Today we’d like to introduce you to Talena Cawthon.
Talena, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am 21 years old and a college student at Lynn University online. The way the doula career was brought to me is a long story but I’m here to tell it! In my Junior year of high school, I was diagnosed with endometriosis. My mother had it so it’s hereditary and they gave her a 1% chance of having a child. Now, I am here telling my story. I had the fear that it could happen to me as well based on symptoms I had a few years prior. I always wanted to attend college regardless, I am that person that knows what I wanted to do with my life.
My goal has always been to have some form of job security when I graduate from college and I always knew a desk job was not for me. I’ve always loved working with women especially pregnant women and babies! I was always that niece that everyone called to help out during postpartum. It’s funny thinking back on it I was a postpartum doula and didn’t even realize it. I was constantly researching careers waiting on the one that would tickle my tummy. In the middle of my Senior year, I still hadn’t made a decision on my career path! Then it happened, one day I was watching a TV show called “Meet the Cromartie’s”; Antonio Cromartie’s wife Terricka Cromartie was giving birth to his 13th child and their sixth child together.
She actually had an at-home water birth! She hired a Doula and A Midwife. But the Doula caught my eye the most! The way the doula was engaging with them, the way she comforted her, was supporting her through labor and empowered her to get through the birth. The actual icing on the cake was when she changed Antonio’s outlook on having a home birth truly amazed me. After that show, I said, “That’s it! That’s what I want to do!”. I wasn’t even paying attention to the midwife delivering the baby. It was the doula that caught my eye; on top of the possibility of not being able to have the birth experience myself.
I wanted a career that could ensure I get to experience the joy of giving birth and all that goes with it, along with hearing the women in my family’s birth stories, a combination of this encouraged me that this is it and now I can help women have the birth that they desire. I went into deep research about the Doula work and found a college as well. I found an online college which is Lynn University. At the time I was doing high school online at Penn Foster High School. I wanted to start my Doula career right away. Therefore, once I graduated in 2019, I started attending Lynn University and I started my Doula certification with Dona International training in June 2019.
I had my first volunteer Doula client within the same year and attended my first birth at the end of 2019 in December. Which was a home birth and it being everything!!! It just confirmed I wanted to keep going in this career. Finished my required Birth attendance in February 2020. Became a DONA certified Birth Doula in March 2020. Started/opened my business Explore TC doula Services in June 2020. All while being a college student with a very supportive family by my side!
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?
I would say the road did and does have some bumps and curves. But every person goes through those routes. I would say when I first stepped into the birth world, I thought the Jacksonville birth community will help me with open arms. But instead, it was just the opposite as it was very hard to get into the “circle!” In this career most are not my age, they already have kids, this career is kind of like a hobby, and most feel like too much competition could be a threat. I take this career very seriously and I want it to be a lifetime commitment.
In the Jacksonville community, it’s very difficult to get into the circle, therefore you must work extremely hard to make a name for yourself in this business. I‘m happy I was able to meet with a few workers that I can call my friends and they made the road so much easier and smoother for me. I will say that I put time into doing everything I can to assist in making the birth community more open and friendly, for those after me coming into this career. During the beginning of my career, I had to figure out my doula style. Am I a talker, am I hands-on, do I take over, so I just sit there? So many styles. After each birth, I was able to learn more! My style is more observant and not too much in the way.
Only when you need me and I’ll drop my two cents if you want it or not. Then if you need help with being heard I’m your girl. Man, that rode was a little tough but I would say the toughest route would be is being heard and seen in a hospital setting as a doula. I’m an African American young lady and some may attempt to dismiss me, however, I’m always up for the challenge. I found my voice quickly and learned that I must ensure I wasn’t being pushed over by hospital staff and being in the hospital is when my clients need me the most. Why? Because they’re scared and nobody doesn’t directly talk to them.
So, they’re looking at me to help and be that person that will have their back all the way. Anytime I’m at a hospital birth, I make certain all nursing staff that is working with my client knows I’m there and my name. I ensure they know that we must work as a team to make sure the birthing person gets the birth that they desire. I ask questions to make sure they understand what’s going as well. Let’s say it’s a confidence booster and the staff will actually take me seriously and acknowledge my assistance in the process.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Explore TC Doula Service?
My business is a birth and postpartum Doula business. The Main Motivation of a doula is to help women have a memorable and empowering birth that the woman desires.
Postpartum doula support involves helping integrate your new baby into the family and helping your family find a way of balancing with an additional member. A postpartum doula can also help with your physical or emotional recovery during the “fourth trimester”. This period of time can come with many unexpected challenges and having someone around to provide support and guidance can be especially useful.
I would say my style as a Doula is observant and laid-back I’m not too pushy I’m not in the way I’m more sitting back and watching and seeing if I need to step in when I need to. I allow the couple to flow their way and I tweak when necessary… I’m so proud of being a Doula because I don’t see a lot of African American Doula’s in my community nor Doula’s that are my age doing this all while in college because it is a lot to handle and I feel like I’m handling it very well.
I offer postpartum services, birth services, last-minute Doula services (for clients that are 37 weeks plus or in labor), and I accept Medicaid clients.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I always took COVID-19 very seriously even when it first surfaced. Also, unfortunately, I had my own personal encounter with Covid-19 as my father passed from Covid on October 19, 2020, at the age of 50 healthy as a horse, then 11 days later my grandfather passed from COVID-19 on October 30, 2020, at the age of 71. I realized during the pandemic it was more important to clients to have home births or births at a birthing center vs a hospital setting.
A couple of reasons was safe for them and also, they had more options as to who would be able to attend their birth. I have a high level of respect for the virus and its full capabilities, I think this provides my clients with a high level of confidence and trust in me when it comes to being proactive in staying healthy and safe with every situation that is within my control. I have experienced having a mom with Covid-19 going into labor and having to leave the hospital and support her virtually. Covid-19 has helped increase my relationships with the midwife community, being that I would assist my clients in finding the right fit for them.
Covid-19 in spite of taking my family did increase my presence as a Doula, and I can’t deny that my growth in my career excelled tremendously during this time. Covid-19 did fast-tracked my Doula career. As I was taught even during the unfortunate or bad situation there is always at least one positive outcome and that has been the success of Explore TC Doula Services as the footprints are definitely present.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.exploretcdoulaservices.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doulaname_tc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doulanametc
Image Credits
The Portrait Boutique, Dallas Arthur Birth Stories & Support: http://www.dallasarthurphotography.com/
