TaKiesha Smith CD(DONA), CLC, CCHW

TaKiesha Smith, a passionate Neurospicy birth advocate, Certified Community Health Worker, and Certified Breastfeeding Specialist. Serving as the Indiana State Ambassador for Count the Kicks, TaKiesha is devoted to enhancing maternal health and advocating for equity. Through her company, Neurospicy Birth, she equips doulas with the skills to support neurodiverse families. TaKiesha’s mission is to ensure that every birthing experience is unique and that all families receive the highest quality support.

Session

Creating Neurospicy Birth Spaces: Amplifying Equity for the Neurodivergent Population

Doulas can play a transformative role in supporting their neurodivergent clients by forming strong relationships and creating an optimal birth space. By recognizing and respecting the concept of neurodiversity, doulas can ensure that each client’s distinctive needs are met and treated with dignity and value, resulting in a more positive and empowering birth experience. Using simple yet effective tools, a doula can help transform the birthing environment from a place of fear and anxiety to one of calmness and anticipation.

In this session, doula Takiesha Smith will lead us through a discussion about the various types of neurodivergent clients as well as offer tools for doulas to help create and navigate a neurodivergent birth space.