Meet Desiree Christian-Walker

Today we’d like to introduce you to Desiree Christian-Walker.

Hi Desiree, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Since I was a little girl, I always, always had a baby doll and a camera of some sort. Of course, I reached an age where carrying around a doll was no longer age-appropriate. However, I was then at an age where I could babysit an actual baby! From there, I really really fell in love with babies and pregnancy. When I was much younger, I knew I wanted to be an OBGYN, but as I got older I realized how much time schooling would require and I switched up my thinking. I had no idea about a doula until my aunt mentioned it when I was about 18 years old. I looked into it and realized I had been a doula for quite some time… haha!

After this realization and further research, I began practicing as a doula and looking into training. I had my first child in 2017 and my treatment during my birth made me want to go harder as a birth advocate. While I was pregnant with my second child in 2018, I received my formal training and certification as a doula. Once I was formally trained and certified, I began operating as The Doula Dez. I practiced as a birth doula up until I was 8 months pregnant with my third child, in 2020. In October 2020, I remember denouncing birthwork and swearing to never return. However, a year later in October 2021, I was honored to assist my cousin in welcoming her baby boy into the world as her birth doula. I slowly but surely came back into birthwork and the rest is history.

I’ve begun to offer more services to decrease burnout and stagnation. I can honestly say that the break from birthwork was much needed and allowed me time to reevaluate the direction I would like to take my birthwork services.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it has not at all been a smooth road; which led to my year hiatus from Oct. 2020 till Oct. 2021! I came into birthwork to help my community of black and brown women. However, the love I was showing to my community from 2017-2020 wasn’t always recognized or reciprocated from my community.

A lot of black and brown women did not see the significance of having/hiring a doula for their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Again, I needed some time off to regroup and rethink my plan as a birthworker and since then I feel like I’ve been more aligned with my clients and the care I’m able to provide.

The workload of clients that I have right now, I’m so grateful for each of them as it’s such an honor being a part of their journeys to motherhood!

Thanks – So what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Aside from birthwork, I’m also a visual artist who specializes in portrait art. Along with always carrying a doll and a camera, I’ve always been known to doodle and draw pretty much all my life! I’m not only an artist but also an herbalist and plant momma. I love herbs and growing herbs, while also tending to all of my plants and watching them grow!

Alongside my doula services, however, I offer womb wellness care for those wanting to become pregnant or just cleanse/heal their wombs. In addition to womb care, I offer nesting/prenatal and postpartum cleaning services for my doula clients and other interested mommas; which I feel sets me apart from other doulas. Not only that, I’m also a birth photographer which I offer at an additional cost for my clients and those interested.

Included in my doula services is placenta encapsulation which is one of my favorite services outside of doula care. Lastly, I offer childbirth education services free of charge to expecting mothers and families!

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
I’ve honestly been looking for a backup doula or an assistant of some sort to help with my workload. I love to collaborate with other birthworkers or any aspiring birthworkers.

Aside from collaborating, I’m generally always booking for birth clients as long as I do not have another expecting client within two weeks of each other. The best way to contact me is via text at 615.601.2781 or by following me on Instagram @the.herban.wombman and shooting me a message!

If anyone would like to sponsor an expecting mother, please please feel free to reach out to me so that we can chat!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theherbanwombman.com
• Instagram: @the.herban.wombman
• Facebook: Herban Wombman
• Other: $theherbanwombman