I was born and raised in the beautiful state of Arkansas. From a young age I always found myself wanting to connect with people. I have always valued relationships with friends and families. My parents divorced when I was very young, it was often hard at times to reach out for support without feeling like my feelings and concerns would be heard. This is something that I noticed happened often and in all walks of life.
As I got older and went to college, I longed for a more meaningful career. I stepped into the medical field by working for an Optometrist and then later working for an Ophthalmologist. It was in that role that I fell in love with connecting with our patients and making a difference. It was during my oldest son’s pregnancy that I discovered support was lacking for pregnant, birthing, and new parents. After his birth I had a revelation, I wanted to become a Lactation Consultant. In 2011, I began serving families in Central Arkansas in the role of Breastfeeding Peer Counselor for WIC services at the Arkansas Department of Health.
While working there I received lactation education and training through the loving support program for Breastfeeding Peer Counselors. While working for WIC, there was a fire ignited, a desire to help empower women further in their journey to motherhood. I have been trained through a local organization, DONA and ProDoula. The training I received from other organizations helped me to learn the role of a Doula. The training I received through ProDoula taught me how to provide non-judgmental support to all families. I am proud to be Arkansas’ first Certified ProDoula. My goal is to help connect the gaps between families and their medical professionals by providing support in a judgment free manner, instilling strength and confidence. In January 2016 Heather Barrios and Crystal Keelin joined Riverfront Doulas to help share the vision of bringing services to families throughout the entire state of Arkansas.
Riverfront Doulas is a team of trained professionals who provide Arkansas with prenatal support, labor doula support, postpartum doula support, breastfeeding support and childbirth education. Our goal is to help families feel empowered and connected, in their transition to parenthood.
We are Arkansas’ first premier full service birth & postpartum agency. We provide Central Arkansas with the best ProDoula trained, certified & equipped professionals and are the only uniformly and professionally trained agency within in the state of Arkansas. We offer consistency, no matter who is supporting our clients.
This loan will help us grow our brand by being able to establish a brick and morter location and purchase marketing material, supplies, and business consulting.
A loan of $10,000 helps me to expand our company with a storefront and re-brand as a statewide agency.