Exploring Life & Business with Erika Eno of Birth Besties

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Eno.

Hi Erika, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
About 6 years ago, I was pregnant with my first child and was new to the Raleigh area. My husband and I also didn’t have any family around, so during our pregnancy, we tried to educate ourselves as much as possible, so we hired a doula. We didn’t know much about doulas before this, and even going into it, we were mainly hoping to have someone support and advocate for us—especially someone who knew what was going on in the hospital setting. Through the process, I learned so much about pregnancy, birth, and postpartum that I felt a calling to share as much as I could with others, and I did. Many friends reached out, and I was so happy to share my experiences and what I’ve learned. God had a plan for that because as I decided to quit my “career” job and stay home with my daughter, the opportunity to take doula training and start supporting families appeared very obvious. It’s been so unique, and within 6 years, I have supported over 100 families through birth and beyond. I am a doula, birth photographer, educator, infant feeding specialist, placenta encapsulator, and the birth best friend everyone needs in their corner, primarily through one of the most memorable moments and seasons of someone’s life. I support families throughout the Triangle area at home and in the hospital setting.

It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Doula/Birthworker life is not for the faint of heart. The unpredictability of my schedule and when a baby will decide to join us can be challenging. I’m available for support as early as someone hires me, which can be as soon as they test positive (4 weeks), and I go on 24/7 calls for a range of 5 weeks. That, along with lining up childcare for my two children (soon to be three) at the last minute, can be stressful. For some births, I can be gone for 4 hours, and some require me to be gone for 29+ hours. I love supporting families, but it can be a lot on my physical health and mental health at times. I have established many routines over time to reset and recharge after births. As you can imagine, not all births go as we hope, and some can be very intense and emotional.

I appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Birth Besties?
Birth Besties is a full-stop pregnancy and birth support resource. I provide hands-on support during birth, birth and family photography, education throughout pregnancy, childbirth classes, home birth pool rentals, infant feeding guidance, placenta encapsulation, cranial sacral therapy, and endless amounts of love and guidance. A few birth doulas in the area are also birth photographers, so that is a fun niche where I get to be. I love being able to capture the memories of birth, especially because, as a mother, you forget so much during that time, and you can never recreate those moments. I am most proud of my relationships with my family over the years, and I love seeing mothers flourish and grow into motherhood. I watch and support them through the most challenging times and see them come out on the other end. I watch their little ones grow way too fast; sometimes, I even support them through it a few more times! I pride myself on intimacy and connection, so I take a limited amount of clients each month and book up very quickly.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
I grew up in a military household in Southern California. So perfect weather all the time. Some of my favorite memories were made every weekend, spending time outdoors with my family. We were always traveling around the state, either camping, jet skiing, hiking, or, in the winter, going skiing. I remember always doing something, which is probably why I am still the same: always busy and exploring!

Pricing:

• Birth Doula Services Start at $1400

Contact Info:

• Website: www.birthbesties.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/birthbesties/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/birthbestiesnc

Image Credits
Olive Green dress is Myself (Erika) Taken by Stephanie Capps – Sacred Spaces Photography All other photos are mine – Birth Besties