Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Pokluda.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Maria. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Great Expectations Birth is a full service professional doula agency matching expecting families in the Dallas area with the perfect doula for their needs. Great Expectations has a group of dynamic and diverse doulas who all provide exceptional doula care.
Neither childbirth nor pregnancy was my focus in college and my degree is in Constitutional Law. My passion for serving expecting families grew from my own journey through infertility and then later from supporting women who were trying to get pregnant while overcoming fertility challenges. As these women did reach their goal of pregnancy, I was often asked to support them through labor and birth and thus, somewhat accidentally, I became a doula and childbirth educator. Not to do things half heartily, I chose to become a certified doula and to start my own business. Great Expectations Birth was formed in 2007 and was very successful – so successful in fact that over time I could not serve the number of expecting families that were reaching out to book my services. Instead of turning away families, I grew the business and brought in other doulas that were also doing amazing things in our area. We added other services like group childbirth classes, belly binding, and lactation and post-partum support and recently we opened an office in Addison to host our classes and offer community groups to young families.
I love using my vast experience and professional network to match up families with a doula that they are going to love and that will help them have an amazing birth…no matter what that looks like for them. We aim to delight with our service and we love offering a modern spin to the age old act of giving birth.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I have had a few challenges through years. When I started doula work, it was important to know how to support families in pregnancy and childbirth but marketing was mostly word of mouth. Now, in order to run a successful doula business, I need to understand website design, SEO and have social media savvy. I have enjoyed learning all these new skills but sometimes I wish I could spend more time with my clients than with my computer!
Over the years, the term doula has become more mainstream. Ten years ago, some hospitals did not allow doulas to attend births and I often had to explain what my job was to strangers. Now that has completely changed and doulas are part of the landscape of birth. We are welcome everywhere and both doctors and nurses know what we do.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Great Expectations Birth – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Great Expectations is a professional company. Each of our doulas is certified and experienced. Through the years we have developed a reputation for providing non-judgmental support of our clients so that we are able to match our doulas up with the needs of the families that contact us. We have several doulas that specialize in helping families prepare for VBACs (Vaginal birth after a Cesarean) and doulas who love working with first time parents. We’ve also had a lot of experience working with gestational surrogates.
Another thing that makes us unique is that our practice is paperless. We make the process of using our services simple for clients from start to finish. We are proud to have been voted BEST DOULAS in North Texas by readers of DFW Child Magazine for the last six years.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
This fall we are planning to start a post-partum support group that will combine professional lactation support with peer to peer support. Post-partum mood disorders effect 1 in 5 women and Great Expectations Birth hopes to offer support for these new mothers.
We are also introducing several new classes at our office this Fall. We have hired our new instructors and finalizing the curriculum. Look for new classes on preparing for both a hospital class and one geared to preparing for an out of hospital birth.
Pricing:
- Doula Services start at $795
- Childbirth Classes start at $75
- Post Partum Doula Services are $25/hour
- Placenta Encapsulation starts at $225
Contact Info:
- Address: The Nest
4811 Broadway
Addison, Texas, TX 75001 - Website: www.greatexpectationsbirth.com
- Phone: (214) 223-0226
- Email: info@greatexpectationsbirth.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greatexpectationsbirth/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreatExpectationsDoulas/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mariapokluda
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/great-expectations-doulas-addison-2
- Other: https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/100756050632341823919/100756050632341823919
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
