Sunshine B

With my previous children, I always wanted to experience a pregnancy, labor and birth with a doula and midwife. Because I did not know how to find one and no one at the VA facility was advocating for me, this desire was never fulfilled. I felt like less than a woman because I never got to have this experience.

My pregnancies, labor, birth and body never seemed to belong to me. That is until my last pregnancy when I stumbled upon Denise via an Instagram search for a doula and midwife. As a woman of color, I wanted another woman of color by my side helping me birth my baby the way our ancestors did. This was very important to me and I absolutely refused to budge from this wish this time around. I had no idea what to expect nor what I was getting myself into but she led the way and made me comfortable. She offered classes both online and in person during her home visits.

After her last home visit and after our many talks, I felt more than ready to have my last baby! In fact, I was ready to birth at home if my partner was open to it. That is how safe and secure she made me feel. I felt empowered and for a woman of color, that’s an amazing feeling!

I had a slight change of plans due to a medical emergency so I wound up in the hospital versus the birthing center and guess who was still by my side? Denise. I will not go into details but another reason I was adamant about not birthing in a hospital is because of my deep fear of them. I was literally shaking uncontrollably when told I had to he admitted. Denise knew about this aversion as well as my need to know I was okay. She brought my birth plan with her and made sure I still had as much of the experience I requested.

A lot of my labor is a blur but I know she was there and she talked with me. When I stalled during labor, I remember Denise talking with me as a goddess and helping me release what I was holding onto. Her intuition knew I was subconsciously creating a block within thus keeping my baby in. After our talk and after I completed the actions she requested, I birthed my baby within a couple of hours! Denise was there the entire time and even when I wanted to give up, she didn’t let me. She didn’t let me get pain drugs or any of these things I begged for the last 10 minutes of my labor because she knew I wanted to follow my birth plan.

Writing this makes me so emotional and I could literally write a small book on my experience with Denise! I just may because the experience was that phenomenal. I’m grateful for her and grateful that she chose to be my voice during one of the most terrifying times of my life. If I ever fall pregnant again, I will for sure ask for my goddess sister Denise Washington to be by my side. This time, I will feel confident wherever I birth because I know she has my back!