Today we’d like to introduce you to April Dawn.
Hi, April; we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was asked to support a fellow student in her birth while I was a sophomore in high school. She was placing her baby for adoption- the baby’s father did not wish to be present given that it was an adoption situation, and this young lady’s Mother didn’t wish to be present either. On the day of her delivery, her Mother dropped us both off on the curb of the hospital and drove away to leave us to the task at hand. I spent the entire labor offering her comfort, hydration, and love, and I felt like fireworks were going off inside me the whole time – It sounded like, “Hey! This is what you were born to do!” After that, I began to support various family members and then massage clients in their labors, never knowing I was providing a service that had an actual name! I kept hearing people say the word “doula” in birth settings, and finally, one day, I leaned into a nurse and said, “Hey, so what a doula?” to which she replied, “Honey, you are a doula!” After that, I should probably get certified and make it official, but that was after 20 years of random birth support! I am nearly 34 years in and counting, and I have added quite a bit more education and services to my offerings. However, it’s still all about supporting a birthing human to step into their greatest power in hopes of uplifting all of humanity.
Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Yes. Birth support is some of the hardest work, for which there could never be enough financial compensation! The “Forever on call” status to which you are subjected is, by itself, enough to shy most people away!- but you really must be called to this work to sustain the horrific hours, the constant interruption in your personal life (my kids haven’t forgiven me for some of them!), the complete drain of your mental, emotional and physical self! – I’ve done 2, 3, & 4-day births and done multiple back-to-back-birth marathons, the longest of which was 1 solid week!- and keep in mind that doulas rarely sleep or take breaks during birth, as it is your job to be the “constant” for the person in labor. I recently had a Dad who’s wife was in labor look at me and say, “April, I wouldn’t do this job for a million dollars! I don’t know how you do it!” and all I could think was, “You know, I know what you mean, man!” (we were 2 days into his daughters delivery, at that point). In short, there is nothing “smooth” about this road. One must be flexible and resilient, for sure- We will have “easy” or “butter births,” but it is generally expected that birth takes much time and patience. There are quite a few tricks you learn along the way to make it easier, but it helps to do quite a bit of self-care and not expect to “get rich” doing this job- This has been the biggest struggle! My heart and soul remain invested here, but that has not been the best adventure emotionally, physically & financially at times- Most births end in great, joyous celebrations, but some births -mainly hospital births- can be riddled with trauma for the birthing family. I’ve also had the misfortune of attending births that ended in a stillborn. These circumstances can be grueling and put immense strain on our emotional well-being.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a professional in supporting new humans as they enter our planet and on the journey of welcoming new parenthood. From the moment new families contact me, I am offering education and supportive resources to prepare them for the challenges ahead- from recommendations on nutrient-rich foods and beverages to help strengthen their bodies and babies to discussion on topics such as breastfeeding, birth support providers, and options, preparation for the birthing partner, and the development of long-term skills to help ensure a healthier path for the whole family. As a bodyworker, I offer massage techniques, as well, to afford greater ease in all of the intense transitions that are a part of this stage of life. As one of my clients once stated, “I truly felt “Mothered” by your nurturing ways, hence my name, “The Mothered Momma.” Unique to most doulas, I maintain strict protocols to offer only clean, organic, nutritionally dense treats specifically designed to support the stage of life my clients are exploring. I only use clean organic oils and materials in any of my services, especially during birth support. My greatest desire is to leave my clients with the skills and understanding of how best to support optimal health for themselves and their children. I am most proud of my commitment to organic and clean ingredients, as I truly believe in the difference it makes in the quality of our human lives and our planet. For me, this is an expensive endeavor, financially and physically, but the payoff in families’ health makes it well worth every effort! Health is our greatest resource, which is never more evident than it is in pregnancy and birth- Many of the so-called “common pregnancy complications” are nutritional deficiencies and imbalances. My work is to bring awareness to the power we have to enjoy the freedom of health in all of life’s adventures, specifically in pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The 2 biggest lessons from the COVID-19 crisis are that people do not understand how their bodies work, and most humans are anxious and fearful. I began the COVID lockdowns deemed “non-essential” and was forced to deliver groceries to keep my family afloat while I could not attend births. It quickly became apparent that we do have a “health crisis” on our hands, and it’s not from a virus. Every grocery order I filled was heavily laden with trips down the junk food isles of the grocery stores! Ice cream, cookies, candy, sodas, chips, and what is up with “TOSTINOS PIZZA ROLLS?!” (that company must be thrilled with their profits from the pandemic!) – All this garbage, while a major threat to our well-being, was shoved in our faces!? We need to learn how our bodies work for us! To avoid illness, we must offer our bodies the tools to maintain health!
The virus is a constant in the human microbiome- We always have a massive collection of the virus within our bodies (for most of which, we have no vaccines!), which is true from birth! Just because we are “exposed to a virus” does not mean we will get sick, and “getting sick from a virus” is not the danger of which we have been convinced. I finished the pandemic back in the hospital- where I was most decidedly unwelcome, mind you- to support several laboring Mamas forced to give birth without their partners, thanks to “Covid protocols.” One of those Mothers was very ill “with Covid,” fevered and weak. I remained with her for 3 days after her baby was born, locked in isolation in one of the Covid units. I wore no PPE or mask and tended her very closely, yet I never fell ill. And that is how the human body works. We are meant to be connected, in close contact, and caring for each other. We should not be afraid to touch, hug, support, or breathe in the same room as our fellow humans. The Covid-crisis was catastrophic to many, but especially to the families who were becoming, during its rampage through humanity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.themotheredmomma.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themotheredmomma/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themotheredmommalmt/
