One Volunteer’s Journey to Becoming a Doula

Mary K. has been a dedicated Elizabeth House volunteer for many years. In fact, if you call Elizabeth House, there’s a good chance Mary will answer the phone! In addition to answering the phones, Mary has cooked meals for and ran errands with the residents, even accompanying some to doctors’ appointments. Mary says, “Volunteering is the cornerstone of communities. There is a place for everyone if you put in the time and really look.”

One day at Elizabeth House, Mary was volunteering at the residential house when a resident went into labor. “I have two children myself and have been present for deliveries in my family, so I was so excited,” Mary says. She immediately took the resident to the hospital.

At intake, things turned tense. “I was truly shocked at how our resident was treated during her intake process. She was clearly upset at some of the personal "routine" questions they were asking. The hospital staff was unable to see the obvious signs and changes in her behavior, and they kept asking questions. “I intervened on her behalf, just taking time to speak in a calm and non-threatening manner.” That encounter changed everything for Mary. “I went home and signed up to become a registered Doula.

“Being a doula means being a non-judgmental, good listener. I am a true advocate for the mother. In some cases, I’m even her voice. Being a doula at Elizabeth House is so important because these women come in at various stages of their journey, some with preexisting conditions. Support and encouragement are essential for our residents. I make it my responsibility that the women I am working with feel safe and secure and trust that they can confide in me. Being pregnant was a time I leaned on my mother the most and had so many questions. My goal at Elizabeth House is to answer those questions, make them feel safe and heard, and most of all to make them feel like a mother.”