began during my first pregnancy and the birth of my daughter. I did a deep dive into the research, curating my "perfect birth plan", hiring a doula, and working with the best midwifes I could find. Then, almost nothing went according to plan, and I was left wondering why. It was in surviving this experience that I came to understand the importance of the personalized, non-judgmental, continuous care provided by a doula in reducing birth trauma. I believe my story has led me to provide support for my clients with greater understanding and empathy.