Lakiah Olson (they/she)
“The mother is the source from which all life springs. But if her cup runs dry, then nobody drinks.”
- Heng Ou, The First 40 Days
When I first read this quote, my eyes filled with tears. As I reread the words I imagined the many parents I have supported over the years. I remembered every tearful visit — the celebrations, the grieving, the uncertainty and the blossoming confidence. It’s these many moments that fill me with an indescribable joy that fuels my passion to continue to serve and support families as they navigate the transformational shift that occurs during the postpartum period.
As your postpartum doula, I aim to not just fill your cup but to help create the proper networks of care so that it may continue to be filled and even overflow. Together, I can assist you in creating a nourishing postpartum plan that honors every aspect of your journey. By parsing out the many details, you can have a better idea about what is truly needed for your family to feel supported and to thrive during this time. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and my goal is to do what I can to help you assemble a village of your own.
My approach is rooted in gender inclusivity, self-advocacy and trauma informed care. I believe that all people can be postpartum regardless of reproductive organs, modes of conception, or outcome of the pregnancy. As a queer birth worker, I prioritize using language that validates your experience and affirms who you are. In the complex beauty that is the postpartum experience, I only ever seek to be a guide that leads you back to yourself. Self advocacy is a powerful gift, especially because no one knows your baby like you do and no one knows yourself like you do. My work is not to make decisions for you, but to collaborate with you by providing you with the information you need to make those decisions yourself. Everything I do serves the purpose to uplift, empower and embolden you as a parent.
Nourishing postpartum families is a sacred act that I take great honor in offering. From making easy to eat snacks to providing a home cooked meal, food serves an important role in your healing and well-being. If I can alleviate the burden that cooking can often feel like, especially postpartum, I am happy to do so. Because we live in a society that does not revere postpartum the way other cultures do, I do my best so that my work may reflect to you just how sacred it truly is.
Lakiah’s Qualifications
Postpartum Doula Training- Birthingway College of Midwifery 2018
Cornerstone Doula Training- Certified Postpartum Doula 2021
Infant & Pediatric First Aid/CPR- 06/29/2023
Postpartum Doula Training- Whole Body Pregnancy 2022
About Lakiah
I love snuggling my cat while reading manga
Part of my self-care and exercise routine is weight lifting
I have a deep love for expanding my knowledge and connecting with the community around me
Lately I’ve been passionate about learning more about sleep coaching and lactation education
“We don’t know how we would have survived without Lakiah. She has been with us since our 10 week premature triplets came home from the hospital and every other night she was with the boys so we could sleep. Prior to her starting, I wondered how I would be able to sleep with someone in our home overnight caring for our fragile babies. From the first night, we felt safe, cared for, and loved. She is warm, calm, so knowledgeable, and truly cares for your whole family. She also approaches her work with a high level of professionalism while maintaining flexibility to accommodate our family’s ever-changing needs. And she is extremely health and safety conscious and went above and beyond to implement safety measures to make sure our kids stayed healthy and weren’t exposed to any unnecessary risks. We feel so blessed to have found her and couldn’t recommend her more.”