Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Whitmore.
Hi Lauren, 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.
I’m Lauren “Dox” Whitmore born and raised in the incomparable Houston, Texas, now residing in DFW. One of the most frequently asked questions I get is “Where does “Dox” come from?” The answer is my maiden name. My paternal grandmother was a firecracker, a straight shooter, and an all-around amazing woman. I wanted to honor her.
I am a mother to an amazing toddler and a wife to a music-loving husband. I wear many hats, and I am learning to embrace my newest hat as an entrepreneur.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This work, although fulfilling, is not without challenges. It’s actually the challenges that make this work so necessary.
The biggest challenge I face is serving clients while they birth in the hospitals. The fact that has been made abundantly clear to me is that hospitals are trained in intervention, not normalcy. This means that I have to ensure I load my clients with as much knowledge as possible so that they know what’s normal and what isn’t. That way the panic or suggestions from hospital staff won’t unnecessarily interfere with my clients’ confidence and wishes. The most rewarding part of my job is witnessing clients differentiate between what’s necessary and what isn’t without my input. It takes a lot of work on my part to help them get to that point, but that’s always my goal.
Another challenge would be helping clients do what’s in their best interest. Simply hiring a doula or midwife or shopping around for the best OB does not guarantee that you will get the birth you want. You must put in work! Getting clients to understand that their diet, their stress level, the amount of exercise the get in, their appointments with chiropractors, pelvic floor therapists, massage therapists, and others is important is WORK. A lot of parents think that women birth babies every day and therefore they can too is the mindset to have. While that is true for some, it is important to realize that most women work hard for the birth they want and it’s this work you don’t know about. Your doula helps you check all the boxes.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a birth doula servicing the DFW area. As a birth doula, I am tasked with providing expectant families with support emotionally, physically, and informationally. I am most often hired near the end of a mama’s first trimester. This allows plenty of time for us to connect and become familiar with one another. It also provides me with plenty of time to help mamas develop the mindset needed to reach their desired outcome.
I have check-in with my clients to see how they’re feeling, to ask them about their self-care, and to make sure they’re eating intentionally and staying hydrated. It’s during this time where I provide tips and tricks based on how far along they are. These conversations also help me develop a plan for our two prenatal meetings that occur during their third trimester. During those meetings we discuss what to expect, how to cope, postpartum, and more.
How do you define success?
Success looks like families knowing what they want, putting in the necessary work to obtain it, and knowing what to do when the time comes. I want everyone healthy and happy.
I want to change the narrative. I want black women to be able to birth in power, not fear. I know I can’t change the policy of hospitals, but I can help shape the mindset of women so that they can advocate for themselves there or choose not to birth there at all.
When my clients, no matter where they choose to birth, feel in control I consider that success.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.doxthedoula.com
- Instagram: @doxthedoula
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/doxthedoula
Image Credits
Tyana Danae
