Two of my greatest teachers as a postpartum doula have been my own children.
What my first taught me
My first baby taught me perseverance and how to research and advocate for both myself and my child.
He also taught me about tongue-tie, a NICU stay, pumping, and milk storage. Then came mastitis, a tongue tie revision with all the aftercare and stretches, and (surprise!) more mastitis. Along the way I learned about postpartum anxiety, depression, and RAGE, sleep schedules, sleep regressions, teething, baby-led weaning, food allergies, autoimmune disorders, and sooo much more.
What my second taught me
My second baby taught me patience. The beauty of being steady. How to hold space and let go.
Another tongue tie, another revision, and more aftercare. I learned to let go of nursing and embrace exclusive pumping even when it felt like my biggest failure. I learned how much a medical scare can shake you as a parent. I learned how different two children can be, and how to parent each one in their own special way.
Why this matters for the families I support
Being a doula is so much more than what I’ve learned from books, courses, articles, and countless hours with families and their babies. Being a mom who had these AMAZING teachers, who showed me so many of the hard things motherhood can bring, has been the hardest, most rewarding learning experience I could have asked for. And I bring all of it with me to every family I work with.
So whatever you’re going through right now, you are not alone. Chances are, I’ve been there too.
Warmly,
Doula Deb
