Today we’d like to introduce you to Athena Gabriella.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Athena. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I find it difficult to pinpoint the ‘beginning of my story’… when I try to – I think about how much of a role my upbringing plays in shaping who I am and the woman I will become. I can’t help but lean towards the “nurture” side in the nature v. nurture debate. My environment, my struggles, and my achievements have made me into the dynamic, unrelenting energy and “mompreneur” many see before them. When I reflect on my adolescent years (up to age five), most of my memories revolve around living in a home where my mother was abused (physically and mentally) by my biological father. As the oldest child (of four children then and seven kids now), I can remember having a very maternal and protective demeanor when it came to my siblings and mother. At the age of five, my mother took the four of us children here to South Florida for a fresh, safe start. When I think back to where my desire to support and serve my community was birthed, the importance of showing up for other women during major transitional times.
When I first stepped on to my college campus, I was thinking overwhelmed by a fascination with the (elaborate) biological processes of living things. Then 16 years old, I had pretty much decided a biology major would suit whichever career path I’d commit myself to. At 18 years old, after two years or so on campus, I graduated with my Associate’s Degree from my community college. As many of my peers went on to complete their Bachelors and Master’s degrees, my journey as a community-based birth doula (here in South Florida) began with the birth of “Hija Del Sol Media.” (later named, “Hija Del Sol Birth Services, LLC.”). Originally, my business idea was to create educational media and content… my birth-work calling was much louder than my desire to create books, videos, and photos that imparted knowledge.
My first job after getting my AA: substitute teaching… commonly spelt “B-U-R-N-O-U-T.” I’ve spent about five years substitute teaching at schools all over Broward County. My thoughts? I definitely don’t intend on returning to the work full time. It took about two years into being a substitute teacher for me to discover that not only did I have a moderate issue with authority, but I was highly capable of running my own business.
I founded my doula business determined to “support the community through birth-work and education” by offering my informational, emotional, spiritual and physical support to birthing people during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. After founding my business, I began looking for ways to fund my mission and vision. For starters, I participated in a local micro-funding event held in Sistrunk, Fort Lauderdale. I got together my business plan and budget and stepped forward into the public hopeful to play a role in educating the masses on things like: health disparities (and the disproportionate amount of black and brown women dying due to pregnancy/childbirth related reasons), the role racial bias plays in the medical industry, what I do, where I plan to take my business, and why we should actively support community birth-workers. I won the micro-funding event which blessed my small business with some start-up funds; no strings attached!
It’s been beautiful and fulfilling to see the word of my doula practice spread around South Florida, statewide and nationally. It’s been an honor to have offered souls support in homes, hospitals and birth centers to folks who have birthed their babes in the informed and empowered way many of us wish for but don’t always know what bodily autonomy looks like.
As a mother of two, I’ve gotten to where I am by not allowing a negative connotation associated with “rest” and “sleep” deter me from prioritizing my self-care. I tend to myself first so that I can show up whole for my clients.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I would never describe my journey as a “smooth” one, though I am grateful for the obstacles that strengthened my character and work ethic. My struggles built me and I wouldn’t change anything I’ve gone through for a “smoother” ride. Being a relatively “young” momma has been the most beautiful and challenging part of adulthood. Not only am I responsible for the lives and well-being of two little girls, I’m also responsible for nurturing myself and handling my self-care so that I can function at my best for this tribe of mine. Nothing means more to me than my daughters and magnificent partner.
I didn’t know what it meant to “struggle” until I became a mother. Entering into your twenty’s is stressful as it is, but add motherhood on to that and there’s a different kind of pressure on your shoulders. Parenthood is when you know that “dropping the ball” and messing things up can have lifelong effects on your life and your children’s. My first daughter’s arrival eventually led to an experience with a postpartum mood disorder. At the time, the conversations around perinatal mental health weren’t very encompassing. Perinatal mood disorders exist on a spectrum- there is no finite approach and the only way to normalize their existence is by talking about our experiences.
Not every mom experiences the depression we’ve been programmed to side-eye. The hormonal chaos, my stressful postpartum period and stress-induced breakdown played a major role in my battling a period of homelessness. I was separated from my daughter for a period until I I settled in with my roommate•sisters and felt she could visit comfortably. It was a difficult period of my life: acknowledging that my encounter with homelessness and a postpartum mood disorder didn’t make me “less than” was a large part of my healing process. I now know that my story will motivate others and that the God•Universe wouldn’t place anything I couldn’t handle in my path. Everyone struggles… never feel ashamed because your test can become a TESTIMONY.
