In this spotlight, we feature Haven doula TaKiesha Smith in Fishers, IN. TaKiesha is the owner of NeuroSpicy Birth.
Why did you decide to become a bereavement doula?
As a doula, you know that it’s not a matter of if you will have a loss client but when. Knowing this, I wanted to be prepared for when this happened. I wanted to be better prepared to serve my clients’ needs. In the process, I discovered that the class translates to more than loss tools. I gained a better understanding of different types of interpersonal communication.
Why did you decide to take a Haven Bereavement Doula training?
After taking a different training, I wanted something that would give me a broader knowledge base. I wanted to feel equipped to walk alongside a loss parent comfortably and know that I can help, not harm. This course gave me those tools and so many more. It was so much more than a playbook of what to say and what not to say; it taught me to examine the why and how. I approach loss (not just infant loss) differently now. I will be forever grateful for the things I learned in the course; I know it has made me a better doula, lactation counselor, and community advocate.
How do you bring together the work you do with neurospicy folks and your bereavement work?
The emotional reactions of loss are already difficult but add in the complexity of neurodivergence, and it exposes a gap that needs special attention to bridge the emotional divide. With advocacy, Count the Kicks is a Still Birth Prevention program; however, the reality is that Indiana is the tenth in the nation for infant mortality. Until we improve as a nation at saving babies, my work at CTK with spreading awareness through our app is needed.
What does serving as a bereavement doula look like for you right now?
It is a tool I am using now more than I thought I would. I am working in a local hospital with a large population that currently has a high infant mortality rate. So, my clients may not be going through a loss at the moment, but they still carry the emotional scars of that loss with them. Using the tools I learned in training, I can meet them where they are, interact with empathy and openness, and walk away knowing that I did the best I could do for that family,
How else do you serve your community?
I am the current Indiana State Ambassador for Count the Kicks, a stillbirth prevention program. I am also the communications chair for the Indiana Breast Feeding Coalition, a not-for-profit organization that promotes breastfeeding awareness and education in Indiana.
What is one thing that you like to do to take care of yourself?
I am a huge reader. I read every night before bed. It is my way of escaping somewhere different or experiencing a new adventure.
Do you have any advice for anyone considering becoming a bereavement doula?
It is not scary. Elyse Meyers says, “to do it scared,” I have adopted that in my life practice. But honestly, the idea of learning how to work with someone who has suffered a loss seems scary. In reality, they are just another population that needs care. Learning the skills to help them emotionally get through is a gift you can give someone during a tough time.