Get a Coach With Nikkea Anderson
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00:04
Welcome to Doula Tips and Tips. This podcast is a place where we answer one question about Doula work, both to support you and to help you support your clients. I'm Kaylee Harad. I've been supporting families in this perinatal space since my oldest was born, 12, nearly 13 years ago.
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I am a birth and postpartum Doula childbirth educator, La Leche League leader and a Doula coach. I love guiding and supporting Doulas as they work out their Doula business. It is a tremendous joy to be trusted in this way.
00:36
Thank you for joining us on this journey. Welcome back to Doula Tips and Tips. I am just doing a quick intro to this episode because I am giving you an episode that was released originally last summer in 2022, but it is still one of the most listened to episodes that I've ever had.
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It is from a dear friend and Doula in the Kia who was one of the first Doulas who went through my Doula coaching program. She really breaks down the process for herself and what the program was like for her, but also how her business has grown and developed.
01:15
I'm going to be interviewing her again in the springtime, so I'm really excited for you to hear the change in her business. But I want you to listen to this episode to hear what she got out of the program and to consider if this program is the right fit for you for right now at the end of January.
01:31
Stay tuned to hear what she has to say. Welcome back to Doula Tips and Tips. I am joined today by my dear friend and Doula coaching student, Nikia Anderson. Nikia is one of the three amazing Doulas who went through my beta testing group in the Doula Biz Blueprint program.
01:56
I'm super excited to chat with her today and for you to get to hear some of what she's doing, how she's kind of rolling and making big moves in the doula world. So Nakea, I would love for you to start by just sharing who you are and what even made you want to become a doula.
02:13
Hi everybody, I'm Nakea. I am a Maryland native and I've been in the DMV all my life. What made me want to become a doula? Well, I've been in the childcare field since 2008. So like all of my adult life and working with little people and I found myself in the daycare centers and then around where I live at and parents always like asking me for more and I can only do but so much.
02:47
you know, for my job, because I didn't want to make the place liable. And then I discovered being a doula was a thing. Like, whoa, yeah, I want to do that. And so I just jumped head person. That's amazing.
03:03
So give us a timeline. I already know this about you. But for my listeners, I would love for them to know like, when did you start thinking you wanted to be a doula versus when did you start doula work?
03:16
How long ago was this? Well, I took the training probably June of 2020. And then I like completed it. And you know, I had a I had a tragic loss. And the pandemic, my dad passed away. So that halted a lot.
03:38
Yes. But then um, so I finished it, I did think I finished it. And it wasn't until I might have got that matter started, but it's all like, I'm not gonna get my years off. But it's been like six, seven months since I started my doula training.
03:58
But it's actually I'm coming up on a year. And March of 21 is when I started. So no, March of 22 is when I when I started. So March of 23 makes one year of being a doula, which is now it's March. Yeah, that's so exciting.
04:17
I'm here, I've arrived. Yes. So um, so part of I met Nikia when she was like, brand new, just kind of branching into doula work. And so she has been working both in childcare and also as a doula for the last year.
04:37
I would love for you to talk a little bit about like what you imagined when you started out last year, how this transition would go and kind of where you are now in comparison to last year? I would I imagined I it was just gonna be I was gonna be in my bubble and I was gonna take a part in I work a very I work a physically demanding job, you know, yeah, as your listeners can imagine their moms and they only have one or two.
05:14
Well, I'm a nine to five mom. And I got right 10 to 18. I got 18 kids. I get I just give them back. I got into my shift. Just daytime mom. And then I, um, and then I knew what I was doing in my head, I was going to help out this family and give them sleep because they were exhausted because they just brought a kid into the world.
05:47
I did it for about a year straight and I don't know how I did it because I I didn't I like slept like a zombie like yeah, you know You know at the during my day job just putting my head down for like 20 minutes like on the random desk You know pulled over on the side of the road and the recliner somewhere Um, I didn't think when I started that's how it was gonna go, but it was like kind of Like a dick thing like I couldn't stop.
06:23
I love that I got to serve people in this way. Yeah, it was so it was rewarding Um, and I didn't want to stop when I had somebody tell me Thank you for letting me enjoy my kid because you're here. I was like, how do I stop this?
06:38
I gotta keep going so I just I kept going and I didn't stop and then I looked up and it's been a year Yeah, I just I'm just finishing my two weeks off at overnight and I'm asleep and I'm like, oh This is nice A whole new person.
06:55
Yeah Yes, and um Throughout well, I mean one of the things is what you're talking about we call a doula high because you're like It's the endorphins and the oxytocin that you get from the role That's also part of how you know This is your lane, right?
07:16
Because you love it that much and it makes you really happy to do it And even when you're kind of like i'm a little bit of a zombie There's gonna be a time when you're like, okay, i'm ready. I'm ready to do it again, right?
07:26
Like that's That's how it goes, right? Like I am in fact, yes So one super exciting thing for nikeah is that she was able to just put in her two weeks notice at the daycare And you can't see her dancing around doing her happy dance, but she is and so So how are you feeling about the fact that you are going to be full time as a doula and that you're kind of branching into this without having to balance both?
