Conversations with the Inspiring Emma Lyda

So anyway, rewind to about six months ago – I was living the few-years-post-college corporate life. I had a well-paying job and even got to work from home. Sounds great, right?! Well for those of you that know anything about the enneagram, I am a type eight. Which means I am a very passionate person and have a big need to bring about change into this world. So my “eight” was really coming out and I was dying to get out there and live a passionate life. And since so much of our lives our spent at work, well that had to mean leaving my comfy, secure, corporate job. I started researching how I could get involved in birth work without actually going to med school or nursing school and I learned all about doulas. I then met with a friend from college who is a doula to pick her brain about what the profession is like. After that meeting I knew it was what I wanted to do!

I signed up for the certification program that day. Fast forward six months and I have now just completed my certification through Birth Boot Camp Doulas and have officially launched my business – Emma Lyda Doula Services.

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?
So far it’s been a pretty smooth journey, though not without some troubles. I think the main struggle for me is the fear of leaving the known for the unknown. In my corporate job I had a set paycheck coming in every two weeks. I left that to run my own business from the ground up, and nothing is guaranteed anymore. I have to market my services and find my own clients and set my own rates. It can be scary, for sure!

What really helps me to overcome that fear is reminding myself that life is SO short. That does not mean that money and security are not important. They totally are. But knowing that I get to make a difference each day, in the way that I am most passionate about is absolutely worth the sacrifice for me.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Emma Lyda Doula Services story. Tell us more about the business.
Well let me start by explaining what a birth doula actually is, for those that may not know: a doula is a trained professional who provides continuous emotional, physical, and informational support to a mother before, during, and shortly after childbirth. You might be more familiar with the term “birth coach.” It’s sort of like that, but more!

So the specific services that I offer are of course the birth support. I am there with my clients throughout their entire labor and delivery helping with pain management techniques, encouragement, relaxation, whatever support they need. Every mom is different and every birth is different, so my services are really tailored to the mom’s preferences and what she needs in the moment. I also think it’s really important to include the client’s support person(s), whether that’s her spouse or her mom or whoever she has chosen to be there. I kind of coach them on how to be the best support for their loved one too.

In addition to the actual birth, I offer support throughout their pregnancy by helping to create their birth plan and answering any questions they have about their upcoming birth. I also have a lending library that all of my clients get access to that includes different pregnancy/baby products so they can try out different products and decide what they like before purchasing them.

Looking back on your childhood, what experiences do you feel played an important role in shaping the person you grew up to be?
I had kind of a chaotic childhood and I moved around a lot. My parents loved me to death and supported me well, but there was always just a lot going on, so I tried to do as much as I could by myself. This developed a deeply independent nature in me that has stuck with me throughout my life. I have had a job since I was at least 16, and that’s definitely given me a strong work ethic. So yeah, I would say that these things played a huge role in where I’m at today, and it is at least part of the reason why I had the confidence to start my own business.

Pricing:

• Premier Package: $800 – this includes three prenatal visits, one postpartum visit; I help with laboring at home before heading to birth place
• Essential Package: $600 – this includes two prenatal visits, one postpartum visit; I meet at the birth place

Contact Info:

• Address: I serve all of the DFW metroplex!
• Website: www.doulaemma.com
• Phone: (817) 925-2534 – call or text
• Email: elyda@birthbootcamp.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/DoulaEmmaDFW
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/DoulaEmmaDFW