Gabrielle Lazarus

So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

I'd be happy to. My name is Gabrielle "Gabe" Lazarus (she/her). I currently reside in central North Carolina, where I have been for over two decades. I spent my early life through high school living in multiple locations, as my father was in the military.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now.

That I have had the opportunity and privilege to develop a sense of place with the land here.

Tell us a little more about what your company does and how it started. How does it help your customers?

I started Sacredsong Birth & Wellness back in 2014, primarily serving folks who were seeking birth doula support. Over the years, I began offering more services that resonated with the holistic vision I had for my business. These included Reiki healing, postpartum belly binding, HypnoBirthing support and childbirth education. These sat alongside my passion for crafting and herbalism, which I brought into my practice through various creations I share with clients. I have had a particular interest in cultivating home birth support and education in our state, and I was the founder of an online community that now has over 5k members.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice would you give them?

Connecting and networking was certainly important for me and helped a lot with referrals over the years. At the core, genuine connection and resonance with purpose and a shared vision for the larger community have been a driving force that has supported my work.

What is one piece of feedback from a happy customer or client that you won't forget?

I've worked with some truly special folks over the years, and I have received some touching feedback from many of them. Honestly, the feedback that comes to mind in this moment was from a mother who had just experienced a stillbirth. She said it was so comforting having me there with her while she went through that experience. What meant so much to me about that is that it reminded me of how important it is to show up for others during their most difficult moments, and how meaningful it is to witness and be witnessed.

Where do you see your company in the future?

I am currently moving into a new season with the company. After supporting my community for over 12 years offering in-person birth support, I am shifting to birth consulting, online birth education and transformational coaching. This is a natural evolution that expands beyond birth to support women at major life thresholds, where collaboration and support are needed as one moves through periods of life initiation. This work is where ancient wisdom, nervous system science, intuitive knowing and evidence-informed coaching come together to support lasting change. It is a relational, embodied practice of listening, discerning and weaving meaning from life's transitions.

While the primary focus of my business expands, its roots remain. It feels important to leave a blueprint of the work I have done in the birth space and all I have learned. For this reason, I have built a Holistic Online Birth Course that holds that wisdom for others to access. I also wanted to be accessible to those who want one-on-one information and connection regarding doula support, education and information about how doulas shape the birth space. For this reason, I will continue to offer consultations for birthing folks, as well as those outside the birth community who want to learn more about the role of doulas.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

Gosh, there are many misconceptions about birth doulas, their role in the birth space and what they actually do. One of the biggest misconceptions is regarding our role in the birth space. I don't think most people understand the gap that doulas fill in maternity care, and that doulas serve folks across all birth settings. Doulas work within a relational model of care that is often unavailable within our current medical model. Many medical providers are limited by how much time they can spend with clients, whereas a doula's role is to tend to and care for their clients on an emotional level, as well as give physical support throughout the birth process. Not only that, the information and time a doula spends with clients, often in their clients' homes, is an invaluable opportunity for building trust and relationship for folks preparing for the major, life-changing event of birth.

What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business, and how did you deal with it?

Going through a divorce and Covid simultaneously, as a single parent, has probably been one of the hardest challenges I have faced in trying to find balance while juggling a business, parenting alone and tending to my own mental health. I was isolated from community support in many ways. These challenges have forced me to adapt the direction of my business based on whether my vision is in alignment with my own wellness and that of my family. As a creative person who needs work that is meaningful and allows for flexibility, I have had to do a lot of course correction throughout the process of being a business owner. I think adaptability and resilience have been my greatest allies as I have navigated challenges and change.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

They can go to my website at sacredsongdoula.com and follow me on Instagram @sacredsongdoula.