Becoming a Birth Doula

My name is Marisol Dela Cruz and I am the owner and creator of MamaSol Doula Company, LLC. I am located in Swansea, Illinois but also offer virtual birth services. I believe in equitable, just care for all people and being a doula is one way to address the needs in our local community and at large. My passion is to help advocate for all women to have a positive, informed birth experience which is one of the many reasons I became a birth doula.

My path to becoming a birth doula is not a straight one. I originally was on a pre-med track at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and built a close relationship with the University of Duke as part of the SBSI (Summer Biomedical Sciences Institute) pre-med program. While there, I engaged in 100 clinical hours at Duke Hospital before deciding I wanted a more personal, one - on - one relationship with patients and transitioned to pre-nursing.

I graduated with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies in the school of Education while at UNC Chapel Hill in 2019. While I was there, I received my DONA (Doulas of North America) Training in the summer of 2018 and began my doula work in the January of 2019 as a birth doula and eventual Program Associate Director for UNC Birth Partners at UNC Main Hospital.  During my time there, I served vulnerable populations including (but not limited to) teenage, refugee, psychiatric, incarcerated, second language speaking, and Spanish speaking clients. I have been a part of more than twenty five births (lost count after that!). I have been a part of numerous other client’s care during the antepartum and postpartum periods while pairing clients with volunteer doulas of the Birth Partners program. 

Returning to school, I joined an Accelerated Bachelor’s Program at the school of Nursing at UNC Chapel Hill. I completed my physiatric and postpartum and maternal health clinicals before facing a crisis of my own. I endured four pregnancy losses and experienced bereavement of my pregnancies, in addition to a healthy pregnancy but with a diagnosis of hyperemesis gravidarum. Balancing the demands of an extremely fast paced program in addition to my pregnancy losses, I left the school of nursing to focus on my mental health and physical demands of HG (hyperemesis gravidarum) and gave birth to a healthy baby girl, named Amelia. I had a second pregnancy with the diagnosis of hyperemesis gravidarum, and eventually diagnosed with Pre-Eclampsia, needing an induction and gave birth to my son, Santiago, prematurely at 36 weeks.

I know first hand that motherhood can be lonely and difficult.

After switching gears from a demanding career to a stay at home mom, I decided to focus my attention on birthing moms and families and to become a permanent doula. Having lived experience of perinatal and postpartum mental health issues, I want others to feel the connection and support I have received that has led to my recovery and eventual flourishment.  As such, I am involved with the PSI (Postpartum Support International)mental health research committee with the goal of identifying and addressing perinatal and postpartum mental health issues across the U.S. with a focus on vulnerable populations. 

I come from a Hispanic background and bring a unique perspective as a Birth Doula in helping create a trusting relationship between a client, their family, and birthing support team. I am especially passionate that women of color and of other cultural backgrounds are educated and informed on their birth choices; thus given the same opportunities to have positive outcomes with their birth as other women. I am open to care for all families without any judgment, because I believe all birthing people deserve a wonderful, empowered birth.