Emily Holstein

Credentials/education: Purple Lotus Doulas’ Professional Labor/Birth Doula Training – 2023
Contact:  emily@purplelotusdoulas.com
Services offered: Birth Doula Services; Placenta Encapsulation
Service area: Greater St. Louis region

Bio

Hi! My name is Emily Holstein. I grew up in the Saint Louis area and now live in Wentzville with my husband, Tommy, and our daughter, Loey. I have a degree in biochemistry and worked as a chemist since my college graduation until I felt an overwhelming pull towards birth work.

My journey into birth work started in early 2021 when my husband and I decided we were ready to have children. I knew very little about pregnancy and birth, so I jumped headfirst into educating myself. I read books, listened to countless podcasts, and starting forming my beliefs around pregnancy and birth. I found out I was pregnant in July of 2021. We were beyond excited and I continued to research and gain as much knowledge as I could. I decided that my goal was to have a low-intervention, unmedicated birth. Through my research, I discovered Sarah and Purple Lotus Doulas. We decided to take Sarah’s group childbirth class and began moving ahead with hiring a doula through PLD as well. On the night right after we completed our second week of class, I unexpectedly went into preterm labor at 20 weeks pregnant. That night I gave birth to our first daughter, Harper. There was nothing the hospital could do to save her and our lives changed immensely that day. We grieved for Harper and continue to grieve for Harper and we remember her in the ways we can.

5 months after losing Harper, we found out that I was pregnant again. Going through another pregnancy following a loss is extremely hard, as countless parents understand. The mental battle and anxiety is constant during a pregnancy following a loss. I felt so grateful to have an amazing support system through my husband, both of our families, and Sarah, who we hired as our doula and childbirth educator at the beginning of my 2nd trimester. The pregnancy was not easy, but I was finally able to breathe a little when I made it to full term. My goal was to have an unmedicated birth just like I had always desired. But ultimately I wanted to have a beautiful, non-traumatic birth experience that I wasn’t able to have when I gave birth to Harper.

Loey’s birth was the most beautiful, empowering, and healing experience I have ever had. Her birth played out exactly how I had hoped. After she was born, I couldn’t stop thinking about birth and continually sought out any opportunity I could to learn more about birth. At first I thought I was doing this because I was still on such a high from her birth. I slowly realized that something much deeper was driving me. After many months into my obsession with birth, I couldn’t deny it any longer: birth work was calling my name and I had to pursue my newly-discovered passion. I took Sarah’s professional doula training, and through a string of events that I can only describe as serendipitous, I was brought on as a member of Purple Lotus Doulas. I was so grateful not only to be joining an organization who shares my values and prides themselves on their inclusivity, but also to come full circle in now joining the very same organization that fueled my passion for birth work and supported me during my 2 pregnancies/births.

As your doula, my goal is to provide you with a safe space where you can come to consider and learn about your options, discuss your desires and fears, and feel comforted and understood. I hope to support you as you step into your power and autonomy throughout your birthing year and beyond!

Experience, Availability and Pricing

• Emily takes up to 3 doula clients per month. Price for doula services is $800.
• Emily’s service area is the greater St. Louis region

Ready to contact or interview Emily?

Fill out the Contact Purple Lotus form to contact Emily.