Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Wilkerson.
Hi Michelle, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m a birth and postpartum doula and a certified lactation support counselor. I’ve always been fascinated with how magical the women’s body is, especially during pregnancy and labor. When I was pregnant with my second son, I knew I wanted to have a natural birth and be surrounded by love and support. I decided to listen to my intuition and find a provider who believed in my ability to give birth naturally. Making the decision to have a home birth was a definite no-brainer and this is what lead to my obsession with educating myself on the birthing process. I became so consumed and so passionate that I decided to take a leap of faith, quitting my job of 16 years and completely emerging myself into the world of birth and postpartum.
I’m a women who needs stability, and change has always been a challenge, so this was definitely very scary. But I knew this is where I needed to be. This was the only line of work I wanted to do. Being able to experience the birth I envisioned helped me realize a lot. I recognized how necessary it is to feel safe during such a vulnerable time. I discovered the power of education and preparation and how important it is to have a solid village. These wonderful experiences have been so crucial to helping mold my practice. I believe in building a solid relationship with families, getting to know as much as I possibly can so to create a space of safety and comfort. I believe in education throughout the birthing process to postpartum but most importantly, being by the family’s side for as long as they need.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I feel like everything has its struggles and challenges. In the beginning, some doubt kicked in on whether or not I could actually make a living doing something I love so much. God has been amazing, and having such incredible clients along the way has made it an exciting and beautiful journey.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
A lot of people think a doula is only for a home birth but that is far from true. Doulas are an essential tool to help navigate through every stage of motherhood. We can be used for any birth setting, especially the hospital. I begin every birthing journey by educating the family on everything pregnancy related, the birth process and what to expect in a hospital setting. I also share knowledge about newborns, postpartum care and lactation. I’m a holistic doula, so I work consistently with herbs. I provide sitz baths, which help the healing process during the postpartum, along with belly massage to circulate blood flow, belly binding and I bake homemade lactation cookies. What sets me apart from others is the amount of prenatal visits I offer and the time I spend getting to know the families I work with. Birth is sacred and deserves to be treated as so.
What are your plans for the future?
I’m constantly learning and staying up to date with evidence-based birth books and articles. I’m diving deeper into my ancestral practices and attending different workshops, so I’m continuously learning how to be a great doula. I love being a doula. It is so rewarding to help family’s during their birthing process. I don’t know where this road will take me but I definitely plan to continue my education and the betterment of myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.douladelasflores.com
- Instagram: doula_delasflores
