Today we’d like to introduce you to Irene Wilkerson.
Hi Irene, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
So my journey into perinatal and infant health began long before I knew what those words meant. I can remember being 6 or 7 years old and realizing that OB/GYNs delivered babies. I had always been drawn to babies so it was at that young age that I decided that I would be an OB/GYN. Over the years I stuck to this goal and worked hard to excel so that I could achieve it. No one in my family was in medicine – no one had even completed a college degree so I was determined to be the first. It was not until I shadowed an OB/GYN over the summer between sophomore and junior year of college that I realized that becoming an OB/GYN was not my calling – instead, my heart was with the people who were there at the bedside day in and day out with patients. The people that we’re encouraging them, caring for them, and wiping their tears – the nurses. When I returned to school that fall I switched my major to nursing and put everything, I had into getting into and completing nursing school. It was easily the hardest thing I had done in my life.
Upon graduation, I decided to enter into the Neonatal ICU and that is where I fell in love with my career and solidified my calling to work in perinatal and infant health. In my day-to-day job, I was able to see the miracle of life and experience everything that went into caring for an infant that was forced into the world way too early. I loved my work as a nurse but I could not help but notice something startling – most of the infants ending up in the Neonatal ICU were Black and Latinx. Why did this disparity exist? I began using my free time to research the disparity in adverse birth outcomes and I discovered that it all pointed back to perinatal health and the dismal care that Black and Latinx folks were receiving throughout their pregnancy, birth and postpartum periods. I entered a graduate program to pursue my Master of Public Health because I knew that the direction I was supposed to take my career in needed to aid in the prevention of adverse birth outcomes and improvement in reproductive care for minority groups. Since completing my degree, I’ve begun the work of learning and growing in the reproductive advocacy and birth worker community as a labor and birth doula.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’m fortunate that my journey has been mostly smooth. There have been a few hiccups along the way but nothing capable to derailing me from my calling. Working in perinatal health has always brought me so much joy. It’s what I am passionate about so it’s hard for me to stay stuck when I am going through something. I always have the mindset that it’s temporary and will pass because I know this is what I’m meant to do. One of my biggest hurdles thus far was completing graduate school. Due to internal struggles, I started to feel discouraged and that coupled with factors out of my control made me doubt myself. Thankfully, I was able to work through that with the help of my support system and eventually finished. Since starting as a doula this year things have been great! I’m still very much in the early stages of this work so while my calendar may not be booking up 6 months in advance, I still feel accomplished! I’ve been able to focus on laying the groundwork so that I can see growth in the future. I’ve been training, taking classes, doing tons of reading, some networking and gaining mentorship to set me on the right path.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about True Synergy Birth Services?
Thanks for asking! True Synergy Birth Services serves the birthing community by providing pregnancy, labor and birth support to pregnant people. This support centers around four pillars – information, advocacy, physical and emotional. I am with my birthing families from the moment I’m hired until after the baby is born supporting them through it all. I center the care to meet the needs of queer, trans and Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) folks. This aspect of my practice is important and necessary because historically – and currently – the dominant birth culture is one that centers the needs of cis-gendered, heterosexual, White women and pushes everyone else into the margins. As a queer, Black, cis-gendered woman I have experienced this myself with healthcare providers. It is belittling to be ignored and disrespected during one of the most vulnerable times of your life. True Synergy centers the needs of those that have been marginalized. I work to help clients feel empowered, validated and capable of having the birth experience that they desire.
I offer a couple of different packages to clients. These consists of services such as prenatal visits, birth planning sessions, comfort measures practice, labor support and immediate postpartum support. I also work to connect my clients with other perinatal services they may need such as lactation specialists, chiropractors and placenta encapsulators.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love Atlanta! I moved to Atlanta right after high school then left for four years to finish college. As soon as I graduated, I moved right back! I can never stay gone too long. I love the feeling of community that I have only ever experienced in Atlanta. My work as a travel nurse has taken me to several cities around the country but nowhere I’ve been did I feel like I was surrounded by family. That’s what I get here and that’s what keeps me coming back. I also just love seeing so many young, Black people living in their passions and finding success!
Contact Info:
- Website: truesynergybirthing.com
- Instagram: @truesynergybirthing
- Facebook: @truesynergybirthing
