Meet Gina Partlow of Gina The Doula in Westside

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina Partlow.

Gina, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Ten years ago, I found myself in a situation where my knowledge was inherently valuable. Little did I know it was about to change my life. One of my closest friends was pregnant with her first and had a lot of uncertainties going into this new adventure. I followed along throughout her pregnancy, and was ready, waiting, and hopeful when they arrived home from the hospital. I offered all of my support and would care for baby while mama tried to get as much rest as she could. After spending many hours and nights alongside them, my friend said she felt grateful, supported, and cared for beyond explanation. She asked if I had ever considered being a Postpartum Doula. I said, “a postpartum what?”.

I was currently working in marketing and events, but the doula seed had been planted and quickly began to grow from there. I was living in Toronto, Canada at the time and needed a change. LA is somewhere my family vacationed growing up and has always held a special place in my heart. I made the move to LA in 2013 and immediately began my training with DONA at Bini Birth. I’ve never looked back and am so grateful for the little moments that end up being the biggest blessings.

Great, 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?
As with anything new, there were definitely some challenges along the way. I tried and continue to try to look at the challenges as information to learn from. The biggest struggle was finding and keeping a full workload at all times throughout the year. Anyone who is self-employed knows there will always be an ebb and flow of work. Overtime work became more consistent and now I’m generally booked months to a year in advance. I always try and leave a little wiggle room to see new families though. Networking and attending DONA group meetings were very helpful in building this business.

Gina The Doula – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a self-employed Postpartum Doula with my own business, Gina The Doula. As a postpartum doula, I work with new families and offer non-judgmental support during one of the most exciting and stressful times in their life. I’m there to nurture their family with an open heart and hands while offering evidence-based information. I will sensitively guide the new mother and family through the numerous challenges and joys of welcoming a new baby! For example: recovery from childbirth, sleeplessness, emotional adjustment, mastery of infant feeding and care, and household organization as a whole. I also offer sleep training once baby has been given the green light by their pediatrician and are at least four months and 14lbs. I would say what sets me apart is my willingness to adapt to each family and help gently guide them towards finding their own parenting style. Every family is different and I strongly believe no one way works for everyone.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I think it’s seeing families thrive on their own with confidence and happiness. Or hearing that babies/toddlers have been sleeping great ever since they decided to sleep train with me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ginathedoula.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginathedoula/?hl=en

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