Meet Kaitlyn Foster

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kaitlyn Foster. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kaitlyn below.

Kaitlyn, 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 found my purpose through a combination of my professional experience and my personal journey into motherhood. As a pediatric nurse practitioner and seasoned NICU nurse, I saw firsthand the significant need for support during the postpartum period. However, it was my own experience as a mom that truly inspired me. After the births of my two sons, I was fortunate to have my mother’s support, which allowed me to focus on healing and bonding with my newborns. It was this realization of how crucial that support is that led me to found Queen City Doulas, with the goal of providing that same level of compassionate care to other families.

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

I am the founder of Queen City Doulas, a company I started after my own experiences as a new mom. I am a Registered Nurse and a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, with a background as a NICU nurse. At Queen City Doulas, we provide comprehensive support to new families in the Charlotte, NC metro area and nationally with our travel doula program. Our services include labor doula support, overnight newborn care, daytime postpartum doulas, sibling doulas, newborn care classes, and breastfeeding help.

What I find most special and exciting about what we do is our commitment to a personalized, family-centered approach. Having experienced the challenges of early parenthood myself, I understand that every family has unique needs. I personally work with each family to create a support plan that aligns with their specific goals. The inspiration for Queen City Doulas came from the invaluable support I received from my own mother, who is also a part of our team. We’ve built a team of pre-vetted, experienced doulas who combine medical expertise with compassionate, nurturing care. Our goal is to ensure that every family feels nurtured, rested, and confident as they navigate their postpartum journey.

We are always looking for new ways to support families and we are excited to be a part of their journey into parenthood.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, I would say the three most impactful qualities in my journey as a mom were accepting support, trusting my professional knowledge and maternal instincts, and practicing self-compassion.

First and foremost, accepting support was absolutely crucial. I was incredibly fortunate to have my mom’s help after both of my sons were born. Her presence and willingness to step in allowed me to focus on healing and bonding with my newborns. I quickly realized that you cannot do it all alone, nor should you have to. My advice for new parents is to be open to accepting help—whether it’s from family, friends, or a professional doula. Build your village before the baby arrives, and do not feel guilty for leaning on them.

Secondly, learning to blend my professional knowledge with my own maternal instincts was a huge part of my growth. As a pediatric nurse practitioner, I had years of training on caring for babies, but I learned that the parent-child bond has its own unique language. My medical expertise gave me a solid foundation, but it was my intuition as a mother that truly guided me. For those just starting out, I’d suggest you educate yourselves—take a newborn care class, read a book, ask your pediatrician questions—but also remember to listen to your gut. You know your baby better than anyone else.

Finally, practicing self-compassion was a journey in itself. We put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect parents, but the reality is that parenthood is messy and unpredictable. There were days when I felt overwhelmed or like I was doing everything wrong. My advice is to be gentle with yourself. Celebrate the small victories, learn from the challenging moments, and remember that you are doing the best you can. The journey is about progress, not perfection.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

When I feel overwhelmed, I find it’s often a sign that I need to pause and reset. My strategy is to use a three-step approach that combines my professional and personal experience.

The first thing I do is a quick mental and physical reset. I’ll step away for a minute, take a few slow, deep breaths, and exhale the tension. As a nurse, I know the power of deep breathing to calm the nervous system. This small act can create a crucial bit of space between a stressful moment and my reaction to it.

Next, I lean on my village. I’m a huge advocate for building a support system, and I practice what I preach. When I feel like I’m drowning, I reach out to my husband, my mom, or a close friend. Sometimes just talking through what’s happening helps, and other times, it leads to tangible support, like someone watching the kids so I can have a moment to myself. I can’t stress enough the importance of not trying to be a superhero.

Finally, I prioritize self-care, even if it’s in small doses. This doesn’t have to be a big, scheduled event. It might be taking a five-minute shower alone, enjoying a cup of hot tea without distractions, or listening to a favorite song. These small moments of intentional self-care are essential for refueling my emotional and mental reserves.

My best advice for others is to be proactive and create your plan before you’re in the moment. It’s much easier to execute a strategy you’ve already thought about than to try and come up with one when you’re feeling stressed. Identify your go-to person to call, your favorite five-minute escape, or your breathing technique. Remember that feeling overwhelmed is a normal part of life, and it’s okay to not be okay. The important thing is to have a plan for how you will get through it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://queencitydoulas.com/
• Instagram: @queencitydoulas.nc
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/queencitydoulas.nc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/queencitydoulas/