Being a birth and postpartum doula has been one of my biggest passions in life aside from becoming a mother myself. I think many birth workers can understand that drive, passion, and unexplainable draw towards the birth world. Every birth worker I know has their unique journey into this work but all felt led to this calling with a strong intensity. My journey to becoming a birth and postpartum doula began back in my teenage years.
An Early Fascination With Birth
I can remember being fascinated with birth from a very young age. I vaguely remember witnessing the birth of a calf or two growing up on a dairy farm. However, it was in my teenage years that my fixation on birth took shape. I won’t go deeply into the personal here, but I will say that my growing fascination with birth developed alongside my love of writing. For years, I think I didn’t acknowledge my fascination with the birth world because people would think it was strange for a young girl to be so engrossed with the topic. I wrote about it a lot though which can be witnessed throughout my entire writing life as a poet.
Working As a Childcare Provider
Despite a fascination with birth, I never considered working directly in that realm. I was a childcare provider and nanny throughout high school and college. I loved being a nanny and working with children. Children have such an innocence and playfulness about them which just brightens the world. I was very happy in this field of work but felt a calling to work more directly with women as I grew older.
Career Changes and Challenges
That led me to work with a local non-profit for pregnant women in my community, Hannah’s House of Michiana. I am very passionate about working with populations and individuals who come from underprivileged backgrounds. Hannah’s House was the perfect intersection for working more directly with those populations and new mothers. During my time at Hannah’s House, I became a mother myself and started to think more about finally listening to my heart and pursuing doula training.
Becoming Mama
The birth of my son is something I still struggle to find the right words to describe. It was a beautiful and transformative time in my life. My birth itself went mostly as I desired and I felt supported, secure, and safe during my labor and delivery. Then postpartum hit me. It hit me like a brick to the face. I struggled through the first year after I had my son with so much joy for the life I created followed by moments where I felt so empty and lost.
Putting It All Together & Taking the Leap
One day, in the midst of it all, I just realized that I should stop ignoring my calling, and look into doula training programs. So, I did. It took that leap and never looked back. I became a doula and finally was connecting all the dots that had been there since a young age.
Where I Am Now & What I Offer
I formed my business, Luna Natal Doula Care LLC and pursued my training in birth and postpartum. Here I am now. I offer both birth and postpartum doula services in the Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan area (Michiana).
For birth services, I provide one package with sliding scale prices available if needed and payment plan options as well. I also provide postpartum services. I offer an hourly rate or two package options to choose from. I can also work with you to create a custom package configuration that best suits your desired level of support.
I am so happy to have found my calling and my place in the birth world. It is my passion to help new families feel well supported through the sacredness and sanctity of birth and postpartum. I would love to connect with you and get to know your unique journey into parenthood. Contact me to learn more about what I offer or just to chat through your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience.
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