doulajohannaAs a doula supporting life transitions, I’m always reflecting on how to best guide people through the transformative experiences of birth, partnership, and even the end of life.
Over the past few months, I’ve been reflecting deeply on my work as a doula. I keep asking myself what it actually is that I want to offer to the families I am supporting. It’s been a beautiful, sometimes challenging process of uncovering what truly feels urgent and meaningful to me.
At the heart of everything I do—whether it’s supporting a birthing mother, guiding parents through their transition into parenthood, or helping families navigate life’s complexities—is connection. The connection we nurture with ourselves, with our loved ones, and with the moments that shape our lives.
I’ve realized that fostering connection and helping people strengthen their relationships is where my heart truly lies. Whether it’s guiding couples to deepen their bond during pregnancy, or (in the future) offering support to families at the end of life, I feel called to focus on the transformative power of intimacy, communication, and love.
A Long-Standing Calling
For years, I’ve felt a quiet calling to explore end-of-life doula work—a calling I’ve tried to ignore but can no longer set aside. The parallels between birth and death are profound, and both transitions are deeply human experiences that deserve care, compassion, and connection.
This year, I’ve decided to take my first steps toward answering that call. I’ll begin volunteering at a hospice in Munich, learning from those who walk this path every day and offering my presence and support to families navigating this tender time.
My hope is that, in the years to come, I’ll be able to support people at both ends of life’s spectrum—birth and death—creating space for connection, healing, and love in these pivotal moments. I’ll share more about this journey in a dedicated post soon, but for now, I wanted to let you know that this is a path I feel deeply called to walk.
Shifting Priorities
With this clarity has come a recognition that I can’t do everything. While I deeply value postpartum work and know how important it is, I’ve decided to step back from offering extended postpartum support. For my birth doula clients, I’ll still provide a postpartum visit to help with the initial transition, but I’ll no longer offer standalone postpartum packages.
I will also step away from teaching childbirth and postpartum classes for a while and focus instead on creating a course on initmacy for parents.
This wasn’t an easy decision, but it feels right. I want to invest my time and energy in the areas where I can make the biggest impact—and where I feel most inspired.
As a goodbye present I will sell my video childbirth and postpartum class for international parents for a heavily dicounted price before I take it off the internet in April. If you want to take advantage of that you can find it on podia.
Looking Ahead
In the coming months, I’m excited to explore new ways to support connection and intimacy. I want to teach classes that help parents rediscover each other amidst the chaos of life with children. I want to write more about the things I’m passionate about. And eventually, I hope to expand my work into end-of-life support, focusing on the same themes of connection and meaningful relationships.
These shifts are all part of a larger journey—one where I’m learning to say “yes” to the things that matter most and “no” to the things that don’t align as deeply with my purpose.
To all my clients and readers: thank you for being part of this journey with me. Your trust and support mean the world. I’m so excited for what’s ahead and can’t wait to share more with you.
What’s Important to You?
As we approach the end of the year, I’d love to hear from you. What feels urgent and important in your life right now? What connections do you want to nurture in the coming months? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to start a conversation.
