Want to be a Doula? 

Why I became a Doula: My personal journey to finding what fit.

At 40, I still didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up. No job seemed like it would be the right fit in my life. I was a stay at home mom, and that's all I had ever wanted to do! Raising my kids was my passion, but my kids were growing up and didn't need me like they had when they were little. Is this what the next phase of life feels like? I guess so.

I had given up thinking of where I would fit-in in the workforce. I had been at home for so long, that I felt like I wasn't a competitive candidate anymore, so I decided to reevaluate my thinking and approach it a different way. Instead of finding a job where I could fit, why not find a job that fit me? But what? The only time in my life that I felt like I truly excelled at something was being pregnant, having babies, and raising kids. My gut reaction to that thought was, "but that isn't a job", and then I realized, yes, it is a job, that's what Doulas do! I knew all about being pregnant, I knew all about Labor and Delivery, I knew all about taking care of tiny humans! Is this it? Did I just figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up? Yep! I just did!

Looking back now, it feels so obvious! With each of my pregnancies, I soaked up all of the information in like a sponge. Labor and Delivery was always so energizing to me and I loved the energy there; that's somewhere I always shined! A nurse once called me a L&D rockstar after one of my births, and that label always held a special place in my heart!  After having 4 kids, I was a pro at taking care of infants and children. There were a few years that I did work in childcare, and I had a background in early childhood education, so that really helped shape me into a well informed caregiver. And I love supporting and caring for other people. Yes, a Doula! Obviously a Doula!

So, I did what all millennials do when they need information, I turned to the internet! I scoured sites learning more and more about Doula programs. I wanted to find one that was the right fit for me. I poured over lists and lists of recommended programs and I looked into them all. That's how I found Madriella. It might not have been the most well known, but it was recommended on various sites and it felt like the right fit for me. I especially loved the affordability and all of the continuing education certification programs it offered; I knew that the access to the extra certifications would really round out the Doula I wanted to become. I've been really happy with the information I've learned from them, it felt very thorough. I took my studies very seriously and really took the time to understand what I was learning. The more I learned, the more I knew that I had chosen the right path. 

Madriella has made me the Doula I've become!

I'm honored to say that I'm a Madriella Doula and I'm proud to represent them and what they stand for. I strongly believe in birth justice and equality, and they made sure they integrated racial disparity and cultural awareness into their lessons. There was so many things I was delighted to see, like the addition of Trauma-Informed Care, that really solidified to me that I was in the right place! 

I do believe that becoming a Doula should be assessable to anyone who wants to become one, and it should be affordable as well. I have joined their Affiliate Program and I can offer a referral code that will give new members savings like I got when I signed up. Use the code TurlockDoulas when you sign up! If you're interested in the Continuing Education Certifications like I was, you might be surprised how affordable the Professional Membership package is! (Spoiler alert, it's very affordable!) 

I'm thankful that I found Madriella. Now I know what I want to do for the rest of my life! I get to help people welcome their babies into the world and nurture them as they become parents, and that's a truly amazing thing!

~ Doula Stephanie

Fun Fact: Madriella started right here in Turlock! Isn't that the perfect fit for Turlock Doula Services?!? I think so!