Daily Inspiration: Meet Kiara Baskin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kiara Baskin.

Hi Kiara, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Hey, I’m Kiara Baskin Founder and Principal of Bump to Birth Doula Services. I serve as the lead labor support individual for families who come into our care during their pregnancy. We provide informational, emotional, and physical support for pregnant and parenting families right here in West Michigan. 

I get to walk alongside women during one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives to provide reassurance and guidance and my story really starts when I was a little girl coming from a large family dominated by women and always having this village of women surround me who supported me not only through life but my own birthing experiences as well. 

Some of the values that were instilled in me at a very young age included taking care of your mother, your first home. To care for your elders and that’s what I wanted to do, well really, it’s what I was called to do. The desire to help, uplift, and surround other women is so much of my identity and really engrained in my DNA when looking at my family’s lineage. My mother, my mother’s mother, her mother, and her mother all were caregivers. 

When I enrolled in school, I knew I was going to work in healthcare but it wasn’t until I became pregnant that I really dug deep into understanding our healthcare system and how being a black childbearing person came with many risks like preterm birth and low birth weight babies. Even with all that knowledge and doing everything right, from taking childbirth classes to eating right, and reducing my stress levels, I still ended up with a very traumatic and unnecessary cesarean section and at the time couldn’t tell you why. I turned my pain into my purpose and vowed from that day to make sure every family especially black and brown families understands all of their options and have an advocate. 

We have a lot more say and power in determining our outcomes but you don’t know what you don’t know and I want to change that for our community, especially our pregnant and parenting families. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Has it been a smooth road? Yes and no. Nothing about being a woman has ever been smooth or easy, from puberty to menopause, childbirth, being partners, fighting for equal pay, the over-sexualization of our bodies, the fight to be seen, to be heard…and yet we prevail. 

I turned thirty this year – turning thirty has often been built up to be a huge landmark. For women especially, it’s seen as the point in which we’re pressured to have it all come together, our biological clock is ticking a little louder, the age of ambition, promise, achievement, all rolled into one. 

and most days I don’t have it together and I’m figuring it out as I go but there’s beauty in being vulnerable enough to admit that. 

The most recent challenge I’ve faced is dealing with imposter syndrome. Having those moments of self-doubt. Am I doing enough, and I doing too much? 

But even with all the challenges of trying to have it all. I can say firmly there is nothing comparable to the strength and intellect of a woman especially when she is surrounded by a circle of other strong ass women. I credit so much of my ability to conquer fears and my ability to ‘figure it out to the women who show up for me because without my community I wouldn’t be who I am today. 

My vulnerability has really allowed for Bump to Birth to have a deeper connection and more trust within the community. Our families trust that they’re in good hands and that their baby’s first moments are welcoming and filled with genuine love. I always joke that our time with our clients never really ends we just become a bigger family. That’s been a direct result of being open and honest that we too face challenges but you never have to face them alone. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Bump to Birth Doula Services, we specialize in supporting families as they navigate pregnancy and childbirth. 

But what does that really mean… 

* I help guide families through the emotional journey because ALL the feelings and hormones during pregnancy 

* I go over everything you need to know on birth and babies so you can spend less time on Google and more time with family 

* I show up and will be with you the entire time your laboring 

I speak fluently in maternal health, health equity, women’s health, and motherhood. 

If I had to name two of my most proudest moments in my career the first would be recently being named the 2021 Athena Young Professional. This award spoke to my contribution not only to community but also to leading a women-led initiative that provides career pathways for the next generation of woman leaders. 

Through that work in particular I’ve been blessed to be able to pour into other women who have the same calling or desire to serve our birthing community by providing them with the training and skills necessary to have a sustainable career as a doula. Our doulas have been able to get hands-on experience by shadowing and supporting families during their training, which you don’t see with other doula training programs, and what is really unique is that from the top down our program is led by black and brown folks. 

I’m also most proud of my work this past year dealing with legislation. I was afforded several opportunities this year to contribute to policy briefs and senate bill language to better support our families and childbearing community. Working closely with Senator Erica Geiss, Governor Whitmer, and The Maternal Child Council has really sparked an interest in deepening my civic engagement and making systems change to make sure the State of Michigan is doing all that it can for our smallest citizens. 

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory probably has to be the birth of my baby brother. I can remember my mom being in labor and I sat in the bathroom of the labor and delivery suite completely grossed out that she wanted me to witness him being born. 

Fun fact I actually cut my baby brother’s umbilical cord. 

Who would’ve ever thought years later for Id start a business literally supporting women during labor and watching them give birth. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.bumptobirthdoulaservices.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobirthdoula/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BumptoBirthDoula/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPw2N9wIF6Ncuux0JeMgYLA

Image Credits
Kiara Baskin
Doula Services