We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kelly Nickel-Dubin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kelly thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

I have always loved babies and knew I wanted to spend my life surrounded by them. The moment I knew I wanted to be a doula was when I went over to my aunt’s home. She just gave birth to my cousin and was finally ready for visitors. Everyone was crowding around the baby trying to get their turn to hold him. I walked over to my aunt and sat with her because she was alone in her room and needed just as much love and attention that the baby was receiving. I knew something needed to change because all of the focus was on the baby and not on the birthing person. One of my favorite mottos is “mother the mother” because society does not support the birthing person nearly enough after they give birth. Care needs to continue through the postpartum period and beyond.

Senior year of high school, I applied to different colleges in hopes of becoming a midwife. I decided to attend Linfield University in Oregon because I wanted to go down the nursing path to be a Certified Nurse Midwife, or a CNM. Once I began my journey at Linfield University, I took a course titled Medicine and Culture and fell in love. I got my degree in Birth Anthropology and focused my research on two main subjects: Birth and Postpartum. I wrote a research paper titled The Language of Birth where I did fieldwork with American mothers ranging in age and number of children. I asked them about the language spoken to them during their labor and birth and how it affected their experience. The most surprising thing I learned was that most of my informants could remember exactly what was said to them by their care providers even though some gave birth over 15 years ago. My final thesis project was titled The Role of the Postpartum Doula in the Fourth Trimester. I interviewed multiple postpartum doulas in the Pacific Northwest and asked them what they do to help their clients heal. Some of the doulas have helped 20 clients and some have helped over 1,000 clients. The majority of the doulas said that the most powerful thing they do to help is to just sit and listen.

Being a doula is not about holding babies, it is about holding space for the birthing person and their community. I knew I always wanted to be a doula and have dedicated hundreds of hours to become one. I have taken care of twins, singletons, and babies who spent weeks in the NICU. I have squeezed hips until my arms burned, cheered when I knew my clients needed extra support, and was fortunate enough to be in the splash zone as a beautiful baby entered the world. The best part of my job is being able to make it possible for my clients to sit down and enjoy a warm meal with two hands because everyone deserves to be taken care of.

Kelly, 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?

My business name is Wanderlust Doula and is based in Sherwood, Oregon. I support all kinds of births and am supportive of any choice my client makes. If they want an unmedicated homebirth…great! If they want to deliver at a birth center with Pitocin and an epidural…great! If they want to have a scheduled cesarean birth…great! I am there to advocate for you and to help you advocate for yourself. When I am offering support to my postpartum clients, I do not care what your home looks like or if you have brushed your teeth. I am there to help support you so you can heal. One of my favorite memories I had with a postpartum client was when I brought her a bowl of warm soup and bread. She wanted me to feed the baby a bottle while she ate, so I sat down in a chair next to her and just listened to her talk while she ate in bed. I think it is a great time to connect with a client because they are resting in bed and are able to share any feelings they might be having. I pride myself in being a safe person for my clients so they feel comfortable opening up.

Something that sets me apart from other doulas is that I have done extensive research on the birth and postpartum period. As I was earning my degree, I interviewed dozens of people who have given birth and know what made them feel the most comfortable and nurtured. I have worked with many doulas (both birth and postpartum) and have studied their practices and know what works the best for them and their clients. Everyone has a different experience and being able to connect with your client is key.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

I have been networking with the doula community ever since I became a doula in 2019. While I was getting my degree, I reached out to dozens of doulas all over the West Coast and got in contact with multiple agencies. I am currently working as an independent contractor for two agencies in Oregon. The first one is PNW Doulas and the other one is Gateway Doula Group. I assist clients from Newberg to Portland and everywhere in between. I love being able to have my own private clients and help the leads that come through both agencies. If you are in need of a doula, check out my website to schedule a free consultation. www.wanderlustdoula.org.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I like to do check-ins with my clients on a regular basis when we are contracted with one another. If I am scheduled to spend a few overnights with a family, I like to check in during the day to see how they are doing and if there is anything I need to know to prepare for my shift. If my client says that the baby was asleep all day, I will know that it is likely that I will be up with them at night. If I have attended a birth with a family, I like to check in and see how they are doing and if they are taking time to heal. I usually schedule a few postpartum appointments with my birth clients, but before I check on them in person, I like to message them to see how they are doing and if they want me to bring anything to our appointment.

I try my best to offer my clients a great, loving experience. I recently spent a few nights with a family and the father said that I was “the baby whisperer” because I was able to soothe the baby when she was fussy from tummy troubles. I taught the family some techniques to calm the baby and they have been successful. At our last appointment, the mom told me that she shared my contact information with all of her mom friends because she loved having my help and thinks that her friends will love me as well. Right before I leave the last meeting, I always place a handwritten card for the family on the table thanking them for letting me spend time with their family and well wishes for the future. I like adding personal touches that make the family smile for a second.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.wanderlustdoula.org
• Instagram: wanderlust_doula
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-nickel-dubin-b26759269

Image Credits
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