Meet Bethany Sawhill of Phoenix Family Birth in Ahwatukee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bethany Sawhill.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Bethany. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started in the industry as a solo birth doula. As time went on, I began to notice that there were distinct gaps in the care that the traditional model of doula support. For example, as a mother to three premature babies, it didn’t feel right to me to go on call and assure birth support at 38 weeks – what if a family needed me sooner? In order to provide an on call guarantee at any point in pregnancy, it would have meant living my entire life on call which simply wasn’t realistic. After needing to use a back-up doula for a client the first time, I realized that the thought of a stranger potentially coming to my own birth if my own doula couldn’t for some reason was distressing; I needed to have a better system for my clients.

At that point, I took a hard look at what changes I could implement. I was introduced to the agency model of doula support and knew that an agency owner was exactly what I was meant to be. Shifting from a solo doula to operating Phoenix Family Birth brought with it many changes and learning opportunities, and it expanded our types of support immensely.

In addition to providing birth doula support, we now also offer postpartum doula care, overnight newborn care, a number of very unique and interactive classes, and sleep training. Every family gets to rest assured that they don’t have to worry about a thing; our diverse team of professional doulas is like built-in backup and an extension of the family. We form honest, compassionate relationships with our clients.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Launching the first agency in Arizona definitely came with obstacles! I relied gratefully on colleagues in other areas of the U.S. who were opening agencies, but the entire concept of an agency or team was new in the doula industry.

Since it had never been done here, though, I didn’t have any local mentors who could help guide me through logistics, so many things were learned by trial and error. Honestly, some things worked like a charm, and others were a total flop.

But just like I tell my clients: They key to everything in a new season of life is adaptability. Do the best you can until you learn a different way that works better. There are no stupid questions and there are no wrong answers. Give yourself grace and keep persevering. Surround yourself with people who will celebrate your successes and support you through the hard times while always holding you accountable.

Please tell us about Phoenix Family Birth.
Phoenix Family Birth specializes in working with the unique dynamic and preferred parenting styles of each family to help them establish the cornerstones of thriving with a baby: Support, Solutions, and Sleep.

Most importantly, when you work with Phoenix Family Birth, you know without a doubt that you are in the driver’s seat; you are the expert on your family. We support any style of birth and parenting without a crumb of judgment or agenda about the “best” way. Every family, and every baby within that family, is different and there’s no cookie cutter version of “right”. Our doulas put your individual goals at the forefront and can suggest multiple ways to get you to your goal. You choose your own adventure, per se.

Families choose PFB because we offer wraparound care that’s unparalleled anywhere else in the Valley. We work with families at any or all points from the first trimester of pregnancy through baby’s first birthday (and sometimes beyond!). Our clients oftentimes lovingly refer to their doulas as “real life Fairy Godmothers”.

Whether parents want a one-hour consulting session on a particular topic, or they want 24/7 care, they can get them – and anything between – with us. They know that we’re experts in the world of pregnancy, postpartum recovery and adjustment, and early parenthood. And they appreciate that our team approach means they can easily find their perfect doula.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I could go back and do it all again, I would stop letting fear hold me back and trust my gut. There were so many decisions in the early days of entrepreneurship that I was often stuck in “analysis paralysis” mode and allowed others’ opinions to overshadow my own goals.

I would tell me of the past: You will find your success and your joy when you allow the world to see the authentic you instead of the person you think other people are expecting.

It’s easy to compare your actual progress with the perceived progress of others in a world of social media and go down a rabbit hole of feeling like a failure before you’re even really started. I think this overlaps with our personal and parenting lives, too. People are often so focused on being the right kind of parent that they make initial choices that don’t feel congruent with their lifestyle and their true selves. Having a doula is, in a way, like having a life coach – someone to remind you to trust yourself and affirm that you really are doing an amazing job, even when it may feel uncomfortable or confusing, someone to validate your decisions and say, “Just be the real you. That’s being the best parent for your baby.”

Contact Info:

• Website: www.phoenixfamilybirth.com
• Phone: 480-359-6572
• Email: info@phoenixfamilybirth.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/phoenixfamilybirth

Image Credit:
Jean Laninga
Mindy McGowan

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