Hey there, birthkeeper 💜
There’s a quiet ache that sometimes settles in during the pauses between clients. You know the one. The house is full—of laundry, snack crumbs, and the hum of life—but your arms feel empty.
You’ve just poured your heart into supporting a mama through her sacred birth experience… or maybe you’re still waiting for your next client to call. Either way, you’re left in the in-between—that space so few people talk about in birthwork.
Let’s talk about what it means to be a doula or birthworker when no one is birthing. This post is your reminder that these slow seasons are not a void—they’re fertile ground.
Honor the Sacred Pause
Being between clients doesn’t mean you’re not working—it means you’re being prepared.
Birth work moves in seasons. Sometimes you’re holding space through long hours and tender moments in the birth room. Other times, you’re catching your breath, resting your voice, and remembering who you are.
Doula mantra:
“I honor the pause as part of the purpose.”
Tend to Your Tools (and Yourself)
This is the time to refill—not just your birth bag, but your own spirit.
✨ Refresh your doula toolkit:
- Replenish supplies
- Sanitize your favorite TENS unit or rebozo
- Replace worn folders or resource handouts
✨ Replenish you:
- Book that overdue massage
- Schedule a solo coffee date
- Revisit your why
Ask yourself:
What does a well-supported doula look like—and how can I become her?
Learn Something New
The between-times are perfect for deepening your knowledge or exploring new tools to support your clients and yourself.
Pick a topic that’s been calling you:
- Herbal support
- Birth trauma healing
- Breastfeeding beyond the basics
Bonus: Share what you’re learning in a blog, email, or post. It keeps you visible and valuable to your community.
Process What You’ve Witnessed
Birthwork is sacred—and sometimes heavy. If you’ve recently supported a challenging birth, this quiet window might be your soul’s way of asking for integration.
Write it out. Talk it out. Move it out.
Try:
- Journaling what went well (and what felt sticky)
- Calling your doula mentor or peer
- Going for a long, music-filled walk
Truth bomb:
Processing your own experiences is part of showing up whole for the next mama you serve—and honestly, for anyone who steps into your life. When you tend to your inner world, every connection you make benefits from the wholeness you bring.
Stay Visible (Even When You’re Not on Call)
Being “between births” doesn’t mean your work disappears. Keep showing up online and in your community with value-driven presence.
Simple ways to stay engaged—and I’ll be the first to admit, I need to work on these too. Social media isn’t always my priority, but showing up consistently matters:
- Share a birth tip or quote on Instagram
- Offer a free workshop or Q&A live
- Highlight client wins or testimonials
Remember:
The people we’re called to serve need to feel connected to us before they ever think to call.
Reconnect with Home Life
It’s okay to lean into your role as a mama, partner, or simply a woman who needs a break. Let go of the guilt. This is a time to come back home to your own body and space.
Create moments that aren’t about being “on call”:
- Family dinner without your phone nearby
- An afternoon in the garden or curled up with a novel
- Uninterrupted sleep (if the stars align)
Whisper this to yourself:
“I get to be present in the spaces I usually rush through.”
Redefine Productivity
You are not only valuable when you are booked. You are not only a doula when you are at a birth.
Rest is productive. Healing is productive. Reorganizing your birth documents, creating new resources, checking in on past clients, even cleaning your office—these all serve the mission.
What if your “off season” is really a sacred reset?
Final Thoughts: You Are Still Holding Space
Even with no clients on the calendar, you are still holding space—for future mamas, for yourself, for the sacredness of the birth path you’ve chosen.
There is wisdom in the waiting. There is purpose in the pause. And there is so much love in your empty arms.
So here’s your permission slip:
- Rest without guilt
- Reflect without rushing
- Refill without apology
Because when the next mama reaches out, you’ll be ready—not because you hustled through the quiet, but because you honored it.
With love & reverence for the sacred work,
Jamie
Labor of Love for Birth & Beyond
