New Mercies may not be an obvious choice for a birth related business name, but it has everything to do with why I am a doula! 

 

So much of my calling to be a doula comes out of my own birth experiences. Giving birth to my first daughter was truly one of the most exhilarating and empowering experiences of my life. An early miscarriage in 2010 was one of the most devastating experiences of my life. My second daughter’s birth was swift and peaceful, just like we had been praying it would be. But postpartum complications dimmed the lights on an otherwise amazing birth. I had to face my own mortality and deal with the trauma this experience brought. A short 13 months later I found myself pregnant with daughter number three. As this third birth approached we prayed that God would use the experience to bring healing and redemption to us. The song lyrics that went through my head often during the last few weeks of pregnancy and the last moments of labor were “I’m leaving my fears behind me now. The old is gone, the new has come. What you complete is completely done. We’re heirs with Christ the victory won. What you complete is completely done.”

 

My third daughter’s birth was everything we prayed it would be. It was a quick water birth where she was born in the caul- a rare and very special event. In faith, in all our trauma and fear we entered the waters of birth and emerged with assurance, healing, and new life. The “what if’s” of the entire pregnancy had been answered with what is. 

 

As I’ve mentioned before, these experiences have shaped me as a doula and when it came time to name my business I drew on them for inspiration. The song I quoted above and Lamentations 3:22-23 were the foundation. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Nothing says love, mercy, and faithfulness like new life! 

 

And so it was decided: New Mercies Birth Doula Services. 

Because there is mercy, faithfulness, and steadfast love in birth after miscarriage, infertility, trauma, disappointment. 

Because the old is gone. The new has come. 

Because his mercies are new every morning, every birth. 

Because of Christ in me and his new mercies I get the privilege of following this calling. 

 

I still have so much learning and growing to do as a doula, but even in my limited experience, I have witnessed the healing, joy, and satisfaction that can happen in a well supported birth environment. I love Boise and I appreciate our wonderful, diverse options for birthing families in the Treasure Valley. Most importantly, I love being a doula!