Today we’d like to introduce you to Lizet Ansaldo.
Hi Lizet, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My decision to become a doula was in response to my two birth experiences. For my first birth, I was scared into induction by my provider, which led to a cascade of interventions. After my first birth, I remember thinking, “this can’t be how women regularly experience birth.” I decided that I wanted to be more informed and prepared for my next birth, and that’s exactly what I did. I found a stand-alone birth center in California and met with the midwife to explain my experience.
I felt heard and cared for from the start of the meeting and for every other appointment. When I entered labor, the midwife I interviewed was on call. At this time, I had no idea what a birth doula was. But after my 6-hour labor with complete mobility and no medication, I gave birth to my baby. As the midwife was stitching me up (I had some tearing) and my husband was busy holding the baby, the front desk receptionist walked in and asked if the midwife needed any help. The lady was a trained doula and had seen me several times before. The woman stayed and just held my hand and talked to me about her life as the midwife finished up.
Her presence gave me great comfort. After my birth, the midwife suggested that I become a doula too. That was when my passion for helping women in labor and postpartum took off. That was about four years ago. Esperanza Birth LLC was officially established in 2022. My heart and passion are to bring redemption and healing to women’s birth journeys and hope into the birth space, one woman at a time.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has not been a smooth road. Starting and growing my business has been challenging. I am blessed that I have my husband, who was able to help me get started. One big struggle has been reaching out to the Latino/Hispanic community in Kansas City. Unlike California, where I grew up, I don’t have a history with community members and knowledge of community events here in KC. Most doulas get more clients by word-of-mouth referrals, so the first year or two is rough as one gets started an established in the community. Additionally, I am a first-generation Latina business owner, so I’m learning the business side as I go.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Esperanza Birth LLC?
Esperanza Birth LLC was founded to bring more equitable and assessable doula services to women in the Kansas City area and to help the Latino and Hispanic communities have a voice in their birth experience and healthcare. Esperanza Birth has a heart and passion for bringing redemption and hopes to every birth journey and is currently partnering with Nurture KC to bring Spanish-speaking doula services to the immigrant community in Wydotte and Jackson counties. I am known for my advocacy for expecting and laboring mothers. Additionally, I am one of the few birth doulas in KC who are of Mexican descent and bilingual in English and Spanish. As a doula, I meet with my clients twice before labor to discuss prenatal topics like birth education, birth preferences, comfort measures, birthing positions, the timeline, and possible hospital interventions and answer all questions. I continuously coach, guide, and support the birthing mom and the father/partner during labor. I don’t leave until an hour or two after the birth once mom and baby are settled and the first latch has been achieved. Finally, I come at least once after the birth for the postpartum visit to check on the family, and can be contracted on an hourly rate for additional postpartum assistance.
What sets me apart from others is that while I serve all women, I advocate for equal access for Latina and Hispanic women. Esperanza Birth hopes to be a part of the challengers to obstetrician care in Kansas City by bringing education to the Latino and Hispanic communities one client at a time. OBGYNs are a critical part of the health system and are there for a reason. But I’ve heard countless stories of women, especially Hispanic and Latina women, that felt they were ignored by their doctor during labor and felt like they had no voice. OBGYNs tend to be incredibly busy and do not have the same time doulas do to care for and listen to laboring women.
Esperanza Birth is proud to be working with Nurture KC and making an effort to make doula services more accessible to the immigrant community. Our vision is that every woman that wants a doula should get one. I want the readers to know the massive benefits of having a doula as part of their birth team because, as Americans, we don’t know what doulas are or do. And that’s tragic because there are so many benefits to having a doula. Research by various places, like the Center for Health Economics and Policy at Washington University and Evidence Based Birth, demonstrate that birth doulas are massively advantageous. Decreased caesarian rates, higher birth satisfaction, decreased number of interventions, shorter labor, and decreased birth complications are some of the positive effects of having a professional birth doula.
Esperanza Birth offers birth and postpartum doula services customized to each mother and family, so each mom has the birth of her dreams, no matter what that means. Whether it’s a hospital birth, home birth, or something in between, my job is to support the mom in her decisions and ensure she (and the father) are informed about their rights. Education is a huge aspect of my job because I believe informed parents make better decisions, and that starts with birth. For those who want to learn more, the website has more information about the role of doulas and our services.
We love to hear about your fond memories of growing up.
I loved reading as a child, especially once I learned how to read faster in English. I remember reading books like The Giver and Esperanza Rising. Esperanza Rising is incredibly close to me because it’s what Esperanza Birth has named after. Esperanza means hope in Spanish, so that’s part of why I chose the name, but also because the character in the book Esperanza Rising brought so much hope and strength to me as an elementary student and daughter of immigrants. I saw myself in Esperanza and her strength and passion for life.
Pricing:
- First Time Mother & VBAC Packages $1,000
- Second Time Mother Packages $900
- Postpartum Care $30hr
Contact Info:
- Website: https://esperanzabirth.com/
- Instagram: esperanzabirth
- Facebook: Esperanza Birth Doula Services
- Other: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Esperanza+Birth+Doula+Services/@38.900965,-94.560407,9z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x16490485c47b5a18!8m2!3d38.900965!4d-94.560407
Image Credits
photos by Lizet Ansaldo
