Meet Jeremy Anne Yanson

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jeremy Anne Yanson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jeremy Anne , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I’ve honestly just always followed what felt right to me in the moment. In college I chose what I knew and where my heart was. I studied Child and Adolescent Development with a concentration in Early Childhood. I’ve held many roles including: daycare attendant, after-school coordinator, teacher’s assistant, teacher, babysitter, nanny, and mother’s helper. I’ve always been good at caring for babies and young children. I’m the first generation born, eldest daughter so being a guide and teacher was always natural to me. I’ve gained valuable, immeasurable skills and insight through each and every role providing compassionate care for children and their respective villages.

In 2023, I found myself really questioning what my spirit wanted to do next. I knew I wanted to be in an environment where you can be real and honest, that was fulfilling. Around this time, a new mom reached out to me seeking a mother’s helper. She had a postpartum doula and her daughter was 3 months at the time. I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting into but I was open and she sounded like she was too. In the beginning, it felt a lot like just doing chores around the house; dishwashing and cleaning bottles was never ending! I couldn’t imagine how one could maintain and balance it all! Caring for baby, yourself, the pups…It’s a lot. As this realization was settling and the more I got to know this mama and baby, the function and purpose of the role deepened in me. Doing the menial, everyday tasks now had more meaning. It was just a part of the day. It also supported my mental health because it was a time where I could practice slowing down and be present.

A couple months in, while we were in the kitchen this mama asked what I liked more: nannying or being a mother’s helper? By then I was really enjoying being *her* mother’s helper. I felt lucky being able to have a relationship with her and her daughter, which was unique to the other roles I’ve held. The “It takes a village” vibe was apparent, tangible and very much in real-time. We could work on things separately to make the rest of the day manageable and switch off when needed to spend time with baby. All while continuing to get to know one another, laugh together, and make the most out of our day! This work was warm, intergenerational, and communal. Something I hoped all new mamas can have which was why I decided to pursue birthwork and become a full spectrum doula.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I had officially started my doula/birthworker journey a year ago. I’ve always been within the realm of childrearing and the home. I followed what felt right to me and its eventually led me here. This new endeavor however, required me to be seen. It requires me to show up for myself and in tandem show up for others. Not in the sense that these interactions are transactional but through a ripple effect. Where one ripple reverberates to the next. Where does it start? Where does it end? Not important, what matters is movement.

My focus lately has been deepening my relationship to self as I professionally work on my birthworker business! This is all so new to me, never did I ever think entrepreneurship would be in my future. Being seen means marketing myself and what I do, through MY eyes. To be honest, it isn’t easy for me! I have had to unlearn and leave behind certain narratives that don’t actually tend to my growth. Maybe I learned it from the people around me, from the media, from society. I’ve had to learn that those ideals don’t have to be mine.

What does it mean to live by your own mission? What IS my mission? What are my own values in life? In this work?

All these questions were coming up for me and I realized that this is not something many get to do. For the first time, I’m not falling in line to a company that decides all of that for me. I GET to build, create, and dream up the legacy that I want to lead. What a beautiful journey to be on.

Little did I know, my own meta experience of actively healing and working on being seen would turn out to be the blueprint of my healing container. “Healing your Inner Child: An Initiation to Mothering” is a guided journey founded on 1:1 support with the goal of healing through restoration. Restore by connecting to your past, present, and future self. I created this container with tender care for mamas, their mental health and wellness. Supporting the postpartum experience to me means anchoring you in your journey as a companion where I can hold space and honor you, just as you are.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

When I look back on how far I’ve come, three things I found most impactful were:

1. Learning to be malleable.

2. Understanding your worth isn’t tied to titles or results. You are worthy just for being who you are.

3. Taking what you need and leave the rest.

Learning to be malleable is key as an entrepreneur because it invites expansion. In past jobs, I’ve always been able to adapt to situations and people. Now in this new endeavor, I get to grow into myself as I build out what this business is going to look like. It’s easier said than done though! What I’ve had to work through and am still working through is letting go of the limiting beliefs and a fixed mindset. Now I try to flip the script within to instead learn to be malleable. Find comfort in the discomfort and stick through to turn that pressure into transmutation. It’s trippy, in putting myself out there I didn’t realize that it meant going into such an inward journey but I’m grateful.

This eases into the concept of your worth. What does it mean to take this bold leap in choosing yourself but aren’t seeing the results just yet? Or even for a while? I’ve had to make peace that I’m still in the early stages of my story. I’m essentially world building as they say in storytelling. Building the world you envision takes time because you’re learning to hone in on the messaging and creating your own momentum. What I’ve found is that the healing journey and birthwork is all about embodiment. What matters is showing up and *being* present. The titles and accomplishments go out the door when you’re knee deep in the work. What matters to me and to the ones I serve is who I am and the energy I bring into the space. That takes care of the rest. When emotions and stress levels are high trying to soothe the baby or holding space for a new mama- I’m not carrying my certificates of completion with me. What I bring is my heart and that is enough, people feel that. So at times when I feel down for not quite being where I “should” be (another thing to unlearn) I remember that it’s who I am as a person that matters in this intimate work.

Lastly, as you embark on your own journey learn and practice discernment. In life and the routes we take, our paths may intertwine with others. In such personal work, understanding your boundaries is essential! I have an 8th House Pisces Moon in the 29th degree. If you know, you know! This mutable water sign is known to be fluid and feel deeply. It is surely a gift in this work but I was in for a rude awakening when I came to terms that being impressionable to everyone at all times ends up sacrificing my own spiritual and emotional hygiene. Being of service to others doesn’t have to mean that. In fact, it is why I pursue this work in the first place. So mothers and individuals who parent don’t have to be all and do it all. My aim is doing away with the martyr complex and leaning into our village.

I’ve had to lean on my own in order to learn discernment. I couldn’t do it alone and nor did I want to. I sought out empowering guides mentorship and coaching to build that muscle over time. Invest in yourself and your journey! In commitment to my personal healing and growth I invested in Medicina de Amor: Ancestral Healing with Esperanza Jimenez-Arriaga and the Cosmic Creatrix: Astrological Business Coaching with Jordyn Siena. Through these containers, I’ve developed better, sustainable practices that support my capacity to be in this work. What an honor it is to stoke the fire that fuels me.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

My ideal client is someone open, in tune with themselves, and committed their overall wellbeing. They are aware and already anticipating how they’ll be affected in postpartum.

They may feel a range of emotions-conflicting at times such as worry, fear, and excitement. My ideal client values being seen and heard through it all anyway, it’s all part of the human and/or motherhood experience.

As a grounded healer and creative I celebrate my clients by personalizing my approach according to their wants and needs in the moment, seeing them through the ebbs and flows of life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jembirthwork.my.canva.site/
• Instagram: @jem.birthwork
• Other: https://jembirthwork.my.canva.site/yourinitiation

Image Credits

Tiffany Zhong