Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadine Ashby.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Birth work has been lifelong work for me. I began my journey by going to the births of family members and friends with my mom when I was elementary-aged. She didn’t refer to herself as a doula and we didn’t have the language to explain her role in supporting birthing people. She was the first person to show me how to love families during the birth and postpartum period. This led me to earn a degree in Biology with the intention of going to medical school to become an OBGYN, but after I graduated, I gave birth myself. I gained a deeper understanding of the midwifery model of care and learned about the importance of doulas. My experience pushed me to get more formal training as a doula and soon I will be working toward a midwifery degree.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There were lots of struggles along the way! Learning how to build a business was a huge learning curve and takes a lot of work and dedication to maintain, but beyond that, helping families navigate racist, homophobic, sexist, transphobic, and ableist systems is difficult and can take a toll physically, mentally, and emotionally. There are many aspects of birth work that can wear us down, but with the right physical and emotional support in place, we can make this work sustainable.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
As an independent doula and founder of Doula4All, I work closely with families to create environments where they can thrive in their birth space and beyond. I devote myself to providing warm and nonjudgmental support throughout the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period. No matter how clients decide to bring their babies Earthside, they deserve to feel safe, be heard, and be believed. I stand with families every step of the way to amplify their voices, keep them grounded, and remind them of their power!
I am also the founder of Birth Revolution, a Black, queer, and trans led birth work training and consulting group. In this three-month intensive training, Black, Brown, queer, and trans experiences will not be an afterthought. Participants will be exploring their own ancestral traditions, learning birth work fundamentals, and creating community with the goal of building practices that are actively anti-racist.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My advice for new birth workers is to trust in their own unique skills and abilities. Don’t try to do birth work like someone else, because there are families out there looking for exactly what you offer the way you offer it. I would also say, try your best to stay away from the scarcity mindset. Birth is happening all the time. There is enough work for all of us, so don’t be afraid to build connections.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.doula4all.com/
- Instagram: @Doula4All
- Facebook: @BirthRevolution
- Twitter: Connect@thebirthrevolution.org
- Other: https://thebirthrevolution.org/
Image Credits:
Gather Birth
