Today we’d like to introduce you to Danae Johnson.
Hi Danae, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
In early 2020, before I knew what a doula was, I found out I was pregnant with my first kid. This news came just a few weeks after the world decided to shut down due to Covid-19. No in-person classes, no prenatal yoga sessions, limited in-person office visits, limited visits with family and friends, and major precautions with each prenatal visit. With all the fear and uncertainty of pregnancy, birth, and the world at large, my husband and I decided to take online Lamaze birth classes at BirthEd in Hopkins, MN. The number one recommendation from our instructor? Get a doula. We didn’t really know much about doula’s at the time, but we trusted our instructor. We expected doula support would be helpful, but it was so more than that. It was instrumental in how my birth experience went! Looking back, my husband says it’s the best money we’ve ever spent – and he’s definitely a more frugal person. Our doula physically supported me throughout my entire labor with hip squeezes, cold cloths, position suggestions and more. She validated and answered my husbands questions when I couldn’t. My nurse and midwife were not in the room often, as the L&D floor was slammed that night. I can’t imagine not having my doula for her continuous support, guidance, and presence! Months after giving birth, I couldn’t shake the idea that becoming a doula was something I really wanted to pursue. I was convinced that women needed that emotional and physical support in labor, and I loved the idea of being a part of that support! I took a birth doula certification course though Childbirth International, closed my in-home daycare business and took the leap into full-time doula work! 3 years later, I’m still working with families full-time as a birth doula. I also now work as a doula at a non-profit called Everyday Miracles based in Minneapolis, MN. With being able to set my own hours, and building a village of friends and family that can support me with sporadic childcare needs, on-call life has been surprisingly generous in providing a work life balance. Doulaing has allowed me to stay home with my youngest, and support my oldest as a board member at his preschool. The time I get to invest into my family has been such a beautiful way that doula work has been able to give back to me. I’ve now supported 70+ births! This includes home births, birth via cesarean section, stillbirth, medicated, unmedicated, VBAC, single by choice births, and on and on. No matter how a baby comes earthside, it’s no less life changing. Just like the first birth I supported as a doula is no less magical than my most recent one. Now that I am pregnant with my third child, I often get asked if a doula needs a doula at their birth. I explain it like this; you can be the best soccer player to have ever played soccer, but you still need a coach. The difference in birth is that there are not multiple games you get to play. Investing in a doula is investing in a one-time game day experience you will never be able to redo. As a doula myself, I cannot imagine laboring and giving birth without another doula’s coaching & physical support! So you bet your bottom dollar that I’ll have one at my own birth. Becoming a doula has changed my life in so many ways. Being present for the most human and magical experience I believe anyone can have, over and over, has brought to light a universal truth; we humans are all asking the same questions. Every parent I talk to wonders if they are enough, if they are making the right decisions, etc etc… I am so grateful to be connected to so many families stories, and It has been so rewarding to stay connected with families even after supporting them as a doula. This has looked like receiving Christmas cards, thank you texts on baby’s first birthday, being invited to baby’s Jewish naming ceremony, being hired to take their family photographs, and a few client’s have even met with me to talk about taking first steps towards doula work themselves after having their baby! I am proud of the work I do, and the impact that doula’s as a whole are having in the birth space.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Doula work is much needed work, and is becoming more widely-known for the benefits it is giving to families. These benefits are now being reflected by insurance companies, as many are now reimbursing families for doula services. This includes families on MN state insurance, who otherwise wouldn’t have access to a doula. While this is a wonderful thing, this process is newer, and trying to bill insurances independently as a non-medical provider can be messy at times. Navigating several different routes of payment, working with insurances, managing desk work at home (consults, invoices, prenatal & postpartum emails, website maintenance, etc) and managing childcare when my husband, Max, and I both work at the same time have all been challenging at times with doula work. It’s been helpful for Max to have a super stable schedule as a highschool teacher, and honestly his enthusiastic support for what I am doing! When he’s teaching, I have built a village of family, friends, and fellow birth workers who are able to be “on-call” for childcare. With young kids, that’s likely been the main struggle or stress that comes with full-time doula work! I attribute a lot of my success to being able to attend classes, conferences, and internships specifically for doula’s in my area. There is a strong community of doula’s in the Twin Cities; a reminder that birthwork is evergreen, and there will always be a need for it. I don’t really have to worry about AI taking my job! Engaging in this community has helped me to put myself and my business out there, gain experience quickly, and be able to build a sustainable doula business.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am the birth doula & photographer behind Sanctuary Birth Doula, based in the Twin Cities. I believe that everyone deserves sanctuary — a place of refuge and safety, in their labor and birth space! What I bring as a doula is more than just someone else in the room. It’s someone who helps my clients feel seen, prepared, & supported — whatever their birth journey brings. This often starts before the birth in prenatal meetings with my clients. We talk through childbirth education, physical & mental coping strategies, and creating a birth plan together. I support them throughout labor with physical and emotional support and guidance. After birth, this looks like talking through breastfeeding, providing local postpartum resources, going through a timeline of the birth experience, and sharing professionally edited pictures and videos while we debrief your birth experience. Birth photography is often cited as one of the most valuable extra things that I do for my clients.
Here’s what I’d love for your readers to know:
My mission: To help my clients create a space where they feel safe, supported, & empowered, no matter what their birth experience entails. My services span prenatal support, continuous labor/birth support, and postpartum check-in/support. I’m available via text/email/phone throughout, not just when contractions start.
Your partner (or support person) is supported too. Many of my clients say that their partner felt empowered, included, and confident because of my preparation. They get to let go of some of the logistics, and it has helped them to feel more emotionally present and connected to their loved one.
I believe in open, judgement-free support. Whether things go “according to plan” or change completely, I’m there with you.
My favorite phrase that I use with clients is, “You make the best decisions with the information you have at the time. New information means you get to change those decisions, at any point in your experience.” Labor is not a “one size fits all” process. Each birth I have attended has been unique in their own way. I love being able to tailor my skills to bring to life the sanctuary that you need for your one-of-a-kind birth experience!
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I love Evidence Based Birth — their podcast and handouts are incredible tools that I regularly share with my clients. I also rely on The Body Ready Method and Spinning Babies as go-to resources for continuing education and practical tools to support my clients through pregnancy and labor.
In my day-to-day life, my Apple Watch has honestly been essential. It allows me to stay fully present with my friends and family while still feeling confident that I won’t miss an important call from a client. Being on call can be stressful, and phone attachment is a real challenge. Learning to model healthy phone habits for my kids while staying available for work wasn’t easy, but being able to take calls from my watch instead of constantly carrying my phone has been a real game changer.
Pricing:
- $2000 for birth doula services (birth photography included)
- I work for free(!) for clients on MN assistance that work with Everyday Miracles (I get paid through their insurance)
- Many independent insurances are now starting to reimburse families for doula services, check with your insurance provider/employer and doula to see if you would qualify for reduced fees or free services
- $375 for family mini sessions ($350 for clients)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sanctuarydoula.com
- Instagram: @sanctuarydoula
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanctuarybirthdoula
