“Prior to Lakiah starting, I wondered how I would be able to sleep with someone in our home overnight caring for our fragile babies. From the first night, we felt safe, cared for, and loved. ”
“The minute Lakiah walked through our door, I immediately felt a sense of calm. She listened and gave me words of encouragement that I so desperately needed to hear in such a vulnerable and sleep deprived state.”
BIO
“The mother is the source from which all life springs. But if her cup runs dry, then nobody drinks.”
-The First Forty Days by Heng Ou
I remember reading this quote and my eyes filled with tears. As I reread the words I imagined the many parents I have supported. I remembered the moments when everything felt so heavy and my presence alone provided enough relief to alleviate them of that weight. I remembered the moments when both my clients and I had tears in our eyes from acknowledging their worth not only as parents but as human beings. It is these very moments that fill me with an indescribable joy that fuels my passion to continue to serve and support families as they navigate the transformational shift that is postpartum.
As your postpartum doula, I aim to not just fill up your cup but to create the proper networks of care so that it may continue to be filled and even overflow. Together, I can assist you in creating a nourishing postpartum plan that honors every aspect of this journey. By parsing out all the little details you can have a better idea about what is truly needed for you and your partner to feel supported and to thrive during this time. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and my goal is to do what I can to help you assemble a village of your own.
My approach is rooted in gender inclusivity, self advocacy and trauma-informed care. I believe that all people can be postpartum regardless of reproductive organs, modes of conception, or outcome of the pregnancy. As a queer birth worker, I prioritize using language that validates your experience and affirms who you are. In the complex beauty that is postpartum I only ever seek to be a guide that leads you back to yourself. Self advocacy is a powerful gift, especially because no one knows your baby like you do and no one knows yourself like you do. My work is not to advocate for you or make decisions in your place, but to advocate with you and provide you with any information you need to make those decisions yourself. Everything I do serves the purpose to uplift, empower and embolden you as parents. Lastly, trauma-informed care is a lens through which I practice. My goal is to make you feel seen and heard in your experiences and through visualization, meditation and affirmations give you the opportunities to self attune.
Nourishing postpartum families is a sacred act that I take great honor in offering. From making easy to eat snacks to providing a home cooked meal, food serves an important role in your healing and well-being. If I can alleviate the burden that cooking can often feel like, especially postpartum, I am happy to do so. I also believe in nourishment beyond food such as rest relief, relationship restoration with yourself and or your partner, revitalizing the living space and providing trusted and gentle care to your little one. Because we live in a society that does not revere postpartum the way other cultures do, I do my best so that my work may reflect to you just how sacred it truly is.
When I’m not loving on postpartum families I spend my time at home painting, dancing and cooking. I have a deep love for expanding my knowledge and connecting with the community around me. Lately I’ve been passionate about learning new recipes and dishes that I can share with the families I support and familiarizing myself with foods that aid in postpartum recovery.
Relevant Training and Experience
Postpartum Doula Training- Birthingway College of Midwifery 2018
Cornerstone Doula Training- Certified Postpartum Doula 2021
Infant & Pediatric First Aid/CPR- 2021
Postpartum Doula Training- Certification in Process- Whole Body Pregnancy 2022
Fees
Postpartum daytime: $50/hour (4 hour minimum)
Postpartum overnight: $55/hour (8 hour minimum)
Sliding scale considered for families who are unable to afford the standard rates.
CONTACT ME!
Testimonials
Lakiah came to our family’s rescue when my son was about three months old. He was only sleeping 2-3 hour stretches at that point, and my husband and I were utterly exhausted and overwhelmed. I was also riddled with anxiety, questioning my every move and decision, wondering if I was doing the right thing. The minute Lakiah walked through our door, I immediately felt a sense of calm. She listened and gave me words of encouragement that I so desperately needed to hear in such a vulnerable and sleep deprived state. I trusted her almost instantaneously and was able to sleep for the first time in three months, knowing that my baby was being well taken care of and loved on by an angel. Lakiah is kind, intuitive, punctual, and supportive – all the traits you look for in a postpartum doula. We are so grateful for her support and love during such a beautiful, but difficult and transitional time for our family. I would absolutely recommend her. - Steph
We don’t know how we would have survived without Lakiah. She has been with us since our 10 week premature triplets came home from the hospital and every other night she was with the boys so we could sleep. Prior to her starting, I wondered how I would be able to sleep with someone in our home overnight caring for our fragile babies. From the first night, we felt safe, cared for, and loved. She is warm, calm, so knowledgeable, and truly cares for your whole family. She also approaches her work with a high level of professionalism while maintaining flexibility to accommodate our family's ever-changing needs. And she is extremely health and safety conscious and went above and beyond to implement safety measures to make sure our kids stayed healthy and weren't exposed to any unnecessary risks. We feel so blessed to have found her and couldn’t recommend her more. - Liz