I’m Erica the Doula: Why I Do This Work, and What’s Coming Next

If we haven’t met yet, Hi! I’m Erica, a Certified birth and postpartum doula here in Columbus, Ohio. Some of you know me from Labor of Love, some from my TikTok Lives, and some from a birth room at 3 a.m. Wherever you found me, welcome. I’m so glad you’re here.

I started this blog because I get the same questions over and over, from expecting parents, from new moms in the thick of the fourth trimester, and from doulas trying to build a career in this work. You deserve real answers, in plain language, from someone who has been in the room. So that’s what this space is going to be.

A little about me

I’m a mom first. I’ve raised my daughters as a single mom for 20 years, and I know what it feels like to be tired, stretched thin and doing it all with no one checking on you. That experience is a big part of why I do this work. No one should have to go through birth and new parenthood alone.

Over the last six years, I’ve supported 120 families through my private practice. Along the way, I became:

• A certified birth and postpartum doula

• A childbirth educator

• A Certified Breastfeeding Specialist

• A bereavement doula, supporting families through loss

• Evidence Based Birth® Instructor

I also serve as President of DONA International, the world’s oldest and largest doula organization. I’m also the founder of Birth and Beyond Inc., a Columbus nonprofit that makes sure moms who face barriers to care still get a doula by their side. Since January 2026, our team has welcomed 90 babies earthside.

Why postpartum is where my heart is right now

So much attention goes to the birth, and it should. But then everyone goes home, and the visitors stop coming. That’s when a lot of moms are hurting the most, healing, feeding around the clock, and wondering if what they’re feeling is normal.

These days, I’m spending more of my time in that season after birth: helping moms rest and recover, supporting feeding, and teaching families what to expect so they’re not caught off guard. I still attend a few births a year, but postpartum care, teaching and mentoring are where I’m putting my energy.

What you’ll find here

Here’s what I’ll be writing about:

• Pregnancy and birth: what to expect, your options, and how to speak up for yourself

• The fourth trimester: recovery, feeding, sleep and the emotions nobody warns you about

• For doulas: building a business that pays you, avoiding burnout, and growing in this work

• Real talk: the things I wish every family knew before their baby came

Let’s stay connected

If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe below and new posts will come straight to your inbox. You can also catch me live on TikTok, and I’d love to hear from you. What question do you want me to answer first? Leave a comment or send me a message.

And if you’d like to support moms in our community who can’t afford doula care, you can learn more about Birth and Beyond at birthandbeyondinc.org.

Thanks for being here. I’ll see you in the next post.

With love,Erica