Today we’d like to introduce you to Odessa Bates.
Hi Odessa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In 2009, I was pregnant with my son, and I hired a Birth Doula. When my water broke, meconium was present, and that meant I would have to transfer from my birth center to a hospital for a higher need of care. During the hospital transfer, my Midwife whispered in my ear, “Your Birth Doula does not support hospital births. She will no longer join you to offer her services”. I was heartbroken. I needed the expertise of a Birth Doula, especially as my then-husband was not supportive and spent most of my labor in the hallway. I didn’t know how to advocate for myself during labor and delivery, and I didn’t have a Birth Doula to advise me. That day, I had a traumatic birth experience and ended up with Postpartum Depression.
Years later, after hearing of many other traumatic birth experiences, I looked into ways that could have prevented my trauma. One way could have been to hire a Birth Doula that was supportive of hospital births. During my research, I continuously saw Birth Doula training opportunities. I even found an organization that was 1.5 hours away. Could I be a Birth Doula? How could I make a difference, even if it was for just one pregnant person? So, I signed up for that Birth Doula training and my life forever changed.
After my training, and then certification, I decided to become a Birth Doula that specialized in hospital births. I wanted to be what I should have had for the birth of my son. It’s been nine years since my training and I have been able to teach, advocate, and support many pregnant people. I live on the Massachusetts’ border and that allows me to be a Birth Doula for people in four states. My outreach has been an amazing experience in which my mind, body, and spirit have healed. My clients help me as much as I help them!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Working with pregnant people brings many challenges, such as supporting clients that have had miscarriages and still born births. As a Birth Doula, gaining training on how to support a client during a loss was necessary.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Hello! My name is Odessa Bates, owner of Doula Odessa & Birth Services. I’m based in Western Massachusetts and have been in the health and wellness field for over 20 years. I’m a Certified Birth Doula, Certified Postpartum Doula, Certified Placenta Encapsulation Specialist, Spinning Babies® Aware Practitioner, Evidence Based Birth Professional, Empty Arms Bereavement Professional, LGBTQ ally, Trauma informed, culturally informed, Substance Use informed, and a former counselor with a master’s degree in Women’s Studies. I am trained and educated in a wide range of topics surrounding prenatal, birth, and postpartum experiences. My goal as a doula in this magical time is to support my client, and their family, and to have an experience that is uplifting, empowering, and joyful. I travel to MA, NY, VT, and CT within an 1.5-hour radius from my home base in Pittsfield, MA 01201. I’m fully certified, insured, vaccinated, and boosted. Virtual services are available for any location. I’m proud to be a MassHealth approved certified Birth Doula with my services being 100% financially covered.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I like the most about Pittsfield is that we have a culturally diverse population. What I like the least about Pittsfield is that many people have never heard of a Birth Doula.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.doulaodessa.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doula_odessa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1A2pmWHoKJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr
