DeAnna the Doula Trainer

01/13/2026

Lately I’ve been sitting with what it really means to care for people during life’s biggest moments.

Birth, loss, postpartum, and everything in between are not just events to manage. They are experiences that shape how people remember their bodies, their strength, and whether they felt supported when it mattered most.

This work has never been about doing the most. It’s about showing up with presence, humility, and intention. It’s about knowing when to speak and when to simply stay.

Community care still matters. How we show up for each other still matters. And I’m grateful to be doing this work alongside so many people who believe that too.

01/09/2026

Advocacy is not just for professionals. It is for partners, family members, friends, and anyone who shows up in a birth space with care and intention.

I have seen how powerful it is when everyday people understand how to support someone during pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum. You do not need special training to listen, to slow a moment down, or to help protect someone’s voice.

Community support matters. How we show up for one another can change an entire experience.

12/15/2025

This clip is from June at the Planned Parenthood rally, where DeAnna spoke on the impact doulas have on maternal health outcomes.

The presence of a doula has been shown to help reduce preterm labor, lower postpartum complications, and increase breastfeeding rates. These supports are not extra. They are essential to the health and success of Black and Brown families.

This is why access to doula care matters. This is why advocacy matters. And this is why we continue to show up.

11/07/2025

Did you know that many complications leading to maternal or fetal loss are preventable with early intervention and consistent postpartum care?

That’s why birthworkers, doulas, and advocates are so essential to our healthcare system. We don’t replace medical care, we strengthen it. We help families recognize warning signs, ask the right questions, and navigate the care they deserve.

What’s one thing you wish every expecting parent knew about pregnancy or postpartum care?

10/24/2025

Still one of my favorite conversations on maternal health and advocacy.

This panel with the reminded me why this work matters — because when we create space for real stories, change begins to take root.

Every voice, every experience, every mother deserves to be heard.

10/16/2025

Improving Black maternal health isn’t something one person or organization can do alone. It takes doulas, midwives, advocates, and healthcare partners coming together to create lasting impact.

In my latest blog, I’m sharing how collaboration fuels progress in birthwork and why building strong partnerships is key to improving outcomes for Black mothers and babies.

Read more about how we can move forward together:

Improving Black maternal health requires more than passion; it requires partnership. No single person, program, or organization can create lasting change alone. Real progress happens when doulas, midwives, community advocates, and healthcare institutions work together with one mission in mind: ensur...

10/15/2025

From March of Dimes to Planned Parenthood, from community rallies to keynote stages, this work has always been about collaboration. I’ve had the privilege of partnering with organizations and leaders across Wisconsin who share the same goal: better outcomes for every birthing family.

10/11/2025

10/10/2025

When I first stepped into birthwork, I only knew one other woman of color doing this work in Southeastern Wisconsin. The need for doulas who looked like the families we served was overwhelming and that’s where my journey began.

I became a doula to change that. To make sure every mother, every family, had someone in their corner. That journey led me to train with the Wisconsin Guild of Midwives, become a certified doula trainer, and eventually help build the Wisconsin Doulas of Color Collective, a village committed to doing this work together.

Because every mom deserves a doula.

10/09/2025

Schedule Quality, affordable, and confidential health care. Make an appointment online or call 1-800-230-PLAN to find the health center nearest you.

10/09/2025

10/09/2025

Take five minutes for yourself — it could save your life.

Performing a self-breast exam monthly helps you know what’s normal for your body and catch changes early. Check for lumps, dimpling, discharge, or swelling, and if anything feels off, reach out to your healthcare provider.

🩷 Learn more about how to do a proper self-breast exam: https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-self-exam/
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection.html