Meet Jessica Smith, Birth Doula!

Childbirth can have such a significant impact on your sense of self-worth and you deserve to be valued and respected! I am honored each and every time I get to serve a birthing mom and her partner.

I’ve always been obsessed with babies and birth. I take partial credit for my mom having 6 more children after me because I just kept asking her for more babies. I remember pretending to nurse my baby dolls as a little girl and could rock a baby to sleep like a pro. I also remember hiding in my mom’s room and reading her Bradley method birthing book – I needed to know this stuff someday! I was never really sure what I wanted to “be” when I grew up, but I knew that I’d be a mom. The desire to birth children was rooted deeply in my heart.



I had no idea how hard it would be to accomplish that dream though. My journey to motherhood includes 6 years of infertility, 4 pregnancy losses, countless tears and prayers, and one miracle IVF baby – our son born in December of 2018.

During that season, I struggled with depression, felt like a failure as a woman, and was, honestly, kind of lost. I changed careers several times, not sure what I was looking for because really, I was just aching to be a mom.

When my high school bestie asked me to be there for the birth of her first son, I immediately said “yes”. I wasn’t sure how I would feel to actually be there – to see her have her dream come true when I was still waiting on mine. But something inside compelled me to be there in spite of those fears. Not only did I want to support my friend, I felt I couldn’t pass up such a special moment, to witness that miracle and in some small way get to be part of it.

It was a long birth. It had rough, messy moments. But it was also so beautiful and raw and miraculous. I did my best to anticipate her needs, help her find comfort, and keep her encouraged and focused. The moment he was born, I knew. This is what I wanted to do.

I would never have imagined that I’d find birth work so fulfilling in the middle of the heartache of infertility. In fact, it took me a year and a half after that first birth to believe in myself enough to pursue it fully. I can’t explain it other than it’s truly a calling for me.

I’ve since had my son and now have my own birth story, complete with an amazing Balanced Birth Support doula at my side 😉 My birth had several unexpected twists and turns (as most births do) and I know that without my doula there I would not have felt as supported or positive about that experience as I do now. She was a safe, comfortable, positive presence when everything else around me felt uncertain.

That’s my goal as a doula as well. To ensure that you feel safe, seen, heard, and empowered.

Every birth is unique and sacred. As a doula, I get the honor of supporting you, believing in your ability when you have moments of doubt, and holding space for that magical moment when baby arrives.