My journey really began at age 18 when I started in an R.N. program to become an O.B. Nurse. I was young and soon realized the hospital was not the place for me. I changed my major to Psychology with emphasis on Child Development and Education, and later went on to teach school.

After teaching school and having my babies at home with a midwife and home schooling my life direction took a turn and I became a post partum doula.

Special Delivery Doula Service was founded in 1991. It somewhat evolved, and this is our story from that point. I was working as a midwife's apprentice when the midwife who was training me asked me to help a family with four children and a baby on the way, whose mother was experiencing back problems. I had worked with children all my life and had been a teacher, so I truly enjoyed working in the home with this family.

As things progressed, I became very close to the family, and they asked me to attend their baby's birth and then help them after the baby was born. I did it, I loved it, and realized it was truly what I wanted to do rather than deliver babies.

Meanwhile I saw a special on T.V. about of group of ladies who called themselves doulas. They did mostly labor support, but some performed post-partum care exclusively. I was very interested and contacted the lady who was managing this service; we met together soon afterward, and I began to work for her on a part-time basis.

It didn't take long to see that there was quite a need for post-partum help in the Austin and surrounding community, as so many families did not (and do not) have relatives close by. I was then a home-schooling mom and could only work part-time, so I began to network and found other home-schooling moms who would like to work part-time, and help these new moms begin their journey into motherhood.

Soon we had 7 ladies working together. We often shared jobs, which worked out well for all of us. This lasted for about 6 years.

As things have continued to evolve, several of the ladies have chosen to work at a maternity shop in Austin, and one has become a massage therapist; during this time, my two daughters Charity and Kayla began to show an interest, and I trained both of them to be post-partum doulas. They both love their work and love being a part of these special families. Each of us truly look forward to sharing with you our experience.

Sincerely,
Mary Boaz