Today we’d like to introduce you to Sylvia Scarlett.
Sylvia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In college, I had ZERO clue what I wanted to be when I grew up. I started out as an English Ed major, considered switching to music (pianist), then considered counseling/psychology, and cosmetology. I even attempted to join the Navy but was denied entry due to an old knee injury. Lordy… Basically, I wanted to do it all but couldn’t quite figure out what exactly it was and how I was going to do it. Fast forward about 5-6 years, and my husband and I are expecting our first little one.
What an experience pregnancy and birth was! I could go on and on about the injustices that take place in birth and postpartum for women, especially women of color, but I was very fortunate to find myself in the care of traditional midwives. Despite what my closest friends were sharing, I had a phenomenal first birth experience. All I talked about was how amazing my birth was that took place at a local birth center. The flame was then lit!!! I HAD to be a part of the birth community to share how truly empowering and life-changing a positive birth outcome could be for other women. I didn’t just get lucky. There were other women who would come alongside you and educate and empower you to see a safe and positive birth!
Two more babies and a couple years later, I felt a strong pull from the Lord to pursue birth work, more specifically Birth Doula work. After some formal education, I began taking on my very own birth clients. I’ll never forget the nerves and jitters I felt when I got that call at 3 AM that my birth client was in labor and needed me. Wow! Birth after birth, I just could not believe how wonderful being a birth doula was. For years, I had only ever wanted to inspire my friends and family to see birth for what it was: a natural, physiological process with the power to transform, and now I had my very own business that put me in front of other women and families in my community!!! Month after month, women would reach out to me seeking guidance and encouragement to pursue their birth goals. Births that took place in the hospital, birth centers, and at home. Some women weren’t quite sure what they were looking for, but with some education and affirmation to “trust the process,” I was witnessing the beauty of childbirth with countless families.
Unfortunately, not every experience has necessarily been magical or positive. Life happens and babies need more than moms can provide them. I am grateful for modern medicine and doctors who passionately pursue health with dignity and urgency in their minds. But if we look at the birth and postpartum stats in the US, obstetrical abuse is REAL. I’ve witnessed countless birth experiences that have left me in tears and/or with secondary trauma. Holding space for physically fragile women who are struggling to make sense of the autonomy and peace they were robbed of hardly seems like what I signed up for. That’s the beauty of birth, though. What crushes you today and may have figuratively and literally brought you to the very end of yourself could end up being the thing that builds you up into a more powerful woman, mother, wife, friend the next…
The thing is, you don’t need a degree in women’s reproductive health to birth your baby. With some good breath work, a little education, and a team who truly believes in you, you can safely bring your baby into your own arms and more than just survive. You can become more. I believe the Lord always intended that for women. Many believe that childbirth is synonymous with “curse” because of that common misinterpretation of the original Hebrew writings in Genesis. Birth is labor. It is work. There is toil; I will not lie. How is it that we celebrate the 40+ hour workweek hustle? We applaud the gym rat who crushes a WOD and makes the gains. We even glorify busyness as if it’s not sucking our lives short, but if I mention, “BIRTH,” everyone cringes.
I’ve worked hard within my sphere of influence to positively influence and change the birth narrative. I show up for woman after woman so that she can see the potential that lays before her despite policy or preferred methods and procedures that were designed to interfere and serve bottom dollar. The women in my community will know that birth is theirs to claim; an experience to be fully present. Every wave that surges through her womb to bring her baby earthside is no longer a mysterious ailment but now her power to utilize. Every contraction is her strength not her downfall. An opportunity for her to become.
If you can’t tell, I am really passionate about women empowerment in childbirth. In the last few years, I’ve grown my business and reach, and I now have a team of two other, incredible birth doulas who are also working to provide positive perspective and influence to childbirth. I hope to go back to school to become a certified nurse-midwife to provide safe and accessible prenatal care to my community. I won’t lie, I have a bias toward home birth so catch me in 5-6 years if you’re looking for a midwife! I’m living my dream, and I truly couldn’t have planned for this. Truth be told, my first baby wasn’t planned when my husband and I, newly married preparing to crush other life goals, found out our daughter would be joining us, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I was made for motherhood, and now I get to show other women that they are to, and it starts with birth.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it hasn’t. Like I said before when you’re involved with other people’s very real lives, there are hiccups along the way. Last year I pursued a partnership that dissolved before the year ended. That was really, really hard, but I chose to see it as a growing opportunity. Now I’m leading an amazing team, and I couldn’t do it as well had I not gone through a failed partnership.
We’ve been impressed with Sacred and Surrendered Births, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a team of birth doulas who are “providing compassionate support for the sacred work of birth.”
We serve families in the Central Florida area (think Winnie Palmer in Orlando to Halifax in Daytona Beach) who desire education, support, and advocacy in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
We specialize in natural childbirth but serve all women in their birth choices. Positive birth can be experienced anywhere.
What sets my team and I apart: we all have experienced childbirth ourselves. It’s great to have your doula to not just be formally trained but someone who has gone through the very process you are preparing for. We are also Christian women who truly believe that God designed childbirth to be a vehicle for women to become more incredible beings.
I am most proud that my birth clients know that they will be receiving excellent service and care. Word of mouth has carried me over the years because the marketing budget is small haha! Thankful for Instagram (FREE!).
While our main goal is to provide informational, educational, and physical support tailored to your birth goals and needs, our hearts are to come alongside you to provide sisterhood through a season where the highs are very high and lows so very low. We are here for it all, sis. If you’re looking for birth doula services, placenta encapsulation, childbirth education, and community then we are your doula team!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Thank your mom right now! Childbirth is glorious but holy cow! We women deserve diamonds and really good ice cream any day we please haha!
Contact Info:
- Email: sacredandsurrenderedbirths@gmail.com
- Website: sacredandsurrenderedbirths.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sylviascarlettbirthdoula/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sylviascarlettbirthdoula/
Image Credits
Ashley Comeens Photography
Matt Agan Photography
