Birthwork is Activism.
Most black families hire me because I am black, in my 40s, have 2 lactation certifications, have studied maternal fetal positioning and they “don’t want to die.”
ABOUT ME
I am a certified birth doula, childbirth educator, pelvic steam facilitator, doula trainer & mentor and lactation champion with 20 years of working with youth and families in the non-profit realm. In 2021, I co-founded Community Aware Birthworker, a teaching and training organization.
Serving families in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, I love helping parents realize their strength and ability. It is my desire to help families understand their rights and options so they feel empowered to advocate for themselves.
I truly believe children are a gift from God and the birthing process is nothing short of a miracle. I know I was created for this beautiful work. I have attended over 250 births.
I have spent two decades working to support healthy families. My career has included working as an after-school program director, healthy relationships/sexual health educator, community connector for an elementary school, homeless shelter co-facilitator and leading teen mission trips.
Originally from Cleveland, OH, I moved to Minneapolis in 2014. As an avid cruiser, I plan to become a travel agent to help others plan the cruises they’ve been waiting for. I enjoy spending time with others, watching TV /movies, eating good food and relaxing on the beach. My favorite things in life revolve around relationships with others!
I cannot count the number of times clients have said: I don’t want to die.
I don't want to die."
"Don't let me die."
"I think I am going to die."
"I think I am dying."
"They are going to kill me."
"They don't care if I die."
"This is how black people die.
Although I can’t promise anyone will live or die, I can support them through the birth process and make sure their voice is heard.
It's important for medical staff to understand that families don’t hire me just to sit quietly and squeeze hips.
There have been many times when I’ve been asking questions or advocating for my clients, and I get a text from a family member in the same room saying, “This is why we hired you!”
As a Black woman, I will never:
Sit back and watch staff dismiss my clients.
Allow staff to withhold options from my clients.
Let my client’s voice be ignored or talked over.
Stand by while my client is manipulated, disrespected, or disregarded— I will speak up, even if it irritates the staff.
Watch staff roll their eyes at my client without rephrasing or restating their concerns.
Remain quiet when my client reaches out for clarification and the staff refuses to provide the necessary information. I will keep asking questions to ensure my client understands.
Stay seated if my client’s baby is in distress (heart tones dropping) and I’m the only one in the room—I will help my client change positions.
Stay silent if my client contacts me while at a clinic, hospital, or birth center and the staff thinks they’ve explained something well, but my client is still confused. I will ask for clarification to help my client understand.
I often wonder if staff realize:
Families may not feel comfortable asking staff questions, or may avoid doing so altogether.
Many people in their perinatal period may not feel ready to share past trauma with staff, which is why doulas may step in to help protect them and reduce the risk of further trauma.
When doulas ask medical questions, it's not necessarily about stepping outside their scope but about gathering information to support their clients.
If staff assume a doula is out of scope and withhold information, the client may feel that staff are not helping them.
If a client asks a doula for medical information after speaking with staff, it might mean the staff didn't provide the information in a way the client could understand.
When clients send virtual updates to their doula and ask medical questions that the doula can’t answer, it’s often because the information wasn’t communicated clearly to the client.
In these situations, doulas may need to ask more medical questions to help clients better understand what’s happening with their own or their baby’s care.
Every child deserves to be loved and every family deserves the birth experience they desire!
Birthwork is Activism!
OILY DOULA INTERVIEWS & GUEST PANELS
When families hire a birth doula, they can expect:
Access to their doula throughout the process.
Prenatal support and education.
Early labor support, often virtual, until they decide it’s time for the doula to come in person.
The option for the doula to leave and return when active labor begins.
The ability to decide with their doula when it’s the right time for her to arrive, even if no cervical checks are done.
The doula will stay for a few hours after the birth, based on the agreed-upon time and the situation.
Postpartum support following the birth.
I will continue to ask questions about medical care to ensure my clients have the information they need to make informed decisions.
Here’s a common example:
I’m talking to a new client who wants a VBAC. I ask how they feel about their first birth and if there are any details they’d like to share. I’ve never had a client who had a Cesarean section and could clearly explain why it happened. Most of the time, they say the baby was in distress, but they don’t really understand what that means. No one has ever told me what their baby’s heart rate was. Families who pushed for hours before a Cesarean often can’t tell me what position the baby was in, even though we know fetal position can have a huge impact on birth outcomes.
I will continue to ask medical questions to help my clients understand the details of their past birth, such as the baby’s heart rate during a Cesarean and other important information. It’s not okay when families don’t know what was happening with their baby or why the situation felt rushed. This lack of information can contribute to trauma.
I will continue to ask medical questions and help my clients find out the medical details of their births, such as what the baby's heart rate was if there was a Cesarean, and other important information in preparation for their upcoming birth. It is not okay when families don’t know what was going on with their baby and why everyone was rushing. This adds to the trauma.
I will continue to help families understand what is going on. It is not okay that families are rarely explained the details of why they needed a surgical birth or other procedures. Years later, people still don’t know!
Though people keep telling me to become a midwife, I have no desire to be a medical staff. I will continue taking classes to understand the medical side of birth so I can help my clients.
It's not my job to tell them what to do. But it IS my job, every single time, to help them understand their medical rights and options so they can make decisions for themselves. Part of that process is me asking medical questions so they can get the clarity they need.
Doulas and medical staff being team players with each other is of utmost importance.
Thank a doula. Love a doula! Partner with a doula! Get to know a doula! Birthworkers Matter!