the calling to become ezer

When you feel the calling into birth work you are embarking on a sacred journey that will alter your life in many ways. I answered this call over half a decade ago and let me tell you how my world has never been the same. The moment I learned about doulas I knew within myself it was what I was meant do. Studying Human Child Development as my career pathway three consecutive years in high school planted a deep passion in my heart for all things conception through early childhood. Attending my first birth, the birth of my second niece, was the moment I I knew I was made for the birth space.

One year later getting to stand by my sister's side in support as I witnessed her bring her second daughter into the world I began researching "how does someone become a doula?". In all of the options I landed on one and found myself at a weekend in-person training. I loved my training and everything it entailed. Though a two day training did not go into the depths of what this work means, it was perfect for starting out. Just two weeks later I attended my second birth. 

Doulaing became my life. I started building my business, sharing my love for all things birth, and entered a shadowing experience. The doula I got to shadow was an RN before leaving her work to serve women in a different way. Through this experience I got to attend three births, the first unmedicated births I had ever been a part of. I gained much experience seeing the intensity of labor lead to the oxytocin release of the baby entering the world—and of course holding women through it all.

I was hired by my first family just after moving to a new city. Another doula in the community recommended me to her friend after we met during a networking event. One early morning she went into labor calling me when things picked up. When I arrived she was riding the waves of her contractions in the nursery. During the power of each surge I applied pressure to her hips giving encouragement through my presence and words. She had hair that almost reached the floor which I braided in between contractions. As the surges began coming every few minutes we discussed heading in. By the time she got to the hospital her baby began to crown and soon they met.

Every experience I have had since then has slowly shaped who I am and how I show up to serve women today. This entire journey I have lived has brought me to learn birth in it's depths, to understand what women truly need when they move through the transformation of motherhood, and most importantly I have become who I am today. Being a birth worker has led me to better honor myself as woman—caring for my mind, body and soul as I support women in doing the same.

As many birth workers experience burn out and don't last years in this work, I have received life from being in the birth space. This work is my ministry as my partner Kendra would say. I believe with everything in me that this calling is much more than just becoming a doula. It is the life altering journey of walking the path of serving women when they need to be held most. It is God's work and as I would say in building this space for aspiring birth workers, a calling that makes the role of servant ever more purposeful.

The calling to be an ezer (a helper) for women along the motherhood continuum is one that is sacred. I hope this journey meets you at the perfect time and sends you down the beautiful path of what this work can entail.