What do you like most about being a doula?

Being a doula is one of the greatest honors of my life. What do I like most? All of it, even the hardest parts of it. To witness families grow. To watch a laboring mom find her strength and determination. To witness a partner being the rock the mom desperately needs. To document with photography. It’s all so incredible and so very sacred. I am a fierce protector of the birthing dyad and I honor and value the birthing space, entirely. 

My entire philosophy and why I love being a doula, is that no matter how a family decides to labor and no matter where they decide to labor, they get to walk away with empowerment, strength, and the feeling that they had full agency and informed consent during their birthing experience (even if the plan changes). I really have one of the best jobs in the world and I’m simply so honored and filled with gratitude for the invitation into such a private and intimate space. 

How long have you been a doula?

I began my doula journey a few weeks after I had my first daughter, almost 14 years ago. While a very cliche answer, my laboring experience at a teaching hospital in Vermont and ONE blessed nurse who told me I could say no, was the entire reason I became a doula. I honor her every time I tell my story and wish she could know the impact she had on me and my memories of my very uncalm birth. So, 14 years down and hopefully many, many more years to go.

How do you define a successful birth?

This is a question I ask all my clients during our prenatal sessions. Every person will have a different definition on what a successful birth means to them and my job is to help them facilitate that. Some say a successful birth is a vaginal birth. Others say it’s a gentle cesarean. I’m here to support their definition of a successful birth.

Like I mentioned before, no matter how a person wants to birth or where they want to birth, the goal is always that they get to leave their journey feeling empowered and supported. A successful birth is one where the parents feel like they never lost their agency and felt supported and heard the entire time. It’s where they received true informed consent and refusal. It’s where things weren’t just done, but that they got to be the ones to decided - that they were in the driver’s seat. 

What advice would you give to new parents seeking a doula?

I always tell families to research and interview doulas until they find the one they connect with best. We all have different philosophies and intentions and it’s vital to the birthing space to find someone who can fit in with your desires and desired outcomes. I have a blog post with some great questions to ask a doula you’re interviewing: https://www.thestatesvilledoula.com/post/2018/04/18/top-15-questions-to-ask-your-potential-doula-during-a-consultation

I also encourage families to hone in on what they want out of a doula and how the doula can add value to their birth. How do they see the doula supporting mom, but also dad. Do you want to work with an agency or a solo doula? Etc. I’m ALWAYS here to bounce ideas and questions off of, no strings ever attached. I really want to help you find the perfect support for your family!

MY name is Staci, and I am the proud owner and sole doula of Statesville Doula & Lactation. I am based in Cornelius, NC and support all birthing locations within a 60-mile radius. I offer birth and postpartum doula support, Certified Lactation Counseling, placenta encapsulation, childbirth education, belly binding, belly casting, and so much more. To schedule a free discovery call, please either visit my website at www.thestatesvilledoula.com/schedule or email me at staci@thestatesvilledoula.com. I am looking forward to speaking with you about your unique journey and how I may help!