Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikita Johnson.
Hi Nikita, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I was a teen mom when I entered the medical field. I completed my Nursing Assistant & Patient Care Technician & Surgical Assistant training in 2013 which was right after graduating high school. My dream was to work on labor and delivery. At the time, I didn’t understand why but I do now. I did about 1 year of Med/Surg & transitioned on to labor & delivery in 2014.
While working in hospitals, I maintained my role as an Obstetrics Surgical Technologist, I witnessed an increased volume of inductions and cesareans with black women, which likely led them back in the operating room because of retained product or severe bleeding. I started doing research and learning about ways to avoid these bad outcomes and tried to advocate for some of these families. I became familiar with doula work and enrolled in training. In 2019, I officially left the government ran health care facilities and built my doula agency, DMV Birth Doulas. It is a black-owned doula practice in Ellicott City, Maryland specializing in IUI/Surrogacy, Hospital Birth Rights, Homebirth, and Traditional Postpartum Support.
As I am building my doula business, I notice a high level of requests for doula training. The more I responded that I didn’t offer it the more requests I received. At the time, I was not a fan of standing in front of people and talking or having a discussion. Actually, I know how to sing and can sing well and won’t because of my shyness. I took the leap of faith and started training and I am now the CEO/Director/Founder of “The Black Doula Training”. It is a nationally recognized doula training organization specializing in training medical professionals.
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?
It’s funny you ask this question. I named one of my children “Journie” simply because I knew my life would be a journey! If I had to describe the journey, I would say it’s been a rollercoaster. Overcoming the biases of being a teen mom was one big challenge.
Building a profitable doula business in a city where they don’t support your business freely. Being the First Black-Owned Doula Practice & Training Organization in Baltimore is under a lot of pressure. We can’t reach everyone in the community but we are doing the best we can!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about DMV Birth Doulas, LLC?
Nikita Johnson is a 1st Year Midwife Apprentice at Del Ray Midwifery in Alexandria, Virginia. She has 6 years of hospital-based labor & delivery experience as a Certified Obstetrics Surgical Technologist and 3 years as a top practicing doula in the DMV. Nikita is a prominent birth doula in the Baltimore community.
She is a Doula Trainer & Mentor for The Black Doula Training and a Writer for Healthy Mom & Baby Magazine Powered by the Nurses of AWHONN. She is also the Founder of DMV Birth Doulas, LLC. Her practice specializes in IUI/Surrogacy, Hospital Birth Rights, Homebirth, and Traditional Postpartum Support.
Individuals and couples working with Nikita benefit from her multi-skilled background and experience. She has been attending births since 2014 and has attended over 350+ births.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
Truly, the best advice I can give is, “Only passion can help you grow your business without it, you won’t last”. A lot of people become doulas because it’s trendy or they think it doesn’t take much to be a doula, but it does”.
Pricing:
- Doula Training $600-$1000
- Doula Services $1500-$3500
- Homebirth $3000
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dmvbirthdoulasllc.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/dmvbirthdoulas
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/dmvbirthdoulas
