We recently connected with Michelle Mark and have shared our conversation below.
Michelle , thank you so much for joining us and offering your lessons and wisdom for our readers. One of the things we most admire about you is your generosity and so we’d love if you could talk to us about where you think your generosity comes from.
Generosity, for me, has always felt like something that moves through the heart before it ever becomes an action. I think it begins with empathy. The simple human understanding that we all need support sometimes. Much of my generosity was shaped by the people I’ve watched give quietly: family, mentors, and the communities that raised me. Those moments showed me that care doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful.
Over time, my sense of generosity has deepened through my work and personal experiences. When you’ve sat beside people in their most vulnerable moments, you start to see giving not as something extra, but as something essential. It’s not about what you have to offer, but the intention behind it and the willingness to meet others where they are.
Spiritually, I see generosity as a kind of flow. What moves through me isn’t meant to stop with me. Whether it’s time, energy, or tenderness, it’s meant to keep circulating. In my work and in my life, I try to live in that rhythm. One where giving and receiving are both sacred, and where generosity feels less like a choice and more like a way of being.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a full spectrum doula and the proud owner of I Love What I Doula LLC. My work spans the full range of reproductive experiences from preconception, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum loss, adoption, and surrogacy. Every journey deserves compassion, and every woman deserves to be seen, heard, and supported.
When I first started, I focused solely on postpartum care. Visiting families in those early weeks of a baby’s life gave me a front-row seat to their birth stories. Listening, holding space, and offering emotional support in the fourth trimester revealed something profound: women need room to process, and every pregnancy deserves gentle, wholehearted care. That realization naturally led me to expand into full spectrum support. A path that allows me to walk alongside women from preconception through postpartum, and everything in between. There’s something truly special about supporting a mom in a way that empowers her; when she’s nourished, happy, and seen, that love radiates to her baby too.
I’m also thrilled to share that I’ve become a doula duo! My partner, Rita, and I have spent our first year together growing, learning, and supporting families side by side. Rita brings her own childbirth experience, a wealth of knowledge, and the heart of a doula to her work. She provides prenatal and postnatal massage, either in-home or in her massage room, adding another layer of care for our clients. Together, we get to double the support, the love, and the presence for the families who welcome us into their lives.
On a community note, I’ll be facilitating Birth Story Circles at Natural Birth At Home, beginning November 10th from 10am–12pm. It’s a warm, welcoming space for women to share, connect, and simply be. Babies are absolutely welcome.
2025 has been an incredible year of growth and connection, and 2026 feels full of even bigger possibilities. Rita and I are working on doula, pregnancy, and postpartum e-books, and I’ll soon be announcing my first doula workshop. It’s an exciting time, and I’m so grateful to do this work that truly touches lives—one family at a time.
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?
Three qualities, skills and area of knowledge that were most impactful for me were:
1. Emotional Intelligence and Empathy- The ability to read emotional cues, provide calm reassurance, and hold space without judgment is one of a doula’s most powerful tools. Empathy allows a doula to connect deeply, offering true emotional support during vulnerable moments.
2. Knowledge of Birth Physiology and Comfort Measures- Understanding the stages of labor, common interventions, and the body’s natural birth process helps a doula educate and empower clients. Skill in comfort techniques such as positioning, breathing, counter pressure, and relaxation. This makes a tangible difference in the birthing experience.
3. Strong Communication and Advocacy Skills -Doulas act as bridges between clients and medical providers, helping families communicate their wishes clearly and confidently. Knowing how to navigate hospital systems, facilitate informed consent, and maintain a respectful tone are essential to preserving trust and collaboration.
My advice for anyone beginning their doula journey, it’s so much more than learning techniques, It’s about growing into a way of being that blends knowledge, empathy, and presence. The most impactful doulas I’ve met share three core strengths: emotional intelligence, a solid understanding of birth physiology, and confident, compassionate communication.
1. Nurture your emotional intelligence.
Birth work starts with listening. really listening. When you can be fully present without trying to fix or control, you create safety and trust. Practice empathy by showing up for people in all stages of life, not just pregnancy. Reflect on your own emotions after each experience; self-awareness helps you hold space for others with steadiness and compassion.
2. Deepen your knowledge of the birth process.
Understanding how the body works in labor builds confidence for you and for the families you serve. Keep learning through workshops, reading, and mentorship. Practice comfort measures like positioning, counter pressure, and breath-work whenever you can. The more fluent you become in birth physiology, the better you can anticipate needs and bring calm assurance to any environment.
3. Strengthen your communication and advocacy skills.
A doula’s voice can shift the entire tone of a birth space. Learn how to facilitate open, respectful dialogue between clients and care providers. Observe experienced doulas to notice how they ask questions or hold boundaries gracefully. Remember, advocacy isn’t speaking for someone, it’s empowering them to speak for themselves.
Becoming a doula is a lifelong journey of learning and unlearning. Each birth, each family, and each experience will shape you. Stay curious, stay grounded, and let your heart lead. You’ll grow into this work beautifully.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
The ideal client for us is a woman who values informed choice, emotional connection, and compassionate support throughout their pregnancy and birth journey. She’s intentional about her birth experience. Whether that’s at home, in a birth center, or in a hospital and wants a team that will walk beside her with respect, calm, and encouragement.
She may be a first-time mom wanting to feel confident and prepared, a seasoned parent seeking a more empowered experience, or someone navigating a VBAC, cesarean, or high-risk pregnancy who craves individualized care. She believes in the power of teamwork and understands that having the right support can make all the difference in how she feels about her birth story.
Above all, our ideal client is open-hearted, values holistic care, and trusts that birth is not just a physical event but a transformative and deeply personal journey.
Our care is inclusive, affirming, and rooted in respect. We proudly support families of all backgrounds, identities, and family structures. We honor every birthing person’s culture, body, and story. Welcoming single parents, LGBTQ+ families, survivors, and individuals of all races, abilities, and walks of life. Everyone deserves to feel seen, heard, and supported in birth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ilovewhatidoulallc.mypixieset.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16HzLAjp96/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Image Credits
Cassondra Rogers – Connected By Birth & Natural Birth At Home
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