And if you want to know a little more…

I grew up moving around a lot, but call Texas home. After studying at Baylor, I stayed in Waco and worked for two local non-profits which I still love to support – Mental health therapeutic nursery Talitha Koum Institute and educational house museum organization Historic Waco Foundation.

I’ve always been interested in photography and in 2015 decided to pursue an education at the International Center of Photography in NYC. I attended their documentary photography program, and shortly afterwards moved to Los Angeles where I was a producer and fine art photographer for three years. My partner once said a doula is kind of like a birth producer, which I found amusing. Part of doula work is very similar to producing in that I help the birthing person be their own producer of their birth – Through sharing my network of resources and experience and education, I help clients build their dream birth and postpartum team and take steps forward with autonomy and confidence.

As far as my path to birth work goes, it started very early on. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been interested in hearing women’s birth stories, especially my mother’s. I could hear her say it over and over and it will never get old. I remember the first time I heard about an unnecessary, un-consented-to cesarean. I remember the first time I saw a home birth. I remember the first time I saw a gentle, family-centered cesarean. I remember the first time I saw a mother catch her baby. I have always been so moved by the breadth of birth, the power of women’s spirits and women’s bodies, the beauty in contraction and expansion... Spiritually, I feel my belonging is in empowering women.

My hands-on work began when I started learning more about my own body – my struggle with endometriosis symptoms, hormone imbalances, ending my 10+ year journey with the hormonal birth control pill… One of the most enlightening eras of my life was when I learned I could help my hormones balance naturally and keep my endo symptoms at bay holistically.

In the midst of that journey, I also learned that more American women are dying of pregnancy-related complications than any other developed country. The cesarean rate is twice as high as the maximum recommended rate by WHO. Each year 950,000 birthing people suffer postpartum depression. In the US, black women are 2-6 times more likely to die from complications in pregnancy than white women. (Yes, you read that right.) My deep interest in and passion for birth collided with my newfound realization that we are more capable of directing our health journeys and experiences than we think – And in the middle of that, these statistics hit me like a wrecking ball. I could not go on without doing something. And fortunately, doula work is no small something.

Although I’ve always been interested in and studying birth, my doula practice is still in its newborn years. I am a sponge immersing myself in every learning opportunity I can. I cannot wait to witness and support strong mothers, and learn all they have to teach me.

All images of me are by Laura Lee Blackburn