Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathleen Robbins.
Hi Kathleen, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Like many doulas, my interest in this work started with my own pregnancies and early parenting experiences. However, at that stage in my life, I was firmly entrenched in a different career. After earning degrees in business and living abroad for a few years in the Netherlands and New Zealand, I worked in higher education administration for about a dozen years, first at Indiana University and then at Washington University in St. Louis. After my maternity leave with my first baby, I returned to work and balanced dual roles as a driven professional and a new mom. When I became pregnant for the second time, I realized I was ready for a change in focus and direction, and stepped away from my career in higher education.
Both of my pregnancies and births were relatively smooth, and I felt supported throughout those experiences. However, my postpartum periods were a little more challenging. I realized that our society puts so much focus on pregnancy, but new moms are left without much support as all attention shifts to the new baby. After my first birth, a good friend gave me a gift certificate for a local postpartum doula, and that was my first exposure to that profession. With my second baby, I knew that I wanted that type of professional support, and found an amazing doula to help me in those early weeks with a newborn.
I have always been passionate about helping people. I was so grateful for my doulas, as well as family and friends, who had made such a difference to me during those challenging periods of time. I started researching the process of becoming a postpartum doula, energized by the idea of providing much-needed support to parents as they welcomed a new baby into their lives. I completed my postpartum doula training in 2017 and finished the process of becoming a Certified Lactation Counselor the following year.
I love my work and enjoy every opportunity to connect with new parents. I have worked with more than 40 families, and have even gotten to work with several for both their first and second babies. Each day is different, depending on a family’s current needs and priorities. I enjoy streamlining all the information that parents have to navigate, and staying on top of current evidence-based recommendations and guidelines provides a satisfying mental challenge. Families are often grateful for practical support, and I like caring for them by preparing healthy meals and taking care of their baby so the parents can get some much-needed rest. Perhaps the most fulfilling part of my job is providing emotional support as families experience both the magical moments of life with a newborn but also the difficult days. My clients know that they never need to sugarcoat anything with me, and just having a safe space to talk through their experiences can make a big difference in how they’re feeling.
Finally, I love owning a small business. Given my previous career and education, I get excited about everything from strategic thinking down to daily administrative tasks. There’s an amazing community of birth workers in St. Louis, and I like connecting with other professionals who are making a big difference through their own services. We all support each other’s businesses and get excited to provide recommendations to help families get the support they need.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like many small business owners, I experienced some hurdles at the onset of the pandemic. Suddenly, families were understandably uncomfortable with in-home support as we were all learning more about the COVID-19 virus. Overnight, I went from having a full slate of work to having none at all. Over time, I decided to start offering virtual postpartum support, and that’s an avenue for service that I plan to keep indefinitely. In a virtual consultation, we can cover a lot of ground and talk through newborn care, breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, emotional wellbeing, adjustment to parenthood, planning to return to work, and much more. Also, connecting virtually with families eliminates geographic constraints. I can work with parents anywhere and have supported clients everywhere from St. Louis to Europe. Fortunately, this initial hurdle I faced resulted in an opportunity grow my business.
We’ve been impressed with Robbins Doula Services, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
As a postpartum doula and Certified Lactation Counselor, I offer educational, emotional, and practical support to growing families. Although the bulk of my work takes place after a baby has been born, I love beginning to work with families prior to their baby’s arrival so they feel prepared and confident. My support is tailored to each individual family’s needs. I’ve worked with families for as little as one day, and with others for more than six months.
The majority of my clients are first-time parents, though I also enjoy working with experienced parents who have a new baby as well as older siblings. I have a special interest in working with families who are growing through surrogacy or adoption, as well as those who are experiencing pregnancy after infertility. No matter the family’s circumstance, it’s so satisfying to support parents as they sift through the emotions that come with this new role, gain confidence in their parenting skills, and bond with their baby.
One specialized service that I offer is helping parents plan for their return to work after maternity or paternity leave. This can include pumping arrangements, forming new schedules and routines, balancing work and personal obligations, preparing for their baby to enter daycare, and working toward feeling their best as a parent, partner, and professional. I offer this service privately to parents, and also to organizations as a benefit for their employees.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
A couple resources that are targeted to working parents are Startup Parent and Mother Honestly, which both have online resources and a podcast. I like Emily Oster’s work, and recommend her books Cribsheet and Expecting Better to my clients, as well as her weekly newsletter. Family Equality has important resources for best supporting and advocating for LGBTQ+ families. A local company, Heartland PMAD Consultants, provides important training on supporting women experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Finally, I love the New York Times Parenting section (online), which has a nice combination of fact-based articles and opinion pieces.
Contact Info:
- Email: robbinsdoula@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.robbinsdoula.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robbinsdoula/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robbinsdoula
Image Credits
Fresh Art Photography
Alexandria Mooney Photography
