Ownership Change at Doulas of Cincinnati
In 2013, after supporting people for ten years in social work, I decided to recenter my career on new families and build my business as a childbirth educator and doula. Attuning to expectant parents has always come naturally to me, and my solo practice quickly grew beyond what one doula could do alone. In the spring of 2015, I opened the first doula agency in our area, Queen City Doulas.
The following winter, over what would become a staple of doing business together (a slice of Bon Bonerie Opera Cream cake), Emily and I met to talk about changing the system of doula support. We shared our mutual passion for bringing Cincinnati families the highest level of doula care we could imagine. We hand-picked three doulas for our team, and I merged my agency Queen City Doulas with Emily's solo practice, The Cincinnati Doula, to become Doulas of Cincinnati.
Over the last six and half years, we have supported thousands of families on their journey into parenthood. Our team grew from 3 birth doulas to 12 birth and postpartum & infant care doulas, including an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and several postpartum placenta specialists. Together, we collected diapers to help fill the ever-wide diaper gap affecting families in our city and supported fundraising efforts for those experiencing infertility. We connected with our city through Q102, Cincy Lifestyles, Cincinnati Parent, Cincinnati Family, WCPO9 (and many more) to share the message that having a baby shouldn't be something to 'just get through' with little support or enjoyment. We navigated a global pandemic, adjusted, and set the standard for new doula practices and services that anticipated the changing needs of Cincinnati families.
Today, I am announcing that I am stepping down as co-owner of Doulas of Cincinnati, leaving this team and work in Emily's capable hands. As part of my commitment to changing the prevalent culture of birth and parenting that leaves new parents feeling overwhelmed, I will continue my role as a Trainer on the ProDoula Training and Development team. As a trainer and mentor to Labor Doulas, Postpartum and Infant Care Doulas, Postpartum Cross-Certifed Doulas, and Infant Feeding Educators, I will work with doulas to advance this profession; and impact the care families receive across the country and the world.
To the entire Doulas of Cincinnati family, thank you. I will always hold the presence and time we shared, our tears, and our laughter in my heart.
