Thoughts About Being A Black Doula Who Doesn't Want to Give Birth

Content Warning:

This piece includes conversation about birthing and parenting. I acknowledge that these topics can be difficult for a range of folks including but not limited to people who want to have children and are having difficulty (for any reason). I also want to note that I am speaking what is true for me now, at this moment. Everything is subject to change, for me, for all of us. 

In my experience, most people assume that adults want to or should become parents. And, while I have found plenty of people who share my personal choice not to birth a child, there is not much space for this conversation in dominant culture. Messaging about what it means to “grow up” and become an “adult” are centered around birthing your children, but there are many adults who don’t want to, or cannot, give birth and/or parent in the “traditional” way. Today, I’m sharing some of the things on my mind and heart about my choice not to birth a child, as well as my orientation to liberatory views of family and parenting.