Today we’d like to introduce you to Saron Cardenas.
Hi Saron, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I became a mother in 2006. I suppose that is where the journey began for me. Becoming a mother was something I had always dreamed of. My first birth however, didn’t go the way I planned. Dealing with the trauma from that was more difficult than I could’ve expected and it really opened my eyes to the birthing systems that we’ve created here in the United States. I did extensive research to ensure that I had a better experience if I were to have more children.
As a result of my research, two years later when I was having my second child, I felt empowered enough to do it at home. I was able to have a successful VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) and there was a peace and power that came with that. Part of my story that I haven’t shared often is that, my home birth was still not without issues.
Five years passed between my 2nd and 3rd child. I suffered several miscarriages which only deepened my community of women and empathy for the various fertility issues that so many deal with. Because of my first two births, I realized that the way to truly ensure the best birth outcome was to have someone who was there solely as a support for me. Someone unbiased and unbound to policies who would give me support and share their knowledge gained from before me. That person was a doula! I was so grateful for my doula and my 2nd home birth that was truly peaceful and healing.
I was a stay at home mom for many years but I always knew that I wanted to be able to be that support for others one day. So there began my road to being a doula!
After taking several trainings and receiving my certification I became a birth and postpartum doula.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I mentioned that I was a stay at home mother for many years but I actually embarked on this journey while becoming a single mother, so yes, there have been some struggles. Birth work has an unpredictable schedule and at times it can be an unreliable source of income. Thankfully, I’ve had a great support system and I have clients who end up inviting me to work with them postpartum or even longer term to supplement my doula work. The community of birth workers here is amazing! I’m also in a collective, Rooted Birth, that is supportive of each other, building each other up and sharing work, etc. That is also how I navigate the heaviness that comes with this work when things don’t go as planned. Each birth I attend is different and each family I assist has unique needs. I am grateful for all of the learning and growth I continue to experience because of this.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a birth doula, I support women throughout their pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. How that support varies is based on the needs of each individual but it is a combination of providing trusted community resources, emotional support and encouragement through pregnancy which can be such an exciting but also confusing time! And also, emotional and physical support during labor and childbirth regardless of where you choose to deliver. I provide support in hospitals, birth centers, or at home.
I take pride in helping my clients feel empowered and step into their birthing space with confidence and all of the knowledge they need to make whatever decisions may arise. I also love helping partners learn how they can feel helpful and be most supportive during this time. It’s my goal to always assure partners that I am supporting them both on this journey.
I think each doula brings something unique to their practice. Mine is certainly my personal experience with loss, birthing in both a hospital and at home, plus having a both a cesarean and vaginal birth. I also have extensive knowledge on babywearing, breastfeeding and cloth diapering.
How do you think about happiness?
As you know, I enjoy childbirth and babies, so my favorite happiness comes, quite naturally from my three children! They bring me joy daily doing the simplest things! We cook together, watch movies together, and listen to music. I actually asked them what else made me happy and they came up with quite a cute list. I do enjoy a show about relationships from time to time, my love for spicy food is growing daily and concerts bring me a lot of joy.
At work, I truly love being able to witness families meet a new precious human. It brings me happiness to know that my client’s birth experience was positively impacted by me. I love receiving all of the pictures and updates on how my past families are doing.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @birthingrainbows
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BirthingRainbowsDoula
