Nicki Blackwell
615 DOULA CO. FOUNDER & BIRTH DOULA
My journey into birth work began during my own pregnancy in 2016. Before becoming a doula, I spent over a decade as an educator and school leader in Nashville, helping to build and lead schools rooted in equity, access, and excellence. That work shaped my deep belief in education, preparation, and the power of strong support systems—values that continue to guide my work with growing families.
The birth of my daughter, supported by a doula, was a transformational experience. It revealed my inner strength and deepened the connection between me, my baby, and my husband. That experience inspired me to pursue doula training with DONA International in 2017 and to dedicate my work to supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and the transition into parenthood.
As a doula, I bring an educator’s mindset to birth work—centering informed decision-making, building confidence and agency, and offering steady, grounded support. My training includes Spinning Babies® and certification as a Body Ready Method® Pro, both of which focus on proactive preparation of the body for birth and thoughtful, strategic support during labor. This work reflects my belief that while birth can be unpredictable, preparation, movement, and informed support can make a meaningful difference in how families experience it.
Over time, this work has grown beyond my individual practice into something I am deeply proud of—a values-driven team committed to excellent, thoughtful care for families. I now lead and mentor a small group of exceptional doulas, and it is truly an honor to work alongside people who bring so much wisdom, care, and skill to their work. As the years have taught me where families most need support, I have been grateful to expand our care into the postpartum period, addressing the very real gaps many families experience in the early weeks after birth. I am also proud that our scholarship fund—something I have prioritized from the beginning—continues to create a ripple effect of support, extending our work beyond individual clients and reflecting the same commitment to access, equity, and community that first guided me as an educator.
A person who embodies service is Nicki Blackwell, our doula. Nicki went above and beyond to ensure that I had the birthing experience I wanted. She used data to help me make decisions and was always checking in to make sure I was doing okay emotionally, physically and mentally. She was a true partner to my husband and me--she never overshadowed him, but rather used her kind demeanor to support both of us in the birthing journey together. When I reached a point in labor when I didn't think I could do it anymore, Nicki put all my fears to rest and encouraged me in a way only she could. During our meetings, she provided activities that strengthened the bond and commitment to our birthing process between my husband and me. She's a natural servant leader and knows the right way to communicate so that her clients feel empowered to make their own decisions. Throughout my labor, I felt a sense of gratitude that we had her with us and relief knowing that I had someone beside us that we could trust and count on. I would highly recommend her to any one and everyone. - Zaia
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