SMC Online Doula Training – August 2026
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16 & Pregnant (Birth Stories)
16 & Pregnant (Birth Stories)
I became a mother at a very young age. I was scared, embarrassed, and uninformed. I didn’t understand pregnancy, birth, or the choices I had. I remember trying to wrap my head around one question: How am I going to do this?
My birth experience is a major reason why becoming a doula is so important to me.
I was living at home with my parents and three sisters when I went into labor. I remember sitting with my family watching a movie when I stood up to use the bathroom. Suddenly, water began running down my legs. I yelled, “Why am I peeing on myself?” My mom immediately realized what was happening and told me that my water had broken.
We rushed to Legacy Hospital. My parents were frightened, and I was scared and confused. I had never heard of a doula or understood what a doula did. I wasn’t given much information about my options, and because I was so young, I often felt as though decisions were being made around me rather than with me.
One of the most difficult parts of my experience was receiving an epidural that was given too early and eventually wore off. I felt every part of my labor, and I remember being in complete panic and shock. After 15 hours of labor, a lot of yelling, fear, and moments when I wanted to give up, I gave birth to my son, Keshawn, weighing 7 pounds, 5 ounces.
I will never forget that experience.
But as I look back on it today, I realize that my experience can be more than just a difficult memory. It can be part of my purpose.
I often think about how different my labor, delivery, and postpartum experience might have been if I had someone beside me who could educate me, encourage me, advocate for me, and remind me that I was not alone.
Today, I see the kind of doulas my sisters are, and I am inspired by the love, compassion, patience, and knowledge they bring to the families they serve. Watching them has helped me understand just how powerful doula support can be.
I want to bring that same support to young mothers, especially teenagers who may feel scared, embarrassed, overwhelmed, or uninformed—as I once did.
I want young mothers to know that they have a voice. I want them to understand their choices and feel comfortable asking questions. I want them to know that they deserve to be heard, respected, supported, and cared for throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
My goal is not simply to become a doula. My goal is to become the person I needed when I was younger.
I want to turn my experience into purpose and use what I have learned to empower another young mother to walk into her birth feeling informed instead of afraid, supported instead of alone, and confident instead of uncertain.
If I can help even one young mother have a more positive and empowered birth experience than I had, then my journey will have meaning.
This is why I want to become a doula.
Blessings.
- 1 Reply
Nakeisha, thank you so much for sharing your story. This is so powerful and such a transformation of trauma into triumph. I felt so much reading this and I am so sorry that the lack of education and empowerment towards you led you to feel embarrassed. There is so much internalized shame around having babies when it is the most sacred and divine thing you could do on earth. My best friend had a baby at 17 and I still remember the hurdles and mountains she had to overcome just to simply stand in her truth and decision to have a baby. At that age everyone thinks they know what is best for you. I am glad you are able to look back and recognize the holes where you could have been supported better, and been an active participant in making decisions. I can’t believe your epidural wore off… and you were not prepared for that at all making it even more intense and shocking. Do you have more children or the one only?
I know you will be an amazing blessing to any woman who gets to have you by their side, and in turn you will be the person you needed.
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