Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Odell.
Hi Mary, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My journey began in 2016 while pregnant with my second child. After having a not-so-great experience with the birth of my first child (with the exception of my nurse who holds a very special place in my heart), I knew I wanted something different. I needed something different to feel safe, heard, seen! It was then I was introduced to the world of midwifery and doulas. My eyes were opened wide to a whole new level of care. I had a beautiful birth center birth that brought healing and a passion for the birth world I had never known before. I dreamt of becoming a doula, but life at the time had other plans so my dreams had to be put aside. When I became pregnant with my third child in 2019, I chose to have a home birth. Though I had a typical healthy pregnancy, my birth was not. My sweet baby arrived so fast earthside he needed assistance to begin breathing for longer than anyone is comfortable with. It was the scariest moment of my life. In the days and weeks after my birth, I experienced PTSD and postpartum depression. When I finally reached out for professional help, I was told I was experiencing baby blues. Baby blues may be experienced by a birthing person in the first few days after birth. I was 8 weeks postpartum. I felt defeated. I questioned myself and thought “Maybe I am overreacting”, but I wasn’t. I desperately needed support. It was Barbara, my doula and founder of Birth Fort Worth, who stepped up and said “I see you; I hear you; you aren’t alone.”. The next day she connected me with my midwife from my second birth. When the appointment was set, Barbara was in the waiting room with a big smile and open arms. She loved on my babies while I talked with Dana, my midwife. Through one of the darkest periods of my life Barbara, my doula was such a bright light for me, and I am forever grateful for who the support and love she gave me. I will say this for the rest of my days, my life would be very different if it weren’t for her! As the months went by, I began to feel pulled more and more to birth work. My soul was calling me to do this work, to provide a safe space for other birthing people just as it was given to me. I knew if I had the capacity to provide such support it would be a disservice not to! In January of 2020, I made the jump and became certified as a Birth Doula. Shortly after Barbara offered me an amazing opportunity to join Birth Fort Worth, and it’s been a beautiful adventure thus far. It can be scary entering the birth world as a brand-new doula, but Birth Fort Worth’s team took me under their wings and were my biggest cheerleaders! I owe a great deal of my growth and success to this amazing group of inspiring women. Once officially working as a doula, I began to crave more education. I wanted all the tools in my toolbox so that I could support our clients in the best way possible. I have since received certifications in Postpartum support, placenta encapsulation, and am currently working towards my IBCLC. I’ve been able to take my struggles and trauma from my own personal experiences and turn it into a life purpose which in turn has allowed room for my own healing and growth. Supporting parents through such a monumental life experience is a great honor and I wouldn’t trade it for the world!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
For me, though the road to becoming a doula has been fairly smooth, finding the confidence and work/life balance has been a challenge. As a mother of 3 and wife to a hunky UPS driver I wear many hats throughout the day and that can be a challenge to juggle. Doula life can be difficult for our families as we miss birthdays, holidays, school events, and more. We are on call for weeks/months at a time and have to plan time off months in advance. Being a doula is so much more than showing up to a birth. It’s being someone’s go-to person all hours of the day and night. Our job is to support you 100%, no matter what kind of birth you desire. Finding that balance is an art and takes time. I’m still working towards finding that work/life balance, but with the support of my family and work team, it gets easier each day.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am incredibly proud to say I work with one of the best doula groups in the DFW area, birth | Fort Worth. We stand out from the rest by offering our clients so much more than just birth support. Birth | Fort Worth’s goal is to have you covered from classes to postpartum support. With several doula packages to choose from, individual or team model, each client receives a virtual lactation session with an IBCLC we work closely with, Chrisie Rosenthal of The Land of Milk and Mommy. We also provide free comfort measures classes held monthly, free breastfeeding classes, and for those utilizing Medicaid we offer a special rate for that as well.
The packages are also buildable! Barbara, founder of b|FW, has created a list of classes from an award-winning childbirth class to cloth diapering to newborn care basics! Postpartum, we’ve got you covered. We offer placenta encapsulation (includes a free cord keepsake and print), and Bengkung Belly Binding with the option of adding on a vaginal steam if desired! Needing a little more hands-on support postpartum? We have specially trained postpartum doulas that are experts in offering support and guidance through such a new, exciting, yet sometimes overwhelming time in your life. Postpartum doulas come prepared to support in feeding, newborn care, laundry, dishes, even take over, and allow you to sleep for a couple hours! As I like to say, postpartum doulas get in where they fit in. We support you exactly where you are at, judgment-free so that you can enjoy this time with your sweet baby.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I feel like everyone deserves to have a doula, whether it be during birth or postpartum. Like the old saying goes, “It takes a village.” and we need all the support we can get. A big misconception about doulas is that you have to have a birth that looks a specific way when in reality that couldn’t be farther from the truth! Doulas are here for all births, cesarean births, medicated births, hospital, out of hospital. We provide continuous evidence-based educational support throughout the entirety of your pregnancy as well as into postpartum. We aim to help you discover what works best for you and your family by empowering you with the tools needed to do so! We want you to have Your Best Birth, no matter what that may look like!
Pricing:
- Your Best Birth Class- $250 In-person or Virtual options available
- Placenta Encapsulation- $275 Pick up and Delivery included
Contact Info:
- Email: mary@birthfortworth.com
- Website: www.birthfortworth.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/all.ways.love.doula
Image Credits
Sabel Moments Photography
