Behind Your Doula! Get to Know Certified Doula, Katie Tolbert

We thought it would be lots of fun to take a peek into who the person is behind your doula!

First up is Katie Tolbert. Not only is she Certified as a Labor, Postpartum and End of Life Doula, she has additional trainings in teaching our childbirth and newborn care classes, along with placenta encapsulation. But even that's not it, Katie is one of the first voices you may hear when you call WCDoulas as well as sharing great information across our Facebook and Instagram accounts! She brings a lot to the families in Wilmington and we are super grateful for her!

Take a few minutes and a look into where her passion for working with families comes from.

1. If you didn't have to sleep, what would you do with your extra time? I'd probably still take a nap.

2. What's your favorite piece of clothing you own? A denim jacket my mom bought for $3 at a yard sale about 14 years ago. It's practically formed to my body at this point!

3. What job would you be terrible at? Anything involving sitting in front of a computer all day. My brain would feel fried! I crave connection and movement.

4. What skill would you like to master? Gardening. I'd really like to be a better plant mom.

5. When people come to you for help what do they usually want help with? Anything from baby advice to life crisis management to recipe ideas.

6. What are some small things that make your day better? Waking up before my toddler so I have some me time.

Getting outside.

Meeting up with a friend.

Chocolate.

7. What would be your ideal way to spend the weekend? A day at the beach, cocktails & something yummy on the grill, brunch at Savorez (specifically the huevos rancheros) and a leisurely afternoon hanging with my daughter, Ava.

8. What is your favorite genre of movie or book? Documentaries, autobiographies, anything based on a true story.

9. Why did you decide to do the work you are doing now? A few reasons. I've always had a fascination with the postpartum experience. My maternal grandmother suffered with severe postpartum depression which lead to my mom being cared for by her aunt for the entire first year of her life. How might things have been different had she had support? Sometimes this work feels like it's healing a bit of generational trauma.

I cared for and was wholly present and depended on by my mom during her 5 year battle with metastatic breast cancer. After losing her, along with experiencing the deaths of my dad and a close friend, I trained as an end of life doula. I tried to pursue the work, but found myself too deep in my own grief to be of service to others experiencing loss. Around the same time, friends and family members were having babies. I enjoyed helping out, bringing meals and generally holding space for the highs and lows of new baby life. My attention shifted to the birth and postpartum world. The families I've had the honor of supporting and the pivotal moments I find myself witnessing make this some of the most fulfilling work of my life.

10. If you could make one rule that everyone had to follow, what rule would you make? Mandatory month long (somehow paid for??) vacations!

11. What is one of your favorite smells? Onions sizzling in butter.

12. What would be some of the most annoying things about having you as a roommate? My brain is a little scattered, as well as my space. I'm also not the most prompt at cleaning up after I cook :/

13. What gets you fired up? Hashing out family trauma with my sister.

14. Which of your scars has the best story behind it? 6 months into dating my husband Chris, we backpacked through Southeast Asia. In Thailand, we rented a motorbike from a cook at our hostel. Donning the weed leaf printed helmets it came with, we hopped on and less than 100ft down the road, we realized the breaks were shot! To avoid getting hit by a truck, Chris laid down the bike and our bodies collided with the dirt road. Needless to say, we were pretty banged up and spent the next couple days nursing our wounds in a no a/c and ant infested room before hopping on a flight to our next adventure. My left thigh and knee are still marked with the scars of a wild time.

15. What's the best thing you got from your parents? My sense of humor, the joy of dancing in the kitchen and my love of sharing a good meal.

Thank you for reading! If you would like to meet with Katie for your pregnancy or postpartum needs contact WCDoulas!