Journey to a Grand Doula

My journey to becoming a doula began on March 2, 1984, when I supported my friend’s minor

daughter through the birth of her child. That experience lit a fire in me. For the next 12 years,

I supported birthing people through pregnancy and birth, without even knowing there was a

name for what I was doing.

In 1996, a male coworker asked me why I wasn’t a doula. My response? “A what?” I went

home, looked it up and enrolled in training and I’ve continued to attend trainings. What I had

been instinctively drawn to had a name-I was a doula. I supported my first client as a trained

doula on February 16, 1997.

That baby I welcomed earth side had her own baby 20 years later-on the same day. Yes, I was

her doula too. I proudly earned my Grand Doula status on February 16, 2017.

Later that year, I retired from the Department of Corrections. I like to say “Yep-I escaped from

prison on October 27, 2017!” After retirement, I expanded my doula services to include

postpartum and infant care support. The timing couldn’t have been better. In 2018, I joined

the Michigan Prison Doula Initiative team when the letter of agreement was signed. This is a

role I couldn’t have taken on while still working in the prison system. It’s been an incredible

honor.

Being invited into the sacred space of birth and supporting families through that journey

continues to be one of the greatest honors of my life. Emotional, physical and educational

support can be transformative. I’m passionate about empowering families to advocate for

themselves-and if I sense they’re not being heard, I echo their voices until they are. My heart

lies in the synergy created by the birth team and the serenity of a peaceful birthing

environment-together, they help foster positive birth experiences.

Outside of birth work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, dancing, eating (not much

cooking), traveling (catching flights, not feelings), playing games (rarely winning), coloring (it’s

great therapy), walking, plays, concerts, spiritual and personal growth and singing. A fair

warning about the singing: My pastor says I’m fine until I start “crying.” That’s what he calls

my singing!

Arnetta C. Ford – Serene Synergistic Doula Services, LLC

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