07:57
Excited. I'm so excited. There is, I'm not going to lie, I've never not had a job. So there is nerves, like a little bit of fear of the unknown. But like before we started recording it, we were saying in this past year, I've gotten clients like seamlessly.
08:18
Like I literally in your sleep, literally in my sleep. Well, I was somewhere sleeping. I had been just to line up my next client. So being able to do this work and not have the daycare to go back to and like being able to get like a little more of a life pattern down and not not be so much of a crazy person.
08:44
It's exciting and I can't wait. I can't wait for what's to come. I can't wait to serve my families better. Maybe I have my families in the day and then I can sleep at night or I can do Yeah well, I mean, I think the beautiful thing too of what you're highlighting is getting to sort of Figure out what this work looks like for you Where you were truly working two jobs, right?
09:10
And so you had your doula career happening in real time while you're also running around with these very active daycare kiddos, right? Both of those jobs are pretty demanding, you know So it's physically your body was feeling the strain of that and now you kind of get to settle into like What do I want this to look like which is pretty awesome, you know?
09:33
So I mean, I think that's very awesome I think so too so I want to talk a little bit about your Experience with an agency because you are unique in our little group of three that you do you have been working with an agency And you've had a fairly positive experience there That is one way that a lot of doulas start out in this doula world because It helps them kind of bridge the gap of not having their own like Contracts and hiring process and all that kind of stuff and it takes some of that pressure off of them because the agency handles some portion of that Right, and so I would love for you to share a little bit about what your experience has been like working with an agency and Kind of how that has been for you over the last year Wonderful Great for all the reasons that you listed They couldn't do the back end stuff, but what was really cool like when I attended my first birth kind of getting away from Not getting away, but just experiencing a different side of the doula work working over overnight.
10:44
I was a birth doula for a dear friend. And I had, I had Kaylee in my corner, but I also had this team of doulas, the 50 plus ladies that were on the team. And, you know, with more than more than the one birth that I was at, yeah, under their belt.
11:05
And it was just cool. And just little things like that. It's just a different experience. It's not all on your shoulders. It's truly an effort. Yeah. I am part of working with Kaylee. I learned how to, you know, I don't necessarily have to be barbed down by the agency.
11:26
I can, you know, if I meet a mama in the supermarket, I can take her home and she wants me to hire me as her doula. I could be her doula also. I don't necessarily have to direct her choice to agency.
11:38
Yeah, I can, I can have both. And yeah, it's wonderful. Yeah. I think one of the ways that agencies, when it's, when agencies are done well, one of the ways that they kind of bridge a space for doulas starting out is that they allow you to have consistency of clients while you're building up your private client kind of pool, right?
12:01
Because part of it is being like, I don't, I don't know that many people and they don't know me, right? And so initially you don't have the same kind of pressure of like all the marketing is on you because some of the marketing is on the agency, you know?
12:14
And oftentimes they're coming with years of marketing, like, you know, exposure and whatnot to help you also benefit from that, that kind of exposure that they have, you know? So, so I would love to hear what your experience was in the doula coaching group and what you would share with, with folks listening, like that if they're considering doula coaching, what would you consider things that they should think about?
12:43
I think that you should absolutely get a doula coach. Don't do it all on your own. You don't have to go crazy trying to figure out all the things. She's right here and she's really awesome. That's my first thing that I want to tell the people.
13:04
And Kaylee, she just has this way about her that she like, she gets it when you go down the rabbit hole and you're like, freak now. And you're like, but this is, this is, she's like, breathe. That's what we're going to do first.
13:20
We're going to breathe. And then she, and then she doesn't tell you the solution yet. She validates your feelings and she tells you that she gets it and it's very real. And that's what I appreciated the most.
13:32
That I was like, you just get it. And that's just everything. And that's the reflection of what a doula is. A doula is there to my heart. mother, the new mother to validate her feelings and let her know that she's not forgotten.
13:46
She's still important right where she is. So yeah, she's a, I can, I can tell that you're a wonderful doula the way that you're teaching us how to be a doula. A doula for the doula. The way I'm douling you, right?
14:00
Exactly. I mean, that is, I do firmly believe, and I have said this so many times that we need doulas for every different aspect of our lives, right? Yeah. Like validate me, do some reflective listening, and then help me figure this out.
14:18
Yeah. Yeah. No, I love that. What was the experience having other folks going through the program at the same time as you? How was it having their kind of camaraderie and also like accountability and that kind of stuff?
14:33
That was, it was, it was great. Because I got to see this work from a different perspective from people that have their that don't give their kids back that have their kids at home. Nighttime and daytime parents.
14:51
And they're doing this work. And just the realness of it like I don't have any kids but both but both the ladies in the group. And you too. You all shared experiences, your experiences about finding childcare about you know all that side of it and I just enjoyed it I enjoyed it you know, having perspective for when it is my time to be in that space and my season of life.
15:18
I'll know. Yeah, recordings to go back to. Right. Of exactly what I need to make happen when when I just into that fever. Yeah, right yeah you're going to go back to be like okay let me watch Allison's baby who is literally on all of our calls.
