Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Fernandez.
Stephanie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hi, I’m Stephanie! It all started from losing my daughter at 5 months pregnant as a 17-year-old still in high school to now having a combat MOS in Field Artillery in the Army for the past 5 years. Now, I’m a mom of 2, Birth and Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator, and Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga Instructor.
A little about me – I joined the Army over 5 years ago and I started getting my degree in physics. After being in the Army for only a year, I got pregnant with my daughter (who’s now 4). The pregnancy was full of genetic testing, constant bloodwork, one OB and one High-Risk Specialist, and the entire time I thought about how much I felt the need to have someone by my side that would have educated me and helped me find my voice.
After that moment, I knew working with other women as a Doula was exactly what I needed to do; it was my calling. I needed to be there for them like no one had been there for me.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The main thing I struggled with was finding the time and the motivation to keep going. I struggled a lot with my motivation, with comparison, and with focusing on others and not myself. I kept limiting myself and kept believing the lies I would tell myself about what I was able to accomplish. I saw my failure on practice tests as a hindrance, as opposed to a learning experience.
But they were just that, practice tests. I had the ability to keep going, to keep trying, and to get better. When you stop doubting yourself, you remain disciplined, and you stop caring about what others think of you, you’ll succeed more than you’ve ever imagined possible.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am a Birth and Postpartum Doula and Childbirth Educator serving East TN and the surrounding areas! I attend all homes, Birth centers, hospital births, and free births. As a birth professional, I support, guide, and assist women during their pregnancy, labor, and the immediate postpartum period.
I provide physical, emotional, and educational support during pregnancy and labor. I educate on cloth diapering and offer miscarriage and spontaneous abortion support. I also offer Prenatal Yoga and virtual/remote doula services. I believe being bilingual and speaking both English and Spanish fluently sets me apart from a lot of other Doulas in the area because I’m able to cater to both English and Spanish-speaking mothers.
As a Doula, I’m known for reminding women that their birth is sacred, their choices are valid, and they deserve to be heard and supported. Women are the all-knowing being who holds the truth and all the answers for their current moment. I’m here to protect their space, validate their feelings, and help them tune into what their spirit and mind are calling on them to do.
Helping mothers create that special bond with the life they’ve created inside of them are my proudest moments.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is getting out of bed, even if you don’t want to. It’s getting motivated and doing what needs to get done regardless of how you’re feeling. It’s having a goal and working towards that goal, day in and day out.
Success is being mentally tough, telling yourself the truth even when you don’t want to hear it, taking accountability for your mistakes, and showing up for yourself every day without putting a limit on what is possible. Success is painful, but you don’t stop striving for success when you’re tired, you stop when you’re done.
Contact Info:
- Email: Soulpurposedoula@gmail.com
- Instagram: @Soulpurposedoula_
- Facebook: Soulpurposedoula
Image Credits
Nina Thomas Photography
