discomfort.
The word doula is greek for “one who serves,” which I find to be a beautiful meaning for the word. The heart and posture of a doula is to come alongside and lovingly serve families as they enter the sacred portal of birth and bring a new life into the world. I truly believe that the way a person is born matters, and it is so important to prioritize experiences of safety, comfort, empowerment and connection in the birthing room.
Why did I decide to become a birth doula?
This is an understandable question! I’ve been a successful freelance wedding and portrait photography for a decade, which, all things considered, is a pretty “glamorous” job - and affords a very flexible lifestyle. Birth work is pretty much the opposite of that! Birth work is unpredictable, messy, and exhausting.
But, I think that’s really the main reason I felt drawn to birth work. At my core, what makes me feel most alive is when i’m deeply invested and supporting others through the real, raw, messy parts of life. I’ve discovered this through wedding photography - my favorite and most memorable parts of a wedding day aren’t the big crescendos of applause as the newlyweds enter the ballroom (although that is fun) - it’s the quiet, unseen moments: when I’m waiting with the groom before the first look, chatting to help him calm his nerves. Or when a bride’s mom is caught off guard by her tears when she sees her baby girl dressed as a bride. It’s those little unplanned, unscripted and sometimes uncomfortable moments that really make my soul light up, and it’s why I felt a tug towards birth work.
Birth work also keeps you planted in a way that wedding photography doesn’t. Although I love to travel, I’m a total homebody at heart, and becoming more rooted in my life feels like a welcome invitation. When I’m on call for a birth, I’m forced to slow down, be selective with what I say yes to, and and live in the present moment.
A few other reasons i decided to become a birth doula + photographer:
-I wanted to incorporate something into my life that gave me the opportunity to be “in the thick of it” with folks and provide hands-on support and education about physical and mental wellness - something I’m passionate about! Learning to trust and listen to my body has been an incredibly healing journey for me, and i can’t think of a better season than pregnancy and birth to help empower other women to do the same.
-As a professional photographer, I’m so inspired by documenting life’s raw and unfiltered moments in a way that captures beauty, emotion and connection. Birth has been one of my favorite things to document in the past couple of years, so naturally it made sense to learn how to provide actual support to the couples that trusted me to be in the birthing room with them. I love that i can focus on providing hands-on support during labor, then grab my camera and capture lots of precious photos of a baby’s first moments of life.
-On a deeper spiritual level, I felt a soul invitation that as I would learn what it was like to be a companion to others through their physical births, that I would be learning how to let God be a midwife and companion to me though my own inner transformations and surrender. Birth is such a beautiful picture of the pattern of death to our small selves and transformation toward a bigger love that we all experience as humans. I hope that my experience as a doula will prepare me to walk beside others through all kinds of unknowns and transformations. The last few years of my life have been marked by some personal struggles and losses, and the spiritual significance of my journey as a doula has not been lost on me in the process.
Are you becoming a doula full-time?
I’m still in the midst of the journey, but at this point in time I am only taking on a limited number of births per year as an addition to my full-time role as wedding and portrait photographer, as my schedule allows. Someday, I may transition into more full-time birth work, but for now I am continuing to focus the majority of my creative and professional energy towards maintaining and growing my photography business.
That being said, I have become incredibly passionate and enthusiastic about my work as a doula, and feel that it has only sharpened my relational and professional skills throughout all of my work. Although it can be tricky to juggle weddings, portrait clients and births, I’m finding my own rhythm and discovering that it’s really quite a complimentary pairing of pursuits. My work as a photographer was a wonderful foundation for developing my practice as a doula, and likewise as my confidence grows in birth work, I find my confidence as a photographer expanding and depending as well.
