"Being a Doula is a sacred calling. You are invited to be a part of an intimate experience. Serving as a doula is an honor and a privilege."

— Felicia Frances-Edwards, AAIMM Doula

What does being a Doula mean to you?

Being a doula is my life's calling, its ministry and service. I get the opportunity to walk through pregnancy, labor and delivery and the postpartum period with each client. I’m able to lend my expertise.

One reason a family should consider having a doula:

Having a doula is like having your own prenatal and childbirth educator.

Please share a story of one of your most memorable experiences as a doula.

I had a client who, due to a medical condition, had a pain pump to help her manage pain caused by her condition. She was not a candidate for t an epidural, and her only choices were IV medications or general anesthesia. (Despite the challenges), my client wanted to at least try for a vaginal birth. Because of her condition, her doctor told her that he didn’t want her to labor at all. In fact, he told her “Don’t get mad at me if you end up in a lot of pain trying to have a vaginal birth”. My client was perplexed that her doctor would say something like that to her. She was willing to try and labor with IV medications and if it became too much for her, so she went ahead and got the C-section. The doctor kept dismissing her requests. One day, she went to an appointment with her mom, and the  doctor did a 180. He agreed to support her. She went into the hospital for the induction and was able to tolerate labor for seven hours using IV medications. Eventually, It got to the point where she couldn’t handle the contractions anymore. She decided to get the C-section with general anesthesia, which means she was put to sleep. At the end of it all, this client was grateful that she was able to self advocate and try to deliver vaginally. 

What’s the most powerful or meaningful part of being a doula for you?

Being able to help those who are afraid something bad might happen to them. With all the talk about maternal and infant mortality and morbidity for Black birthing people,(it’s crucial to address the disparities) African American women are four times more likely than most other races to experience death during labor or in the postpartum period. The (underlying) message is: “You are flawed because you’re a Black woman.” I believe the impact of racism, inequality and biases are why these rates are so high. It’s not individual women, it’s the system's approach to their care. And many of those adverse experiences (stem from   women not being  heard.That’s why self advocacy, and advocacy from a doula, is so important.

What’s one game-changing way a doula can support a family during birth and beyond?

Being able to help families navigate the healthcare system by providing language and insight on how to exercise their power. As a result, they are able to model advocacy for their children, empowering the next generation to successfully change the narrative.

What's one unforgettable moment from your journey as a doula that still sticks with you today?

My first birth as a Community doula was amazing. My client called and shared she was in labor with her fifth child. I went to be with her to help her use comfort measures to handle the contractions. She and I worked together for about two hours,  and then things shifted. She went to the bathroom and came out, almost doubled over (in pain). I told her it was time to go to the hospital. She slowly walked out to the car, but when she tried to get in the car she struggled. When she was finally able to get in the car, she told me something felt weird and she asked me to look. She lifted up her dress and I could see the baby’s head. I was afraid the baby was going to come out and hit the floor of the car. On automatic pilot, I reached down and pulled the baby out. I instantly placed the baby on her chest and told her partner to call 911. The EMS arrived 10 minutes later and she was transported to the hospital, where  she and the baby were given a clean bill of health. There were no complications or concerns. I got to be the baby’s honorary Ti Ti.

ABOUT FELICIA

Felicia Francis-Edwards has worked in Maternal and Child Health for more than 30 years, including 16 years at the Watts Health Foundation In the Maternal and Child Health Department, she worked with pregnant and parenting women. I have also worked with pregnant and parenting teens and has   served as a Health Education Assistant.Felicia is an expert in providing group and individual education for the patients.by discussing such things as  fetal development, nutrition during pregnancy, adverse substances during pregnancy, infant care, labor and delivery and postpartum care, and family planning.Her love for the field developed while working as a health education assistant and she  attended many births before discovering doula work. Becoming a doula became a goal and for the last six years, Felicia has  worked full-time as a Community Doula. To date, Felicia has worked with more than 200 clients.