Today we’d like to introduce you to Gloria Garcia.
Hi Gloria, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hi, I’m Gloria, a certified birth doula and surgical tech. My journey to becoming a doula started in 2023, but to truly understand my passion behind this work, I have to backtrack to my first birth in 2011, when I was 17 years old. Without much support and very little understanding of the birth process, I was talked into an induction. I ended up with an episiotomy (that I did not consent to) and hemorrhoids from pushing so hard. Being in so much pain while trying to take care of a newborn made for a very difficult postpartum period.
Ten years later, I became pregnant with my daughter, and I knew I wanted things to be different. I began researching and learning about not only birth, but birth within the hospital system. I immersed myself in books, podcasts, and birth pages on Instagram. The more I learned, the more I realized how often the system takes advantage of pregnant women. I was determined not to let this be my story.
And it was. I went on to have my daughter unmedicated and on my terms. I never felt more empowered and in awe of myself and what the woman body is capable of. That birth lit a fire in me. I became obsessed with hearing women’s birth stories, and I noticed a painful pattern: so many lacked education about their true options in childbirth. I felt called to change that, even if I wasn’t yet sure how.
Then I discovered what a doula was, and everything clicked. I knew immediately this was the path I was meant to take. I completed my certification in December 2023 as a full-spectrum doula, and since then, I’ve supported multiple women using not only my doula training but also my eight years of experience as a surgical tech and my own personal birth stories. Today, I help women feel confident, prepared, and in control as they navigate the hospital system and have the birth they’ve always dreamed of.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Building my business from the ground up while working a full-time job has been one of the hardest parts of my journey. Even on my “days off,” I’m still working. When I’m not working, I’m teaching private childbirth classes, posting on social media, networking with other birth professionals, and having prenatal meetings with my clients. At times, it feels like I’m juggling two full-time jobs.
Another thing I didn’t expect was how challenging it would be to find doula clients in the beginning. Dallas is full of incredible doulas who’ve been in the game much longer than I have, and for a while, that made me second-guess myself. The longer I went without a client, the louder the imposter syndrome became.
But I pushed through. I reminded myself that I bring something unique to the table. There were plenty of moments when I thought about quitting, but the clients who did choose me reminded me exactly why I started. Being invited into such a sacred moment in someone’s life is the greatest honor, and every family I’ve served has fueled my determination to keep going.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
A lot of people don’t fully understand what a doula is. Some assume it’s just “handholding,” but it’s so much more than that. When a client hires me, we begin building a relationship rooted in trust, education, and a clear vision of what their dream birth looks like. Through our prenatal meetings, we talk about fears, desires, and birth preferences while also diving into childbirth education. I become a reliable resource they can lean on, whether it’s a quick text, a late-night question, or a phone call.
But the heart of my work happens at the birth itself. As a doula who primarily supports hospital births, my role goes far beyond comfort measures. Many of my clients are in the hospital because of specific medical needs, but that doesn’t mean they have to give up control over their experience. During labor, I make sure my clients understand their options, feel supported in advocating for those choices, and stay connected to their vision for birth. Together, we adjust positions, work with the natural progression of labor, and use comfort techniques to keep my clients grounded and through every stage.
The thing I’m the most proud of is the look on my client’s face when they realize all their hard work paid off.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Oddly enough, the most important skill I carried from my years as a surgical tech carried over into my work as a doula: adaptability. Birth is never a linear process, and things can shift in an instant. Trauma during birth often comes when someone feels powerless or out of control in those moments. By staying adaptable and helping create a new plan as circumstances change, I make sure my clients still feel a sense of control and ownership over their birth experience.
Pricing:
- $1600 for my doula package
- $275 for private childbirth classes
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hospital-doula.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehospitaldoula/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550909002424
