About Jacinta

Why I Became a Birthworker

My journey into birth work began unexpectedly, during my time as a massage therapist, when a client casually said, “You’d make a great doula.” I looked into it for a couple of days, then brushed it off—until years later, when my own pregnancy and birth experiences brought that spark back to life.

Despite having a partner and family around, I didn’t feel truly supported—especially by my OB and their office. Through pregnancy apps and online communities, I realized my experience wasn’t unique. So many Black mothers were facing the same lack of validation, care, and respect.

The more I learned about doulas and their role, the deeper I dug into the systemic injustices shaping birth outcomes. I came face-to-face with the reality that racism, gender bias, ableism, and socioeconomic disparities weren’t just abstract issues—they were determining who lived and who didn’t. I knew then that I had to be part of the movement for change.

I approach birth work with a deep commitment to inclusivity, respect, and the belief that all people—across every intersection of identity—deserve compassionate, dignified care.

Why My Work Is Ancestrally Led

At the very first birth I attended as a birthworker, I caught the baby. Reflecting on that moment, I realized that my actions weren’t entirely my own—I was moving with ancestral knowledge, guided by something deeper. Since then, I found, and continue to find, that what works best in my practice is trusting Spirit, my client, and myself.

I honor the Grand Midwives who came before me, the Black women who carried this knowledge long before it was ever written in textbooks. I can not walk this path without acknowledging that their footprints, their work - is what formed this road. They sustained entire communities through birth and beyond, despite being doubted, scrutinized, and forced to defend their right to practice. I can not be a midwife today without acknowledging their resilience.

“One of the darkest moments in US history was the systematic eradication of the African American midwife from her community, resulting in a legacy of birth injustices.”

- Shafia M. Monroe, DEM, CDT, MPH

Midwifery is more than a profession—it’s a calling, a reclamation, and an act of resistance.