Today we’d like to introduce you to Catrice Harris.
Hi Catrice, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My birthworker j0urney began with providing families with childbirth education and breastfeeding support. Recognizing that support and education in these areas was lacking, I was able to reach hundreds of families seeking real answers that were not watered down by politics. The role of educator grew and expanded into birth doula support, where I attended births with families seeking more autonomy with their hospital experiences and who wanted a caregiver who was solely committed to their comfort and needs. Doulas bridge a gap between doctors and patients during one of the most important events of the patient’s life. Wanting to expand my reach a bit more, I became a midwife. This role allows me to train doulas, other aspiring midwives, provide postpartum care, fertility education, and of course pregnancy, labor and birth care. Especially during COVID, my role as a midwife became more fulfilling, humbling and needed in the community. Families were walking through very uncertain times, and many were afraid to trust their experiences to hospitals. Home births were, and still are a very safe opti0n, and during and beyond COVID we have seen home birth experiences grow in number and acceptability in our communities.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I entered into midwifery later in life. It was a career change in my 40’s, and even though I had some life experience on my side I was not prepared for the racism that existed in this field, and the biases from the medical community. The struggle to have a seat at the table and to be taken seriously has been a real challenge. Understanding that the disparities in health outcomes is so clearly apparent but widely overlooked is a huge emotional struggle. Midwifery saves lives and promotes wellness in a way that builds strong community foundati0ns. This necessary benefit is often ignored and even downplayed as unimportant.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Baby’s Best Start provides pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum support for expectant families, and those who are trying to conceive. We educate families on newborn care, breastfeeding, and childbirth. This is a home birth practice, so all births are held in homes or at times we can contract with local birth centers if families desire that experience. Postpartum care is provided in homes, overnight for a period of days or weeks. It’s hard to say what sets my business apart exactly, because I believe there is a midwife for every woman who wants one. We are all unique with the common bond of wanting to serve our communities and change the numbers. We want to save lives and improve outcomes. We want to see women, and subsequently their families whole and thriving as a direct result of beautiful, autonomous birth experiences.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
In order for my business to succeed, I believe it is important to not lose the zeal and love for the work. Showing up for families and operating with integrity is most important. Birth work is hard and demanding in many ways, but the rewards far exceed the demands. To make a difference in the lives of families is something you cannot put a price tag on.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://babysbeststart.org
- Instagram: @BABYSBESTSTART
