We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Meagan Noble. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Meagan below.

Hi Meagan, thanks for joining us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

I think the defining moment of my career, and my life, happened after the birth of my first son. I had a wonderful birth experience, but we really struggled with breastfeeding, sleep, and the general isolation that comes with being a new mom. I remember at that time thinking that if I ever did something different with my life, I would help new parents through this difficult transition.

Fast forward 10 years of working full-time, then part-time, and adding two more kids to the mix, I was desiring more meaning in my work. When a family friend said she was moving to LA and beginning her doula training, I literally felt a spark go off. This was how I would support new parents! Within two weeks I was signed up for full spectrum doula training with Doula Trainings International. Mind you, this was 2020, so I did my training alongside my part-time job and also part-time virtual schooling my three kids!

I planned to focus on being a postpartum doula, but in 2021 I attended my first doula birth and quickly found my passion. After observing a few more hospital and birth center births, I had another spark, and in July of 2022 I started my journey to become a Certified Professional Midwife. It’s been a wild ride, and I can’t wait to see where my next “spark” takes me.

Meagan, 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 name is Meagan Noble, and I’m a full spectrum doula, childbirth educator, and student midwife serving clients in the Austin area. I’m also a wife and mother of three beautiful children, all born at home. I became a doula in 2020 in order to provide the continuous support and community that all families need throughout their parenthood journey. After experiencing birth with a midwife, I wanted all birthing people to feel supported by a team that honors their values and choices. One of my favorite things to work on with my doula clients is making sure their birth team and birth setting match their desires! This year I also became a Certified HypnoBirthing® Educator. This allows me to spend more time with families preparing for birth, releasing their fears, and creating positive anticipation around the birth of their baby. I love seeing the transformation from fear and doubt to feelings of confidence and calm!

I’m often told I have a calming presence in the birth room, and I think that comes from trust in birth and in the strength of the birthing person. I look to our ancestral wisdom and intuition for guidance – from what we eat to how we move and how we birth. Today studies are finding that more parent-centered, low-intervention birth practices not only improve health outcomes but also improve our collective mental health. My goal as a doula and future midwife is to improve access to providers and medical care settings that better align with the desires of birthing families. For me this looks like supporting BIPOC doulas and midwives and helping lower income clients access midwifery care, if desired. I help my clients see their strengths and wisdom, which helps them not only birth in power but become confident parents as well!

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

Community! Doulas often get into this work to build community around new parents, and yet we find ourselves working in a very solitary field. When I was first attending births, it was months before I saw another doula in the hospital, and I often did overnight postpartum shifts where the only person I had to talk to was the baby! Finding a community like Giving Austin Labor Support (GALS) or the Central Texas Doula Association (CTDA) was instrumental to my growth as a doula. Through those organizations, I was able to process my experiences, learn new approaches, and have someone to call on when things got tough. I’ve met soul sisters and lifelong friends, discovered new career paths, and developed a network of people to learn from and grow with.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Again, I’m going with community. Also…don’t be afraid to make the phone call! When I first became a doula I set out to make connections with other individuals and businesses – not just doulas but everyone that works with new families and pregnant people. I was terrified to pick up the phone at first…what if they didn’t want to talk to me?? But the more people I connected with, the more I realized how welcoming everyone is, and how much they need community too! I’ve made some really great connections this way, and they not only give me great resources to send to my clients, but they often send clients my way too! So, my biggest advice is to pick up the phone. What’s the worst they can say, really? You’ll find that most people will far exceed your expectations.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://meagannoble.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meagannobleatx/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meagannobleatx
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meagannoble/

Image Credits
Ciarra Morgan (group pic only)