We were lucky to catch up with Jenna Arsenault recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jenna , appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I started my postpartum doula business to become the support I wish I had received after having my babies. My mission is to spread awareness and offer support around maternal mental illness which effects one in five new mothers. I developed postpartum depression and anxiety after the birth of my first son and I was lost. I wish I had had a postpartum doula who would’ve recognized the signs and symptoms in me and helped me find professional help sooner. I want to be that person for these moms who feel scared and overwhelmed and helpless.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I opened Jenna Arsenault Postpartum Doula during the pandemic. I had left my job to stay home with my kids when the schools shut down and I had plenty of time to think about my next career move. I’d been wanting to work with moms and babies, particularly moms struggling with maternal mental illness. I’ve always had an interest in mental health and worked in the field as a social worker and registered nurse. After experiencing my own maternal mental illness, I felt drawn to helping other struggling new moms.

I started off providing postpartum doula care – chunks of time spent in the home teaching newborn care skills, offering breastfeeding guidance, helping with household tasks and discussing coping and mental well-being. Over the past year I’ve pivoted into a more specialized kind of support – postpartum planning and postpartum coaching.

My postpartum planning package – called Wombsday Preppers! – prepares the pregnant woman and her support person for everything baby. This idea was born out of my lack of preparation for my first baby. Once he arrived I kicked myself for not putting much thought into what I’d need in terms of baby gear, mental space, lining up assistance, etc. As a Type A super nerd, being so unprepared was uncharacteristic of me. In postpartum planning I help soon-to-be parents think of all the things they’ll need to put in place before baby arrives so that their postpartum period will go smoothly. We really concentrate on the mental aspect of getting ready for a baby and all the changes that will come.

Postpartum coaching is a natural extension of planning. It’s a way for the new mother to feel supported and heard after the baby arrives. Through weekly meetings and phone/text guidance we work together to problem solve, build coping skills and work through the emotional struggles that are so common for new moms. I find it’s especially helpful for moms with postpartum depression and anxiety and families new to the Charleston area without much family support nearby. My background as a social worker, registered nurse and doula lends itself to this kind of work. It’s powerful stuff, for me and my clients. It’s amazing to see moms emerge from the fourth trimester with a newfound sense of confidence!

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

What helped me build my reputation among the birth and postpartum community in Charleston was keeping it real and being myself. To me, keeping it real as a doula means embracing the messiness that is often motherhood. I don’t shy away from talking about the uncomfortable stuff such as maternal mental illness. By talking about it, we take away its power and may help other people struggling with the same issue. I’m not shy and I love meeting new people. I’ve been described as quirky which I take as a compliment. With me, what you see is what you get and this has been the key to growing my business and supporting my clients.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new clients has been word of mouth. Knowing that people in the community recommend me to their friends and families warms my heart. It’s important that my clients and I trust one another and feel connected since I’ll be there during such a special, sensitive time in their lives. Hearing about Jenna Arsenault Postpartum Doula from someone they already trust goes a long way and I appreciate that.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jennadoula.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jennadoula
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jennadoulamtp
• Personal Blog: www.snarkmom.com