When I was pregnant with my first baby, I had this vision of a blissful, calm, magical birth like I’d read about in the books. I was only 19, but I was determined.
So I did all the things. I devoured books. I went to yoga. And I hired a doula.
Back in 2008, doulas weren’t nearly as common as they are now, and I felt like I had a secret weapon. With her by my side, I thought I could do anything.
And technically, my birth went “right.” I had an unmedicated vaginal delivery, exactly what I had planned.
But the truth? I came out of that experience feeling broken, lost, and completely disempowered.
Looking back now, I can see exactly why. I thought reading books and hiring a doula was the work of childbirth prep.
It wasn’t.
What I know now—not just as a mom, but as a doula who has walked alongside so many women—is this:
The real work is getting to know yourself. Your values, your preferences, your tendencies, your fears. Without that clarity, it’s way too easy to get swallowed up by everyone else’s opinions about what makes a “good” birth… and to let others tell you what’s “right” or “wrong” for you.
And the deeper work is learning to trust yourself. Because when you’re in it, that’s what keeps you in the driver’s seat. That’s what turns birth from something that just happens to you into something you are actively leading.
It took my second birth to figure that out. And now? That’s the heartbeat of everything we teach. Because I’ve heard so many first-time moms with stories like mine—and it doesn’t have to be that way.
👉 The Secret to Labor Land
🌀 September 28 @ 2-3pm CST
In this workshop, you’ll uncover what actual birth preparation looks like—and learn how to tap into your own inner wisdom and biology to create a more peaceful, empowered experience for yourself. No luck necessary.
Always in your corner,
đź’› Kayla & Leslie
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