My Story

I am Nana Vinar. Below is my story of how I found my passion: serving women as a doula.

I grew up in North Carolina, graduated with a degree in public health from UNC-Chapel Hill, got married in 1993 and moved to Minnesota with my husband. Our first child arrived in November of 1994. I simply followed along the path of directions given to me by the medical staff. While my husband gave me loving moral support, I had little help with understanding well the process or determining what kind of birth that I wanted to have. Our child was wonderful but the experience of giving birth wasn't. 

Before the birth of our second child, I met a friend who is a doula. She told me about how she would love to help me during the labor and delivery of my second baby, and I took her up on it. She helped me write a birth plan that would fit my desires for the kind of birth I wanted.

I was amazed at how relaxed I felt with her there beside me! My husband held my hand, and my doula quietly took care of me. She answered my many questions, tended to my comforts before I thought of them, reassured me when I doubted my ability and encouraged me while I worked so hard. She was an anchor for me! With her help, I labored without medication or intervention. I eagerly welcomed our son with both of us fully alert. I was amazed at the difference that a doula can make. I was hooked!

This same dear doula was with me for my next two babies, gently guiding me along my birthing journey, arming me with knowledge and confidence. Both of these births were unmedicated and without intervention.

Our family relocated to NC in 2002. When our last baby was on her way, I knew I wanted a doula with me, once again, to lean on for extra strength, to chat with the medical staff for me so I could just focus, to offer a massage and encouragement, to help me if I felt my energy sapped. In early 2007, our youngest daughter arrived, alert and ready to nurse. They put her skin to skin on me and covered us both in blankets so we could savor each other. Having continuous support helped me manage my fast labor, and I felt victorious!

Having had such a wonderful experience with a doula, helping other pregnant mothers is my way of giving back. It's been a joy and privilege to be with other women to encourage, comfort, inform, and cheer them on.

I want YOUR STORY to be one that you'll remember and cherish.