Check Out Brittany Martin’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Martin.

Hi Brittany, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Because my journey into motherhood was rather turbulent, my passion is fueled by this intense need to give the love and support that I desperately needed at that time. Besides, I’ve always been drawn to babies and pregnant people, I’m a nurturer at heart. Erykah Badu was my introduction to doula work, this was back in 2015, I was pregnant with my son at the time and that small bit of knowledge changed the trajectory of my life. When I had my daughter in 2011, I had gone the traditional route which resulted in a traumatic cesarean birth. I want to clarify that having a cesarean wasn’t what made my birth traumatic, it was my provider challenging my reasons for wanting an unmedicated vaginal birth when I shared my birth vision. It was her telling me ” I told you so” in the midst of my labor once I finally surrendered to the nurses’ unceasing solicitation of anesthetics. I was made to feel responsible for needing a cesarean because apparently, at 19 years of age, I was “too young” and my pelvis was “too small” to push my baby out. It was traumatic because I was left alone in the hospital with a brand new baby that I had no idea how to nurse or care for. It was traumatic because after a major surgery just days prior, I was discharged (on a Sunday) with a prescription for pain meds that I couldn’t fill until the next day. I could go on…

Understandably, I decided to go a different route for the birth of my son. I hired midwife-doulas in place of my obstetrician in hopes of having an HBAC (homebirth after cesarean). Due to financial reasons, I didn’t get to birth my baby at home (insurance didn’t cover homebirth), and I had to give birth in a hospital again. But baby, this time I was prepared. My midwife-doulas took the time to get to know me and actually listened to me. I trusted them and they encouraged me to trust myself. Turns out, my pelvis wasn’t too small… I pushed my 8 lb. 13 oz. baby out with ease, free of anesthesia like I wanted. (Shout out to Deanna Kopf and Alexa Richardson [Birthwise Midwifery] for their warm, calm and intuitive spirits. I could not have done it without you.) I felt safe advocating for myself in a setting where black birthing people tend to be overlooked and disregarded.

I wanted to pay it forward so that more of “us” could experience compassionate care from our birth teams. At the time, black doulas were an anomaly and I knew that there was a need for more doulas who looked like me. My doulas were amazing but the ability to just BE amongst your own people really hits different. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to provide a safe space for other black women and birthing people- a place where we can just BE, no code switching, no overexplaining, just existing in our beautiful, bomb ass blackness.

I’ve had to do some soul searching to figure out who I am as a birthworker. In doing so, I’ve learned to put my middle finger up to “professionalism”, it truly has no place in birth work. I’m more concerned with making sure that my clients feel supported, receive quality care, know their options and SURVIVE their births.

I also had to learn that I am enough and being my true, authentic self, allows me to truly connect with my clients and support them in the most meaningful ways.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Chile, I wish. First of all, I am a single mother with two young children. I have struggled with self-esteem and self worth issues which hindered me in many ways for a LONG time. I have a history of sexual trauma from adults and peers alike. During both of my pregnancies, I suffered from Hyperemesis Gravidarum- translation: I felt nauseous and projectile vomited the majority of my pregnancies and I was hospitalized for dehydration several times throughout. I hear there are people who suffer from HG even worse than I did. My heart goes out to them, truly.

I’ve been through a lot. I lived with and had a child with my abuser (but we don’t know him anymore, ase’). I’ve been shot – chile, another story for another day- I did not always have a strong support system and those around me didn’t always see my vision (they do now though, eooow!). I believe many people considered me lackadaisical, but I just needed to find my own path.

In October 2019, I quit my corporate job, cold turkey, to focus on my children and birth work. I had no idea what I was doing. I certainly was not financially prepared but Spirit said jump, so I jumped and 6 months later, Covid hit- quick note: nobody ever said that going the road less traveled would be easy, but it is worth it. You can let fear hinder you all you want, but then ask yourself, would you rather feel fear for a moment, or regret it forever?

That being said, it’s been a journey, and I still have a long road ahead but I am a far cry from where and who I used to be. Today, I can genuinely say that I love my life, I love myself, I love the work that I do and I love my clients (who I consider my family). I love the amazing birth community that we have here in Baltimore. Some days, I don’t feel like I’m doing enough (because… grind culture and capitalism) but then I take a nap and I feel better LOL. I’m doing the work that I was called to do and I’m doing it my way. My support system consists of people who love and support me and genuinely want to see me do well. Despite where I’ve been, I know that I am on the right path (this here interview proves it).

I am grateful.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a birth worker- doula, lactation counselor and placenta encapsulation specialist. I primarily support black families throughout their reproductive journeys. I provide a safe space for my clients, I love and care for them and their babies. I listen, I show up for them. I connect them to resources. I trust, encourage and support them. I advocate for them, I fiercely protect them. I listen to them. I treat them with respect and kindness and present them with options that they may not have known they had. I facilitate conversations between them and their providers. I provide a shoulder to cry on, get them to their prenatal appointments… I do whatever needs to be done. My work isn’t one size fits all, each birthing person, and each family is a new journey… a new experience. My work is tailored to fit their needs.

I am most proud that I get to continue the work that my ancestors began. I am proud that I get to do such meaningful work and positively impact people that I may have never met otherwise. I am proud that despite not finishing (or really starting) college, I was invited to speak on a virtual panel for Goucher College on behalf of the Baltimore Doula Project regarding birth and reproductive justice. I am proud that I get to play a small role in changing birth outcomes for my people. I am proud that I have the privilege of loving on black birthing people, especially black women, during such a sensitive time in their lives. I am proud of myself for believing in myself and continuing to push forward even when faced with adversity. I am proud that I am able to do what I love without having to sacrifice much time with my children.

What sets me apart in a sea of bomb-ass black birth workers is that I am me… and there is only one me.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
First things first, I’d love to see black birth workers being properly acknowledged, respected and compensated for the work that we do.

Personally, I am planning to expand my services, I want to do a one stop shop type of thing- benefitting my clients and other black practitioners. I would love to help end routine infant circumcision, teach childbirth education with a twist (the twist being me, IYKYK), start a youtube series, be interviewed by more magazines and maybe some talk shows.

I see myself creating a sense of community for black people. I just want everybody to feel loved, cared for and supported. I want us to all have access, resources and feel like we are part of a one big healthy, happy family. Maybe build a community center for black youth, ALL black youth. I want us to heal as a collective and restore harmony and balance. I don’t have all of the pieces of the puzzle just yet, but that’s the vision.

I also see myself starting a non-profit for people in need but I want it to be more than a food kitchen or homeless shelter. I want to make people feel loved and appreciated, acknowledged… human. We’ll offer a variety of good home-cooked meals, fresh produce, pampering services (because everybody deserves to be pampered), housing, safety, light, love, joy.

I have a lot of ideas…

Pricing:

• Premium Doula Package: $2,400.00
• Back to Basics Doula Package: $1,525.00
• Virtual Doula Support: $1,225.00
• Placenta Encapsulation Services: $300.00
• Postpartum Support Packages: Start at $450 or pay as you go at $45/hour
• Lactation Support: Free.99

Contact Info:

• Email: Hello@MSFDoula.com
• Website: www.MSFDoula.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mothersisterfriend_doula/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MSFDoula
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MSF_Doula