I believe the reason many are drawn to me is my charisma and authenticity… there’s a certain glow that emerges whenever someone has hit rock bottom and built themselves back up shamelessly. My advice for those of you just starting your journey, whatever it may be: “Follow the calling, not the crowd.” At the end of the day, consistency is key and if you wanna go far, you have to think about managing your energetic investments. Your calling will be a better avenue for your energetic/emotional/financial/
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
When people ask me what I do as a Birth Doula, it’s very natural for me to give them my “elevator speech.” I carry this bias that almost everyone around me doesn’t truly have the time or desire to learn about what a birth-worker’s calling entails.
My journey into birth-work began about three to four years ago after having my first daughter. Before I got pregnant with her, I had never heard the term “doula” but as I looked into my support options during pregnancy, I came across the word “doula.” I had a healthcare provider, my partner and family was loving and supportive yet something still felt like it was missing when it came to my birth team. It wasn’t until I became a doula that I understood the power of building a birth team and how the proper birth team could make or break your pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience.
What do I do once I’m hired? Every month I open up space on my calendars to support 2-3 births but doula work is a lot more than just showing up for birth support. After all, births are sacred and being welcome into someone’s birthing space is an honor. Doulas DO a lot and the job description really molds to the needs of the pregnant person. There is very little a Doula has on the “Never-Ever List” while supporting a family during pregnancy, birth and/or postpartum. It is said that, “Doulas are birth professionals that offer emotional, informational, physical support/aide to birthing people (and their family if they have) during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Based on my experience, this can look like:
•assisting in the process of finding the right type of healthcare provider
•finding a healthcare provider that aims to support the birthing person’s wishes
•teaching my clients about stress management and pain relief techniques specific to pregnancy + birth
•teaching the partner and/or family (if present) about how I hold space and offer support
•educate the families on childbirth or anything pregnancy/postpartum related •start the conversation around perinatal mood disorders
•provide a shoulder/ear to my clients
•offer vaginal steaming services to perinatal clients
•assist with the bureaucratic aspects of birth
•offer informational support whenever there is confusion
•offer lactation support to a mom/birthing person
•offering postpartum support so mom/parent can relax and/or handle simple self-care tasks
I am focused on expanding my doula•biz in so many ways. Not only am I working to expand the services and products available on HijaDelSolBirths.com, I am also offering Development and Advisement sessions for new/prospective doulas. In addition to that, I am confident that by 2021, I will be able to train other folks in the community to competently support births within the scope of a doula’s practice. I will be spending the next year building my in-person training program. So many people have asked and continue to ask about how to become a doula. I do feel my training program will adequately prepare folks for doula work but the reality is that birth-work is a calling.
Additionally, I am collaborating with a local maternal mental health therapist to bring my perinatal wellness workbooks to fruition by 2020. I am not a mental health professional but I am a doula who is passionate about finding tools to cope and/or assist others in coping with their mental health obstacles.
I am most proud of the numerous inquiries for doula support this year… any signs of growth bring such a fulfilling warmth to my heart. I am not a doula to become some rich b$*!#, I am a birth doula because I am fulfilling my purpose by being of service in a way that suits my spirit. Something that sets me apart from others: my dedication to my word. I truly believe that “your word is your bond” and we should aim to embody that. I am proud of my integrity.
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
When it comes to finding a mentor and/or putting yourself “out there” to network, my biggest piece of advice: cultivate professional relationships and/or partnerships/mentorships with people whose ideals and work ethic RESONATE with your own. Identify what matters to you on a personal AND professional level as well as your strength and weaknesses. What you look for in a mentor and/or network says a lot about YOU. When it comes to your brand/organization/business, think ‘SIC’: Stability + Integrity = Credibility.
Things definitely don’t happen overnight ESPECIALLY when nurturing and raising a small business. Some things that have worked well for me: taking networking opportunities wherever I could find them. I spent a lot of time in spaces that I could learn something or work on one of my weaknesses. When seeking to build a network, remember: you can learn something from EVERYONE. If someone isn’t teaching you how to do something, they’re teaching you WHAT YOU SHOULDN’T DO and that’s JUST AS VALUABLE.
Don’t be afraid to put yourself “out there!” Whatever you have to contribute is valuable and the universe is conspiring to help YOU WIN. Remember the saying: “Follow the calling, not the crowd.”
Pricing:
- Birth Doula Services: $900-$1200
- Lactation Support Sessions: $100-$150
- Childbirth Education Sessions: $150
- Labor Pain Management & Stress Relief Sessions: $150
- Doula Advisement & Development Sessions: $50-$150
- Monthly Wellness Classes: $10
Contact Info:
- Website: www.HijaDelSolBirths.com
- Phone: 754-244-5082
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/HijaDelSolBirths/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hijadelsolbirthservices/
Image Credit:
SoulDreamin.com, Shay Waugh, Imperious Images
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