Birth work is a diverse field. From doulas to midwives, women have many options for birth support. But what happens after the baby comes? During this fourth trimester, parents need all the help they can get.
Our latest guest on The Great Unicorn Search podcast, Nia Ellis, is a nanny, postpartum doula, and family support specialist.
The Fourth Trimester Fairy
Nia discovered her passion for postpartum family support work when a friend lost a pregnancy and Nia stepped in to help out. She cooked meals, provided emotional support, and did everything a postpartum doula would do. It felt like the perfect fit.
When Nia was in high school, she dreamed of becoming a midwife. But as she gained experience, she realized she didn’t want to work in a hospital setting. Once she had this transformative experience supporting her friend, she enrolled in doula training programs and used those skills to found Nia’s Nest, her postpartum doula practice.
Today, she’s known as the Fourth Trimester Fairy because of her dedication to family support right after birth.
The Doula Gap
Another reason Nia was drawn to postpartum doula work is because she noticed a gap that needs to be filled in the birth care sphere. While the importance of birthing doulas and midwives can’t be overlooked, Nia says there are many talented people already working in that space. Parents have less access to postpartum support, and Nia wants to change that.
Not only does Nia work with newborn babies and their parents, but she also supports families who lost a pregnancy. She says postpartum is postpartum, whether or not the baby comes home. Parents need just as much support after a pregnancy loss.
The Doula-Nanny Balancing Act
At the same time as Nia works with families to provide postpartum support, she also is a full-time nanny. Nia explained that this schedule isn’t sustainable all the time. Last year, she overworked herself and burnt out. This year, her goal is to find balance between her two jobs and her own life and to know her limits. Anyone looking to balance your current career with your career aspirations, you definitely want to listen to the whole episode to hear Nia’s perspective on that pursuit.
Self Care for Caregivers
Nia and others in the child care field tend to be selfless, which leads to overextending yourselves for others. The work you do is important, but if we learned anything from Nia’s interview, it’s that you need to give yourself a break. Taking space for yourself is essential if you want to give back to the families you work with.
Don’t miss out on the other valuable advice Nia shares in this episode of the Great Unicorn Search podcast. You can listen to it on the podcast website or on Apple, Spotify, or Google.
