Hello, my name is Toria Echols. I’m a Cleveland native living in the Dayton area. While attending Wright State University in 2013 I fell in love with art, feminist theory, and the intersections of gender. So I decided to start painting and major in women, gender, and sexuality studies. I’ve been painting for the past 8+ years now. In 2019 I graduated with my Bachelor of Arts in Women’s Studies. You can say I found my purpose through my experiences but I believe my purpose found me.
I decided this was the journey I wanted to take, to advocate and support those going through childbirth and motherhood. So now as an artist and trained birth and postpartum doula, I care for baby and mom.
I strive to provide evidence-based resources so that you can make the best-informed decisions throughout your childbirth and motherhood journey. I continue to educate myself because this is what I love to do. As we know childbirth is not easy but I am here to support you.
How my journey began
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What is a Doula?
A doula is professionally trained in birth and labor, who provides emotional, physical, and evidence-based resources to the birthing person who is expecting, experiencing labor, or after childbirth. Their purpose is to help that person have a safe, memorable, and empowering birthing experience.
A doula and client relationship may begin a few months before the baby is due. During this period, they develop a relationship in which the birthing person feels free to ask questions, express their fears and concerns, and take an active role in creating a birth plan that fits them. Doula's may provide information about techniques that can help reduce stress and trauma often experienced during childbirth.
Through different techniques, we help with comfort measures, pain management, and more. We are here to make a difference in the lives of people who want a doula. We strive to provide evidence-based information so that people can make their best-informed decision at any stage of pregnancy, childbirth, or postpartum care.
As a doula I advocate for my birthing person, I encourage and help them fulfill specific desires they might have for their birth. My goal as a doula is to help the birthing person experience a positive and safe birth, whether it’s an unmedicated birth or a cesarean.
I am here to support you and your family.
( Resource: Dona International)