Meet Cincinnati Doula, Sally Ackerman: ''EMPOWERED BIRTH IS AT THE HEART OF DOULA WORK FOR ME.''

MEET CINCINNATI DOULA, SALLY ACKERMAN: ''EMPOWERED BIRTH IS AT THE HEART OF DOULA WORK FOR ME.''

             ​My mom had me at home and told me stories about my birth all of the time. It was a powerful and positive birth and I have always been interested, fascinated, and intrigued by birth because of this. The biggest impression it left on me was that she had to take control of her own birth in order to get the care she deserved. It is important that a mother feels empowered and confident in her birth choices but that is not always the narrative told in our society. 
As a doula, it is so important to me that you are listened to, given options and that you have respectful care. For my mom that meant a homebirth but that can be true for any birth from homebirth to hospital birth, vaginal birth to cesarean birth, medicated to un-medicated, induction to spontaneous labor.
I started my training for doula work when many women in my life were pregnant.  I am a nurturing person who naturally helps and cares for others and felt called to birth work.  I have always been a feminist and believe in building others up with encouraging words and affirmations. 
             With all of the darkness and ugliness we have in our world, one of the biggest reasons I became a doula was to bring more beauty, more positivity, more love, and more connection to this life. I truly believe we can change the world by honoring and respecting birth and postpartum.  Which, in turn, improves outcomes for both. 
It is always an honor to be invited into someone’s birth space and it is always beautiful, no matter how the unpredictability of birth unfolds, to witness new life being born. It’s an honor to witness people born into mothers and fathers and families grow. To witness that initial bond establish between parents and child. 
​As a queer woman who is married to a trans man, it is especially important and close to my heart to serve LGBTQ+ families.  During my first year working as a doula I didn’t put my focus on that as I was just learning, growing and evolving so rapidly.  Moving forward I will be putting more energy on that focus as a birth worker. 
​I am still learning, growing, evolving constantly as a doula, as informed birth work always is. I have had the opportunity to meet and work with so many amazing women and families over this past year and I am so excited for all of the families I will have a chance to serve now and in the future.

Sally Ackerman

Sally Ackerman is a birth and postpartum doula.