We LOVE being doulas, but let's be real… this work isn't always sunshine, birth affirmations, and beautiful moments!

In this episode, we're having an honest conversation about the realities of being a doula, from pay inequity and the invisible labor behind our services to setting boundaries, avoiding burnout, navigating client expectations, andbuilding a business that allows us to continue doing the work we love.

We're talking about the things people don't always see: the long hours, the on-call lifestyle, the emotional weight of supporting families, and the pressure to make our services accessible while still making a living. Because passion is not a payment method, and loving what you do doesn't mean you should have to sacrifice your well-being to do it.

Whether you're a seasoned doula, just starting your birth work journey, or passionate about maternal health, this conversation is for you. We're sharing lessons learned, reflecting on what we wish we'd known sooner, and reminding ourselves that advocating for families and advocating for ourselves can and should go hand in hand.

Join the conversation!

Drop your thoughts in the comments,share this episode with your doula bestie and join us as we keep it real about the work we love.

In part 2 of the latest episode of 2 Dope Black Doulas, we’re joined again by Iman Boykin to talk about the importance of postpartum care. This conversation becomes emotional in a real way.

This conversation is for doulas, parents, and anyone who wants to better understand how to support postpartum in a real way.

🎧 Listen to the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Bp1qfy7UbnL9WLm5NNbV4?si=4Y6aCWbRQT2vsKx2X3Urlg

We also created a companion reflection guide to help you think through your own postpartum plan or how you support others.

📘 Available now for $12https://dopeblackdoulas.gumroad.com/l/hqsuzgq

In part 1 of this episode of 2 Dope Black Doulas, we’re joined by returning guest Iman Boykin to have a real, necessary conversation about postpartum care.

Because the truth is postpartum is not an afterthought. It’s not something you just “get through.” It’s a critical part of the birth experience that deserves intention, support, and care.

We’re talking about:

🖤 Why postpartum is often overlooked

🌿 What true rest actually looks like (beyond “sleep when the baby sleeps”)

🔥 The harm of “bounce back” culture

🤱🏾 Rituals and practices that support real healing

🧠 What doulas need to understand about postpartum support

Whether you’re a doula, a parent, or preparing for birth, this episode will shift how you think about recovery and remind you that healing is not optional.

✨ Want to go deeper?We created a companion guide to help you reflect, plan, and protect your postpartum experience.

📘 Download the Postpartum Is Not Optional – Reflection & Recovery Guide for $12 at https://dopeblackdoulas.gumroad.com/l/hqsuzgq

💸 Subscribe to 2 Dope Black Doulas on Youtube and Spotify or Apple Podcasts + DM us a screenshot to receive a discount code for $9

📲 Follow us on all platforms @2DopeBlackDoulas

⭐ Don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode

In part 1 of this episode of 2 Dope Black Doulas, we sit down with Nakia Lawson, former President of DONA International, for an honest conversation about what it means to be a Black doula navigating, and leading, in national spaces.

We talk about the realities of representation, the challenges of leadership in systems not built with Black doulas in mind, and the tension between professionalization and protecting community-rooted care. This conversation goes beyond the birth room and into board rooms, policy spaces, and positions of power.

In this episode, we explore:
• Being a Black leader in national doula organizations
• Representation versus real power and accountability
• Certification, professionalization, and cultural autonomy
• How Black doulas can step into leadership without losing themselves
• The future of Black leadership in birth work

If you’ve ever wondered whether you belong at the table, this episode is a reminder that you do.

In this reflection episode of 2 Dope Black Doulas, we’re getting real about the lessons we wish we knew when we first started birth work. From learning how to say no, to setting boundaries, charging our worth, and preventing burnout—this conversation is honest, affirming, and rooted in growth.

We talk about: • Why you don’t have to say yes to every client • The power of presence over perfection • Burnout, rest, and sustainability in birth work • Money, boundaries, and protecting your joy

✨ Whether you’re a brand-new doula, years into the work, or simply feeling called to birth work, this episode is a reminder that growth is part of the journey—and you’re allowed to evolve.

📘 Episode Companion Workbook Available We created a guided reflection workbook, What We’d Tell Our Younger Doula Selves, to help you go deeper into the themes from this episode. The workbook is available for $12 and includes journal prompts and reflection pages focused on boundaries, burnout prevention, sustainability, and self-trust. Download it by clicking on this link https://dopeblackdoulas.gumroad.com/l/ujkcoj.

💸 Subscriber Discount Subscribe to 2 Dope Black Doulas on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, DM us a screenshot of your follow, and we’ll send you a discount code to purchase the workbook for $9.

📲 Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube @2DopeBlackDoulas, and don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode with a doula who needs to hear it.

#2DopeBlackDoulas #DoulaLife #BirthWorkIsSacred #BlackBirthWorkers #ReflectionEpisode

Thinking about becoming a doula but not sure where to start? In this episode, we’re breaking down the path to birth work—what doulas actually do, the different training and certification options, how to start building your practice, and why Black doulas are needed now more than ever.

We talk about:

• What it really means to be a doula
  

• Training and certification options (and whether you need them)
  

• Business basics: contracts, marketing, and charging your worth
  

• Why representation in birth work matters for our communities
  

✨ If you’ve ever felt called to support birthing people, this one’s for you.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• National Black Doulas Association: https://www.blackdoulas.org
  

• Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings: https://www.badoulatrainings.org
  

• Ancient Song Doula Services: https://www.ancientsongdoulaservices.com
  

• DONA International: https://www.dona.org

In this episode of 2 Dope Black Doulas, your three favorite doulas Brittany, Danielle, and special guest Iman dive into the practice, purpose, and power of belly binding. Rooted in global postpartum traditions, belly binding is more than just a trend, it's a form of sacred bodywork and healing.

Together, we break down:

🔸 What belly binding actually is (and what it’s not)

🔸 The cultural history and ancestral roots of binding practices

🔸 Physical + emotional benefits for postpartum healing

🔸 When, how, and who should offer belly binding

Whether you're a new parent, a fellow birth worker, or just curious about traditional postpartum care, this episode is full of gems that reconnect us to rest, recovery, and ritual.

💜 Because healing is sacred, and our ancestors already gave us the blueprint.

In this episode of 2 Dope Black Doulas, we’re breaking down the truths, myths, and emotional weight behind C-sections, VBACs (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean), and the unpredictable turns birth can take. Whether your baby comes through your belly or your birth canal, your story deserves honor, support, and choice.

We talk about:

• Why C-sections happen and how to prepare for them

• The real deal on VBACs and how to advocate for one

• Reframing birth plan changes as powerful pivots

• The doula’s role in every kind of birth journey

✨ Remember: your power isn’t in the plan—it’s in the knowing, choosing, and being held through it all.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• ICAN – International Cesarean Awareness Network: https://www.ican-online.org

• Evidence Based Birth – VBAC Info: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/category/vbac/