How often do you hear the term maternal health in the media? Not enough, I’m sure. According to the CDC, 817 women in the U.S. died in 2022 from maternity-related causes, with Black women more than twice as likely to experience a pregnancy-related death than the national average. For me, it was in 2015 — after I first graduated with my degree in Journalism and Sociology — where I first realized how little our society cares or caters to the needs of pregnant people. This is where my world outside a traditional career — and thus a dream of becoming a doula — began to take root.

In 2019, my career took me to UNICEF USA, where I was inundated with global data on maternal and infant health. Knowing how deeply this issue affected people across the US, I was frustrated with the sole focus on cases abroad. Then, after a final stint at a social media agency in the throes of a pandemic, I decided it was time to make a difference — helping parents up close and personal.

In 2022, while helping a close friend during her early postpartum period, I was inspired to train with Carriage House Birth for both birth and postpartum doula work. Additionally, I began nannying, taking an interest in the full scale of childhood development and the ways in which parental support helps kids thrive. As a doula, I find my most fulfillment in birth work, advocating for maternal autonomy and empowerment in circumstances where many can’t find their voice. I hope to continue this path for the rest of my life.

Want to learn more about our potential work together? Reach out via ekstoneall (at) gmail.com.