15:37
The miniature Doula baby. She was adorable. Oh my gosh we yeah we have two honorary members of the group that 10 the two 10 month olds. So, if you kind of had a big vision a big dream of a year or two years from now.
15:57
What are you hoping that your Doula work looks like. I'm hoping that I'm hoping to generate a like passive income that I don't have to be on call so much and driving because I feel like I drive a lot right now.
16:19
Yes. Okay, right. Okay, but I would like to drive a little bit less and I don't mind driving to serve the crime I just, I hope I my prayer is that it's a little bit more like customized. Yeah, I mean, and with all this new time freedom that I have.
16:37
I'll have time to build it. Yeah. And then we'll be sweet. Right. Well, you'll have some diversity too in how your business looks, which is one of the ways we make this work sustainable, right? Is not do every single piece of it with our actual bodies, you know?
16:54
Yeah. Yeah. If you could give one piece of advice to a new doula listening, what would that advice be? Get a coach. Basically. Because we... I was trying to figure this out after training by myself. Yeah.
17:19
And getting a coach, even... I even remember... I even remember after training was ending. That's how we got connected. Yeah. Because I was like, help. Because after training, you're like, okay, you're ready to go.
17:33
And then I was like, What? That's when I went to I went in the Facebook group and that's originally how we got connected. So yeah My advice get connected to a senior ruler Somebody to like show you the ropes because yeah, I need that Yeah, there's no reason for you to make all every single piece of it up by yourself.
17:55
Yeah. Yeah You are welcome to do that, right? But learning from somebody that did it before you it'll save you a whole lot of headache It'll save you a whole lot of time because that's why we begin this work Yeah, part of it to serve family your heart has to be in it for in all those reasons But to because we start this work because we want to do something different.
18:17
We want to be at home with our families Yeah, make more like me. I want to make more money doing the thing that I love so yeah, I'm able to do it in a different way. Yeah, and I I'm learning a whole bunch of things that I wouldn't learn otherwise Because I'm going before somebody that has done it before me.
18:36
Yeah, my one piece of key advice Yeah, I love that. I do think the lowering the amount of making it up as you go is One of my goals in this program, right? Because I very distinctly remember being like, I guess I guess I could do this like that I'm not sure, you know Because really there is a ton of just like, okay, good luck at the end of your training and you're like, oh, oh, that's all So Nikia, I'm gonna put your Instagram information on The show notes so people can get in touch with you.
19:16
Is there any other kind of information that you want people to know about you? I Can't think of anything that's okay. No Her businesses birth to five right birth to five business doula services or birth services you How am I saying it right?
19:36
Yeah, birth to five dual services. Sorry. I do a lot of things. I haven't delved into birth yet, but I would love to serve you postpartum after baby comes and gets here. I can help with sleep training.
19:54
I can help with the lactation piece. I can even help if you have bigger siblings. Yeah. With all my experience. I would just love to connect. Yeah. I'll make sure that that Nikia's contact info is in the show notes so that anyone who's wanting to connect with her is able to.
20:13
And one of the awesome things if you do decide to join us in the Doula biz blueprint is that you will get to meet Nikia because the community portion of it includes past groups and current and future groups.
20:26
So you will have the joy of meeting this lovely human along with our other. to people that were in this group. So until the next episode, I wish everyone a wonderful consent filled Doula business experience.
20:41
Bye guys. Thanks for coming, Nikia. You're welcome. Thanks for joining us for this episode of the Doula tips and tips podcast. If you learned something today or had an aha moment, we'd love for you to share that on Instagram and tag us at her a doula so we can celebrate alongside you.
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If you found this podcast helpful, we would so appreciate you taking a second to leave a rating and a review on your favorite podcast app. That helps other Doulas find us as we do this work together. This podcast is intended as educational and entertainment.
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It is not medical advice or business advice. Please consult your own medical or legal team for your own needs around your health and your business. We'll see you again soon.
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Throwback episode! This week I am kicking it back to one of our most popular podcasts from this summer with the amazing Nikkea. She was one of the first doulas to go through my doula coaching program. Her story is very relevant to the last couple of podcasts and perfect for the start of the new year.
Quote from the show:
“I was a birth doula for a dear friend. And I had, I had Kaylee in my corner, but I also had this team of doulas, the 50 plus ladies that were on the team. And, you know, with more than more than the one birth that I was at, yeah, under their belt. And it was just cool. And just little things like that. It's just a different experience. It's not all on your shoulders. It's truly an effort. – Yeah, I can, I can have both. And yeah, it's wonderful. Yeah. I think one of the ways that agencies, when it's, when agencies are done well, one of the ways that they kind of bridge a space for doulas starting out is that they allow you to have consistency of clients while you're building up your private client kind of pool, right? ”
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Kaely Daily is produced by Kaely Harrod of Harrod Doula Services
It is sponsored by The Birth Prep Blueprint Childbirth Class
Music by Madirfan: Hidden Place on Pixabay
