Hi, I’m Michaela! I’m a proud new member of the Purple Lotus Doulas. In addition to being a doula, I’m a mother, athlete, midwifery student, and human rights activist. My journey to this work began during my own pregnancy, when I experienced firsthand the value of hiring a doula and taking private childbirth classes. After my son was born, I was “called” back to the world of childbirth as I began supporting friends and family as their doula. I am thankful everyday for answering that call and following this path.
I was 21, and it was Valentine’s Day when my first pregnancy was confirmed. I immediately started grabbing every book I could get my hands on, following pregnancy blogs, and listening to birth podcasts. Although I knew from the beginning that I wanted an unmedicated birth, I didn’t realize it wasn’t going to be as simple as just making the decision to have a natural birth. I began experiencing red flags from my healthcare provider, and felt alone and ignored in this choice. My birth plan and preferences were laughed at, and I was told that I shouldn’t get my hopes up. I also couldn’t get straight-forward answers to questions about hospital policies, NTSV cesarean rate, or rates of other interventions. Some of the things I was hearing from this provider were not evidence-based and did not align with recommendations by major health organizations, and that worried me. Since I no longer felt this was the right fit for me, I began seeking out resources to have a midwife-attended home birth.
Living in rural Illinois, I experienced a huge gap in the maternity healthcare system, and for months I was left without proper care. It wasn’t until my third trimester that a doula reached out to me and helped me piece together the details and find assistance. My interactions with my new healthcare provider were night and day compared to what I experienced at the beginning of my pregnancy, and the simplest things left the biggest imprint on my memory. For the first time, I felt supported and respected. The emotional labor of switching healthcare providers was a huge turning point in my journey.
Naturally, our next step was to take Birthworks with Sarah Baker of Purple Lotus Doulas. My fiance and I learned about physiologic birth, informed consent, optimal fetal positioning, the stages of labor, addressing fears, and so much more. I knew my experience would be unique, filled with my own “variations of normal,” so when I went into labor I was simply able to surrender and trust the process. And sure enough, my labor was full of variations we had prepared for! During the 34 hours of back labor it took to bring my son into this world, my doula stayed by my side. Between hip squeezes during contractions, helping me stay hydrated and fed, and her words of encouragement I was able to maintain my stamina through this marathon. She assisted me through frequent position changes, Spinning Babies, and rebozo techniques to address my son’s malpositioning and to help progress labor. Once he was born, I remember looking at her and my midwives and feeling overwhelming elation and gratitude. Feeling supported, confident, and respected during my birth experience ultimately resulted in my family walking away with more satisfaction than I had ever anticipated.
During this transformational experience, I caught a glimpse of my future calling. I spent the next few months falling in love with motherhood with the strength of this new community behind me. As friends and family reached out to me for resources, I realized I could give back what I had received. So in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided to begin doula training. I studied through the Stillbirthday Birth & Bereavement program, as well as the Purple Lotus Doulas’ Professional Labor/Birth Doula Training, and have been active in the current legislation efforts of Illinois Friends of Midwives. I was also accepted into Midwives College of Utah and will begin my midwifery education in the winter of 2021. I am now very proud to be a member of Purple Lotus Doulas, where I will continue to receive guidance and mentorship from this wonderful team.
Supporting families through their unique journeys is truly a privilege. I am passionate about this role in every location and every circumstance. Some of my favorite research topics are: VBAC, gentle c-sections, homebirth, cloth-diapering, breast/chestfeeding, baby-led weaning, elimination communication, pre-term birth, and everything in between.
Thank you for checking out my story! I can’t wait to hear from you.
Interested in learning more about Michaela’s services? She can be reached through our contact form.
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