Daily Inspiration: Meet Lacey Fort

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lacey Fort.

Hi Lacey, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
My story is a bit of a journey that weaves my passions and life experience together in a beautiful way I could have never planned. My background is in nursing. I am an RN trained at Ida V. school of Nursing at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. For years I was a mother/baby nurse and cared for new moms and their babies in the hospital setting in Birmingham and here in Raleigh. I learned so much and am thankful for my time as a nurse. I wanted to do more or at least something different, and in 2015 I left bedside nursing to become a full-time housemother at a maternity home in Raleigh, NC. I worked alongside my husband as a primary houseparent until 2020.

During that time, we served young mothers-to-be by living with them, transporting them to doctor appointments, work, school, etc., and helping them get more prepared for life after delivery. As the house mom, I supported many of our residents as a birth coach during their labor and delivery. It was during that time I was connected with New Creation birth Services. The founder, Susanna, graciously donated birth classes to the young women in our home. I remember the first time I took a birth class with Susanna. We weren’t planning our own family then, but I left that class that day feeling empowered! Things began to change for me that day. I began a journey to learning about more holistic health practices. When the time came to have my daughter, I was able to prepare myself to have the beautiful natural delivery that I wanted with a New Creation doula at my side. Fast forward to 2020, I joined the team officially as the birth photographer. Later that year, I began teaching childbirth classes for New Creation which I fell in love with! It may be my favorite thing that I do! In November of 2021, our founder Susanna approached my husband and me about taking over New Creation. She was ready to pass the baton and fully pursue her new counseling career. In January this year, I jumped both feet in as director. We renamed ourselves New Creation Birth and Family Services as we hope to grow the services we offer to continue supporting families after delivery.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
For the longest time, I didn’t understand how my experience, education, and passions fit together. The nurse part of me enjoys science. I enjoy asking questions and researching. However, there is another part of me that is highly creative! I didn’t have much of an outlet for that as a nurse. But now, as a photographer, I have a huge outlet for my creativity. And as the director and educator of New Creation BFS, I get to connect with people and continue learning about the beautiful process of childbirth.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am the director, educator, and photographer for a local doula collective. Our group is most known for our doula services. To However, we also provide birth and family photography, placenta encapsulation, breastfeeding counseling, and education. Our classes include childbirth, breastfeeding, bringing home a baby, and CPR. In the future, my husband and I also plan to offer parenting classes where we can share tips, scripting, and research we gathered during our time as houseparents. We hope to have those classes ready very soon!

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting?
Put your yes on the table! God will tell you where to go. There have been many times that I felt afraid or unqualified. Had I listened to those fears, I would not have stepped out to try new things. Even when all my “things” didn’t seem to go together, when I felt directionless, it was leading somewhere. It was leading to this!

Pricing:

• Our services start at $300 and our pricing can be found on our website.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://newcreationbirthservices.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newcreationbirthservices/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewCreationBirthServices

Image Credits
Lacey Fort