When I first moved to Oklahoma City in 2017, I was working at Barnes & Noble. I really enjoyed my work there because I was able to meet people in my new city. One day, when I happened to be covering the cash register, a woman came up to the counter with a few of my favorite birth-related books! I instantly started geeking out with her about birth work and told her I was working on my certification as an Oklahoma city birth doula. She happened to be opening a birth center in Edmond and gave me her business card! I can’t tell you how incredibly thankful I am for this amazing woman! She was who helped me find my doula community and other health and wellness professionals.
I was so THRILLED! I emailed her and asked if there was a way to volunteer at the opening. Getting to volunteer at the Edmond Birth Center opening event is when my entry into the birth work and doula community kicked off! I even met one of the most wonderful friends for the first time there! She was also volunteering and we had the chance to connect during the opening. I can’t tell you how thankful I am that I was able to be a part of the opening!
Overcoming being nervous, I made a point to go to each booth at the event and introduce myself to the doulas, midwives, midwives assistants, lactation consultants, & other birth & wellness professionals. Here I was, a new doula, surrounded by inspiring women of the birth work and doula community! After the event, I made sure to keep in touch with everyone and also found ways to volunteer at other similar events. One of which was the ‘Right to Birth 5k’! Each time I went to an event a group I had become interested in was also there
The group was called ‘The Thrive Mama Collective‘ and a local midwife ran it in the Plaza District of Oklahoma City. After getting to talk to members of Thrive and the owner several times I created a new goal of becoming a member. Later that summer after working hard to progress my doula business and signing my first two clients, I interviewed with TMC when they had an opening and MADE IT! Goal Complete! & to this day I am still a Thrive Mama Collective member.
I always look forward to attending events along with TMC! I have met so many wonderful families and fellow birth workers because of events like this one! Getting to be a part of The Thrive Mama Collective has been great because I have been able to spend time with professionals that I see as inspiring mentors. Whenever my clients have questions that extend beyond my knowledge as a Birth Doula, I am able to refer them to women I know and trust within the collective.
As an Oklahoma City Birth Doula, I am lucky that our doula community & birth and wellness community is so supportive of one another. Last year, all of the doulas in OKC threw a Christmas party together! Prior to Covid-19 restrictions, we were all able to meet for workshops at least once a month as well!
I am very grateful that our community continues to uphold professionalism. Empowered women empower women! Our Oklahoma City community benefits so much thanks to this!
Want to learn more about my work as a doula? Click Here!
If you are an OKC doula looking to find other doulas to connect with, please feel free to contact me!
Jenni Jenkins – Sekine is an Oklahoma Bereavement, Birth, & Postpartum Doula and Child Birth Educator who serves her Central Oklahoma community. She is also a midwifery assistant with Holistic Birthing Services and began her journey as a student midwife with the Midwives College of Utah in 2022.
Jenni is also the creator & facilitator of the Kaleidoscope OKC LGBTQ Family Support Group & the Nurture Oklahoma Live Interview Series.
To learn more about Jenni, please click here.