Marketing Is a Form of Service (Especially If You're a birthworker)
Let me guess—you didn’t become a birthworker because you love selling stuff.
You got into birthwork because you care deeply about people.
Because you know your support can change lives.
Because holding space through birth, postpartum, and lactation is sacred work.
But now that you’re running a business, you’ve probably been told you need to “market yourself.”
And suddenly everything feels…gross.
The idea of promoting your services makes you cringe.
You don’t want to be pushy.
You don’t want to annoy people.
You definitely don’t want to sound like a used car salesperson.
Let me be very clear:
If your work helps people, marketing isn’t selling—it’s serving.
And when done right, marketing is one of the most impactful ways you support your community. Let’s talk about it.
People Can’t Hire You If They Don’t Know You Exist
You wouldn’t whisper support in a birth room.
You wouldn’t hide your knowledge during a postpartum crisis.
So why are you hiding your offers online?
Every time you don’t show up and share your services, someone misses the chance to be deeply supported.
Your dream client is probably out there right now Googling “postpartum doula near me” while crying in the middle of a 3 a.m. cluster feed.
If you’ve been quiet online because you “don’t want to be salesy,” you’re doing her a disservice.
Visibility = service.
It’s how people find you. It’s how they trust you.
And it’s how they choose you instead of ending up with someone who doesn’t get it.
Marketing Educates, Empowers, and Prepares Your Clients
Let’s say you post a Reel about what to expect in early labor.
Or you write a caption about the difference between midwives and OBs.
Or you share a story of how a postpartum visit turned someone’s entire week around.
That’s not “content.”
That’s not “just social media.”
That’s education.
It’s care.
It’s context.
It’s emotional safety before a single dollar is exchanged.
Marketing is your first chance to hold space.
It’s the way you normalize, validate, inform, and guide before they even reach out.
If that’s not service, I don’t know what is.
People Need to See Your Message Multiple Times Before They Act
You’ve probably heard the rule of 7—it takes an average of seven touches before someone makes a decision.
Not because they don’t want your support.
Not because you’re not good enough.
But because they’re humans with fears, distractions, and 500 tabs open in their brain.
Marketing gives your future clients the repetition they need to feel safe investing in you.
It gives them space to go from:
“I don’t even know what a doula is”
→ “Oh wow, this is exactly what I’ve been needing.”
→ “Here’s my deposit.”
Every post, email, and story is an invitation.
Not a pressure tactic.
Not manipulation.
Just a gentle, repeated offer of support.
Marketing Filters Out the Wrong People (And Magnetizes the Right Ones)
You know what else marketing does when done well?
It makes it crystal clear who you serve, how you support them, and what kind of energy you bring to the table.
Which means:
❌ No more draining clients who don’t respect your time.
❌ No more “but my cousin said I could get this for free.”
❌ No more awkward misalignments where you’re not appreciated.
Because when you market with clarity and conviction, you attract clients who say:
“I saw your post and knew you were the one.”
Marketing, when it’s rooted in truth, values, and boundaries, becomes a sacred sorting tool.
And that’s deep service—not just for you, but for your clients, too.
Marketing Reduces Harm by Centering Access and Informed Choice
Let’s be real: There is a lot of bad information floating around out there.
Misinformation.
Fear-based narratives.
One-size-fits-all advice that doesn’t honor culture, body autonomy, or lived experience.
When you show up in your marketing, you’re not just “getting clients.”
You’re contributing to informed decision-making.
You’re shifting culture.
You’re reducing harm.
You’re helping someone realize:
They can decline cervical checks.
They do have options during postpartum.
They’re not broken if breastfeeding is hard.
That. Is. Service.
So If You’ve Been Afraid to Market Yourself…
Here’s what I want you to know:
Marketing isn’t bragging.
Marketing isn’t begging.
Marketing isn’t selfish.
Marketing is how you serve the people you’re called to support.
It’s how you:
Educate before the consult call.
Empower before the birth plan.
Support before the contract is signed.
And if you believe your work can change lives (it can), then it’s your responsibility to talk about it.
Often.
Clearly.
And with heart.
Need Help Making Marketing Feel Good Again?
If you're tired of feeling lost in a sea of “what do I post?” and “is anyone even listening?”—
If you want a marketing system that’s built around service, sustainability, and soul—
Then you’re exactly who I created the Digital Freedom For Birth Pros community for!
Come join a group of birthworkers learning marketing, sales and all things digital world related — together.
Click here to join the free community!
