Today we’d like to introduce you to Sesheta Tafari.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Greetings!
My story began as a fertility and womb wellness doula and novice herbalist years ago. I’ve always had a passion for supporting women through their many transitions in life from the first menses, conception, birth, menopause, and so on. Every one of these parts of our lives is so special, and in today’s society, we do not have the needed support to understand these transitions. Traditionally and ancestrally, women have always had spaces to gather, relate, learn, and be. We’ve always had spaces to pass down traditions, practices, and our history that kept us alive and well. Looking around and seeing this lack of space, grew my fire of passion to create it.
As my womb wellness and fertility business grew, I studied to become a birth and postpartum doula through the Mothership Institute, and the fire continued.
At the time, I was employed at the Avondale Library while figuring out how the heck I was going to be able to nurture my passion full-time. After getting married and giving birth to my first daughter, something changed in me. I literally gave birth to a new me who no longer seen the unknown as an obstacle. My husband who not only helped me create life but spoke life into me and my business. He helped me see the path cleared. My supervisor at the time, seen my vision and gave me the freedom and flexibility to build it while holding onto my job. There were several days I had to leave work to support a laboring client or just exhausted and had to call in. I’ll never forget this support in those days.
Over the years, I’ve held many titles – Library Services Assistant, Maternal & Infant Child Health Neighborhood Navigator, Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Fertility Specialist, and soon-to-be Midwife, but I always tell people… I was put on this Earth to bring people together. Although I love them all, my strongest title is Community Cultivator.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road, but I always tell people that the reward is much greater than the labor pains.
Our biggest struggle has, and will likely always be, being on the front line while actively fighting maternal mortality. While we love to support through the beauty and essence of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, there’s one really ugly issue we all see every day. That being disproportionate rates of maternal mortality due to medical racism. Contrary to popular belief, doulas are an essential and sometimes lifesaving tool available to families. While we are not the solution to this problem, we are gladly rooted in helping families navigate it in the best way possible.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I love talking about our roots! Me&She Doulas was founded in 2019. At this time, I had already begun supporting the community in fertility support, birth, and postpartum doula support. As an individual doula, I truly valued the unique experience and journey every family has to growing and just how much delicate love, care, and support is needed to ensure they started parenthood on their best foot. The name Me&She came to me in a dream, as most of my clients then called me “She,” and my vision of pregnancy support was guiding them hand in hand through the experience. Throughout the ups, downs, and uncertainties of growing a family, my clients knew they could count on me to be right there with them.
Years ago, many families actually had no idea what a doula was. This was one of the largest struggles of my budding business, not only educating families on why doulas are needed but also why doulas are valued. As the mission to support grew – so did Me&She. We became a team of two, then three, then five, and now are a team of eight professionals uniquely supporting families during one of the most special and intimate times of their lives.
We offer birth doula support, postpartum doula support, placenta encapsulation, childbirth education classes, perinatal fitness classes, and support groups.
Our offerings are curated to assist families in cultivating the community and village we need to thrive in parenthood and is one of the many things that sets us apart. Having the opportunity to support a family through the intimate birth and postpartum experience is one we don’t take lightly. Me&She Doulas is proud to offer individual and personalized support to every mother, parent, and family. We are dedicated to holistic support and care and the unwavering belief in the power of community when it comes to making sure moms, babies, and families are well.
We are very proud of creating pathways to accessibility to this much needed service to underserved communities. In 2021, we founded our Community Doula Program that offers financial assistance for black women needing doula support but may not have the means to afford the service out of pocket.
What does success mean to you?
Success is being loved, welcomed, and supported by the community we serve. Success is being recognized as a vital part of every person’s care team, and that everyone we touch is able to step foot on their journey with confidence. Success is seeing the fruition of our labors in the health and vitality of mothers, babies, and families short and long term. A story I often share is an excerpt from one of my favorite books that tells about the developmental impacts that mothers have on their babies and communities. When those mothers are properly nurtured and cared for during their pregnancy and postpartum, they are able to prioritize their own health and wellbeing and their children. This in return, brings us healthier communities. This is success.
Pricing:
- Our Signature Package: The Birth + Postpartum Doula Journey: $3,500
- Birth Doula Support: $1,500
- Postpartum Doula Support: Packages starting at $1,040
- Placenta Encapsulation: $300
- Free perinatal support groups and fitness classes for all!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.meandshedoula.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/meandshedoula
- Facebook: facebook.com/meandshedoula
Image Credits
Jessica Simone Photography
