Inspiring Conversations with Lainey Stancil of Peach State Birth Coalition

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lainey Stancil.

Hi Lainey , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey into birth advocacy and support began in a deeply personal way. From a girl struggling with PCOS and infertility to a first-time mom navigating postpartum, breastfeeding challenges, and eventually, infertility again after my son was born. Becoming a mother changed everything for me. About nine months postpartum, I felt a fire inside me that I couldn’t ignore. I knew women deserved more support, more options, and more respect in their birth experiences and instead of waiting for change, I decided to be part of creating it.

With no traditional nonprofit background, a baby on my hip, and a heart full of passion, I founded the Peach State Birth Coalition. I didn’t have all the answers, but my motto became: “Why not?” Every opportunity that came my way from advocacy events to founding a statewide coalition to becoming a doula. All started with saying why not? and then figuring it out step-by-step.

I learned that we don’t need to be experts to get started. We just need courage, passion, and a willingness to show up. Now, I support growing families as a birth and postpartum doula while also advocating for increased birth freedom in Georgia, including legal pathways for direct entry midwives and more birth education options for families.

This mission was born from lived experience. The joy and empowerment of natural birth, the struggles of postpartum, breastfeeding, and infertility, and the belief that every family deserves support, choice, and dignity through one of life’s most transformative journeys.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, but it has been a meaningful one. Before having my son, I walked through infertility, and that journey shaped my heart for women and families in ways I never expected. Then, after becoming a mother, I experienced miscarriage and in one of the most surreal and emotional moments of my life, I found out about my loss at my very first nonprofit event. In that moment, I felt heartbreak and purpose collide. I knew even more deeply why this work mattered: because motherhood, in all its forms, deserves support, compassion, and respect.

Building this organization has been completely grassroots and fully bootstrapped. I didn’t come into this with a background in nonprofit management. I learned everything from scratch. From teaching myself how to build a website, to figuring out legal filings, to navigating the process of becoming a 501(c)(3) every step has been a mix of perseverance, tears, late nights, and sheer belief in the mission. There were many moments where it felt like climbing uphill without a roadmap.

But even in the hardest moments, this work has been incredibly fulfilling, because I am not doing it alone. The midwives, the moms, the birth workers, and the community around me have been instrumental. Their encouragement, wisdom, and kindness have carried me through challenges and reminded me why this matters. We lift each other up and that community support has been as vital as my own determination.

So no, the road hasn’t been smooth. But the bumps have built resilience, the learning curves have made me stronger, and every mother we support reminds me that the struggles are worth it.

As you know, we’re big fans of Peach State Birth Coalition. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The Peach State Birth Coalition is a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to supporting birthing families in Georgia by advocating for improved access to direct entry midwives, birth options, and truly personalized maternity care. We believe every family deserves the freedom to choose where and how they give birth, and that direct entry midwives should have a clear, supported path to licensure in our state.

What makes us unique is our “heart before hustle” approach. We aren’t just talking about systems change. We’re building community, one mom, one provider, one conversation at a time. We bridge the gap between families, midwives, policymakers, and birth professionals, pulling everyone to the same table to create meaningful change.

We specialize in education, advocacy, and community-building whether that’s guiding families through knowing their birth rights, offering support and resources to families exploring birth options, or actively working toward legislative reform that protects direct entry midwives and the families who choose them.

I’m most proud of the community that has formed around this mission. This organization was born at my kitchen table when I was a brand-new mom simply wanting better options for Georgia families and today, we are building real momentum, real relationships, and real hope for the future of birth in our state. What sets us apart is that this work is personal for me and for so many who stand beside me. We’re not just advocating from the outside, we’ve lived these experiences, we’ve birthed in these systems, and we know firsthand why change matters.

For readers, I want them to know this: birth matters. Families deserve choices. Midwives deserve support. And when we empower women and protect physiological birth, we strengthen whole communities. We are here to uplift, educate, advocate, and ultimately expand what’s possible for birth in Georgia one family and one policy at a time.

How do you think about happiness?
So much of my happiness comes from the people in my life. First and foremost, my husband, he is my biggest cheerleader and the steady support that has made all of this possible. He has always encouraged me to follow my passion and to believe that I am capable of building something meaningful, even in the moments when I doubted myself. His confidence in me has been a foundation for everything I’ve stepped into.

And then there’s my son. He is my joy, my motivation, and my “why.” Becoming his mom reshaped my entire world in the most beautiful and transformative way. Every time I look at him, I’m reminded why this work matters so deeply. He inspires me to fight for better, not just for our family, but for every parent and every child in our community.

I also find so much happiness and fulfillment in the community I’ve built. In those early postpartum months, I felt lonely and lost in a new identity I was still learning to understand. I never imagined that isolation would later fuel the creation of a community that is warm, connected, and full of purpose. The friendships, support, and relationships I’ve formed through my nonprofit have been life-changing. Seeing mothers support each other, watching families feel empowered, and being surrounded by people who believe in this mission that brings me a deep joy I never expected when I first started.

I am happiest when I feel connected at home with my family, and within a community that believes in something bigger together. That combination of love, support, purpose, and shared passion makes all of this worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.peachstatebirthco.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peachstatebirthcoalition?igsh=N256ZHZqdHZhNjlj&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568782631601