Meet Your Doula

Erika Lord Stola

Certified Labor Doula

Certified Postpartum & Infant Care Doula

Certified Infant Feeding Educator

Hey there! Thanks for taking the time to get to know more about me, it means so much that you're here. When my husband and I were relocating from the Midwest to North Carolina, we found out we were expecting our first child just days after our offer was accepted on a home. While exciting, this also meant we were about to embark on this new phase of life without ANY friends or immediate family within 900+ miles. Yikes. Babies teach you a lot about yourself and that definitely rang true for us as well. After our

second child was born during the height of the pandemic, it really hit home just how crucial it is to have access to a "village" to help raise a child. I was determined to find a way to be a part of other families' villages and help however I could. After almost a decade in corporate accounting & finance, I found a new career as a Doula and Infant Feeding Educator. I'm an open book, and I'd be happy to chat more with you to see if I would be the perfect addition to your village!

My Philosophy

Birth is an unpredictable journey and challenge that creates the love of a new family. The support of a doula can be the beginning of a powerful birthing journey for each of my client families. I believe birth can be beautiful and transformative in all settings, and would love to help ease any fears or anxieties you may have around the labor and delivery processes.

Postpartum: the days and weeks following baby's birth that are the steepest part of the parental learning curve. I trust that you absolutely know what's best for your baby and your family. And I also know that sometimes it takes time to find your gut instincts in these new roles as Mom or Dad. My aim is to listen to your joys and concerns equally, and

help you find your new inner voice. I also use these conversations to guide the type of support I provide to be the most beneficial for the recovery from birth and baby's adjustment to the outside world and their new family.

Feeding is a unique journey for every baby, so it requires customized support! This is why I offer in-home education before baby comes to address YOUR concerns and questions. Once baby is here, I can stop in to help reassure that things are going well, troubleshoot common obstacles, and refer you out to my network of IBCLC's when needed. I truly believe there is no wrong way to feed your baby, so let's find what works best for you!