When the Student is Ready

Angie Traska and Emily Shier

Photo Credit: Beth Skogen Photography

Someone once said, "the moment a child is born, the mother is also born." In my case, so too was a doula.

In July 2014 I was sitting in my hotel room waiting for blood test results to let me know if this pregnancy, my third, was viable. The waiting was killing me. I had lost the last two to miscarriage, and wanted so much to be a mother. Alone with my thoughts in my hotel room on yet another work trip, I knelt by the bed in prayer, tears dripping down my face. When I got up, I felt compelled to begin researching and planning for the birth in an effort to keep my thoughts optimistic. It was then I discovered the evidence for doulas, and ultimately landed on the Beautiful Birth Doula Services website.

The call from the doctor came the following day- the numbers were promising! Soon after, I reached out to Emily Shier, founder of Beautiful Birth about being my doula. I wanted to lock her in, and to keep the positive vibes going. I didn’t yet know this would be the beginning of my life taking an important turn in more ways than I could imagine...

After my daughter arrived in February 2015, I knew in my heart that I couldn’t stay at the job that required so much travel, and also felt a strong pull toward training as a doula. It was almost immediate, this revelation. Having experienced how powerful doula support can be first hand, I was moved to become that support for other families. I attended doula training the following February with Emily, also a trainer with DONA International. 

Shortly thereafter, I joined Beautiful Birth. I have loved being a part of this community, and have learned so much from Emily and the other Beautiful Birth doulas along the way. It has been said that when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. I wholeheartedly believe that I was meant to meet Emily, to become a doula, to learn from these women and to pass it on. When Emily confided in me that she was beginning to feel as though it could be time for her to begin a new chapter, I gratefully accepted the opportunity to take a turn carrying the torch. It has been one of my greatest honors, alongside the honor of being a mother, to support and witness as others become parents. I’m so happy to now have the opportunity to take a larger role supporting other doulas in their journey, while helping more families to find their doula match.

I decided to merge Beautiful Birth with my previously solo practice, Align Doula Services, because I think the message and mission behind the name is so important. I envision Align to be a group where families can turn to find expert, balanced, tailored support that truly aligns with them. I want it to be a seamless, easy process for folks to find the right fit for them during their pregnancies, births, and into the postpartum period.

I am beyond excited about this new chapter, and so happy Emily has decided to stay on with the group as a doula, even as she continues to balance her busy doula training schedule and family life!

Written by Angie Traska, coordinator of Align Doula Services, providing intuitive, attentive doula support that aligns with you. Serving Madison, WI and the surrounding areas.