Today we’d like to introduce you to Renée Woodward.
Hi Renée, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hey! I’m Doula Renée! I’ve lived in Austin since 1993, I’m a postpartum doula and newborn care educator, and I’ve been supporting families and loving babies for 33 years.
I started down my path when I was 19 years old and took a job in the baby room at a child care center in Irving, Texas. I absolutely loved it–being there for the infants, tending to beautiful babies, and helping them discover the world was a complete joy. I knew I wanted to learn more, and luckily the center had an internship program. I was able to work days and take classes at night to earn my Childcare Professional Certification.
At the same time, I was an aspiring musician–and like every other aspiring musician in Texas, I chased that dream to Austin. Soon I had a job as a nanny during the day and was playing music at night. It was a magical time in my life and a wonderful time to be in Austin in general. I got to sing and collaborate with amazing performers. I ended up writing songs for movies, recording my own albums, and touring the United States and Europe–but the whole time, I never stopped nannying.
In 2009 I had a daughter of my own and decided to slow down my life in the music world. I kept working as a newborn nanny and went back to school in 2012 to earn my Newborn Care Specialist Certification. I even started teaching newborn care classes, but as much as I still enjoyed newborn care, having my own child changed me. It put me in the shoes of all of the mamas I was working with and gave me a whole new perspective. Suddenly something felt like it was missing from my job, and I wanted to learn how to emotionally support the whole family after birth, especially the mother or birthing person.
So in 2018, I set out to earn my Postpartum Doula Certification. That was the missing piece of the puzzle: There is no greater feeling for me than to help my clients gain confidence in their own parenting, to show them how to care for their newborns and watch them begin to trust themselves and parent intuitively. My goal is to work myself out of a job. I started working as an apprentice to Ruth Bailey to hone my doula skills–she taught me so much back then about what a mama truly needs, and I’m forever grateful. Since then, I’ve ventured out on my own as Hey Doula Renée, working as a doula and teaching newborn care classes at the amazing Austin Birth Company.
In 2021, I went back to school (again) and earned my Breastfeeding Specialist Certification. It was fascinating! It’s been exciting bringing those new skills to the families I work with. My goal is to always be a student of life and give back all I learn.
(And yes… I still play shows and write new songs now and then, but I tell people I’m semi-retired from the music world. Being a doula is my passion nowadays.)
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’ve struggled with my own fears and doubts, and even after so many years, I still have issues with imposter syndrome. I try to remind myself it’s something I can’t let win, face it head-on, and remember that I’m absolutely qualified and in the right line of work. But it’s hard some days, so to anyone else dealing with those fears, I say: Find your people. It’s important to surround yourself with supportive, honest people who love you. Not everyone is going to believe in what you’re doing or hold you up high, but the ones who do–the ones who remind you of your strengths and who are kind and generous even when asking tough questions–those are the ones to keep.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
dou·la: A woman who serves. : A professional trained to provide emotional, physical, and informational support to the birthing person throughout their pregnancy, birth, and the early postpartum period.
As a postpartum doula, I support families through a major change during the most blissful and exhausting time of their lives. I’m trained to observe, listen and contain. I offer a knowledgeable, safe, and soft place for vulnerable parents to lean into. Every family is different and what works for one family may not work for another. I’m constantly looking for solutions that best fit each family.
We’d love to hear about what you think about risk-taking?
I’ve always danced to the beat of my own drum and followed what feels good and right to me. I have taken many risks in my life, from moving away from my family to setting foot on that first musical stage (where my legs shook uncontrollably) to going back to school. What has helped me the most is having a strong support system. People in my life who know my values and what’s truly important to me.
Pricing:
- Postpartum Doula Services $45 hour
- Newborn Care Class $125 (2 hour class)
- Mother/Baby Assessment $150 (60-90 min)
- Private Newborn Care Class $125
Contact Info:
- Website: heydoularenee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heydoularenee/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heydoularenee/
