Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Erin Brier. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Erin, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

I often talk about the power of community and collaboration. Meeting, connecting with, and supporting others truly lights me up. Throughout my career, I’ve found that more often than not, people are just as eager to support your goals as you are to support theirs.

Just last year, I had the opportunity to collaborate with kozēkozē, a maternal wellness brand, for a podcast episode. Our conversation felt less like an interview and more like catching up with an old friend. After the recording, we stayed in touch, and I was introduced to more of their team.

As our conversations continued, we started brainstorming ways to keep working together and how we could uplift the Indy birth community in a meaningful way. Initially, we came up with the idea of hosting a doula dinner series—a space for connection and support. But by our second meeting, I felt an even bigger idea forming.

That’s when I said just six words to the team at kozēkozē: “I think we can dream bigger.”

After more than eight years as a doula, I had not only gained valuable experience in supporting families, but I had also learned what it means to be a professional in a field that isn’t always taken seriously. I had mentored doulas across the state and saw firsthand how few opportunities existed for us to come together—to learn, network, and collaborate in an intentional way.

When I shared that vision with kozēkozē, they didn’t just agree—they embraced it. And in that moment, my dream of a statewide doula conference officially came to life.

Coming to Indy this April, kozēkozē presents the Indiana Doula Conference is the first-of-its-kind, groundbreaking statewide gathering of doulas from all certifying bodies, specialties, and areas of passion with a primary focus on fostering connection, collaboration, and continued learning.

That defining moment reinforced something I’ve always believed: growth in this field isn’t just about staying the course—it’s about recognizing when your passions evolve and having the courage to pivot. It’s about dreaming bigger, saying yes to new possibilities, and building something that extends beyond yourself.

Erin, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a doula, childbirth educator, author, wife, and mother, deeply passionate about supporting families in our community and elevating the role of doulas in birth work.

My journey into this field began during my time at Indiana University, where I took a class called Birthing in American Society as an elective for my Human Development and Family Studies degree. That course completely transformed the way I saw pregnancy and birth. Learning about the physiological process of birth left me in awe of what women’s bodies are capable of—and sparked a passion that would shape the rest of my career.

After graduating, I initially worked in the nonprofit sector, unsure if I could truly step into birth work. At the time, I believed that because I hadn’t yet given birth myself, families wouldn’t trust me to support them. But in 2016, I took the leap, registered for my doula certification training, and quickly learned that personally birthing a child isn’t what makes a great doula—holding space, educating, supporting, and validating families is.

Now, more than eight years later, after supporting countless families, educating expecting parents, and publishing a book, I find myself in an exciting new chapter: supporting and educating doulas. In many ways, I’ve shifted from doula-ing families to doula-ing doulas.

This April, I have the incredible privilege of launching the first-ever statewide gathering for doulas, kozēkozē presents the Indiana Doula Conference. This event is about more than just continuing education; it’s about fostering connection, collaboration, and professional growth in a field that often lacks structured support.

The demand for doulas is growing, but the resources to support and sustain doulas in this work remain limited. The Indiana Doula Conference is my way of bridging that gap—offering not just knowledge, but a stronger community where doulas can learn from one another, build meaningful relationships, and strengthen the profession as a whole.

Bringing this conference to life has been the most fulfilling milestone of my career so far, and I can’t wait to see the lasting impact it will have on doulas and the families they serve across Indiana.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

There is no single, clear-cut path to becoming a career doula, but looking back, my education and prior work experiences have provided invaluable insight and skills that have shaped my journey in birth work.

Early in my career in birth work, I had the opportunity to work with a well-established doula agency in Indianapolis. This experience allowed me to gain hands-on knowledge and credibility before I had built a personal reputation in the field. With every family I supported and each care provider I connected with, I laid the foundation for my own professional identity—one built on trust, collaboration, and expertise.

In 2020, when the agency I had worked with for years closed its doors, I knew my passion for supporting families was only growing stronger. This pivotal moment pushed me to take everything I had learned and pour it into building something of my own. I rebranded my business under my own name—Erin Brier Birthing—a decision that wasn’t just about a title, but a commitment to upholding a reputation I could stand behind.

For me, professionalism isn’t just about appearance or credentials; it’s about showing up with authenticity, empathy, and realness. My name being attached to my business is a constant reminder to lead with integrity, to serve with heart, and to bring my true self to this work.

Being both a leader and a doula under Erin Brier Birthing has given me confidence and courage in ways I never expected. Every part of this journey—whether supporting families, collaborating with care providers, engaging with my community, or sharing my own motherhood experiences—has been a reflection of who I am at my core. And that, above all else, has been the key to building my reputation.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

The burnout rate in doula work is incredibly high. Most doulas stay in the field for only 3–5 years before transitioning to something else—and more often than not, it’s not due to a lack of passion or motivation. Instead, it’s the challenge of sustaining this deeply demanding work without having the right boundaries, balance, and ongoing self-reflection.

Having been in this work for over eight years, I’ve learned that longevity in birth work requires the same level of authenticity as building a reputation—it demands honest reflection, flexibility, and a willingness to adapt.

Over the years, I’ve shifted my goals, restructured my plans, and pivoted more times than I can count. And I truly believe that’s what has allowed my passion to stay strong. Continually reevaluating my priorities, capacity, and boundaries has been the key to maintaining both my energy and my love for this work.

Right now, I’m in a season of life where my family is growing, and with that comes a shift in capacity. Pregnancy, postpartum, and raising young children each bring different demands, and it only makes sense that my business reflects those changes. To honor both my career and my family, I’ve made intentional adjustments—reducing my client load to be home more than I’m away at births, setting a schedule that limits missed bedtimes, and crafting offers that allow for a more predictable rhythm (a rare but valuable feat in doula work!).

These choices allow me to keep doing what I love without compromising what matters most to me in this phase of life. The ability to sustain a career in birth work doesn’t come from sheer endurance—it comes from a commitment to regularly reassess what is realistic, meaningful, and fulfilling at any given time.

Not every season of life will demand the same level of dedication to work. Understanding that has been the single most important factor in keeping my passion alive. Success in this field isn’t just about skill or knowledge; it’s about knowing when to evolve, when to pause, and when to set firm boundaries—because only through reflection and intentional decision-making can we continue showing up fully for both our clients and ourselves.

Contact Info:

• Website: ebbirthing.com / indianadoulaconference.com
• Instagram: @ebbirthing / @indoulaconf
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ebbirthing
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-brier-64976163/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ebbirthing

Image Credits

Emily Ratcliff, Stork Creations
Rachel Ankney