Meet Sagan Webb- Butler | Certified Postpartum Doula and Lactation Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sagan Webb- Butler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sagan, how does your business help the community?
Hmm.. well, in all honesty, I don’t think I get to decide that. That will be for my children to decide as they grow. I know how I hope to have impacted them. I hope they are filled with so much love, that they can’t help but shine it back into the world. I hope I’ve instilled in them the importance of the family you create and the community you’re a part of. I hope I have shown them that they are worth never giving up for and therefore never give up on themselves. I hope I show them the importance of self-care and how to set and hold boundaries. I hope to show them it’s ok to ask for and receive help. I hope they know that no matter what they do, they will be loved unconditionally. I don’t know what will stick with them, but boy oh boy, I am trying to impact them in all the ways

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a non-medical support person who supports families in the days, weeks, and months following the arrival of a baby. I do this by providing practical support (like light house cleaning, meal preparation, help with older children, etc.), informational support about everything from normal postpartum recovery to lactation to baby care, emotional support, and by providing referrals to other services outside my scope of practice. My job is one that historically was fulfilled by family, community, or elders, in order to ensure new parents were well-rested, informed, nourished, and nurtured. Unfortunately, our society isn’t set up to support this model anymore. Who can afford to stop working for weeks to support their friend who just had a baby? On top of that, we have all been brainwashed to believe we should be able to do it alone, and that if we can’t, there’s something wrong with us. We were never meant to parent alone. A big part of my job is just fighting to undo the damage that mentality has caused us all. What sets me apart is how many different personal experiences I’ve had as a parent that I can bring into my work. I have four very different children. I have two children that are neurodivergent and two children who are neurotypical, none is like the other. I have a blended family. I have given birth in about every possible setting (hospital, birth center, at home—twice). I spent years and years researching all things relevant to my profession before I ever stepped foot in someone’s home for the first time. I got here by hard work, stubbornness, a lot of support, and even more luck. Was it easy? In some ways, yes. The work itself comes naturally to me. But navigating being a mother and a whole human myself has been challenging at times. That’s why having support has been so crucial. My children would not be cared for to the capacity they deserve without so many people who love them to look after them when I’m away. It would all fall apart without the extra sets of hands to tend to things at home. That’s what it’s all about. Supporting each other. Sharing common goals. Community. Teamwork. I’m constantly learning because new information about infants and related topics are coming out all the time. But the harder thing to learn is how to quickly adjust to the flow of a new household and assess the needs of a completely different group of people from one day to the next. People have a lot in common, but when you start to work one on one with people in their homes, there are so many nuances to learn. Being an efficient observer is a skill that requires ongoing development. I want the world to know that 1) postpartum doulas exist and 2) everyone needs and deserves one, and 3) I highly recommend having me as your postpartum doula should the opportunity arise because I am damn good at my job.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
She and I are homebodies for the most part, but if one of our favorite bands in playing, like local legends Reverend Horton Heat, we are definitely going to that. We both love the Greek Cafe and Bakery in Bishop Arts. And she’s an art junky so we would probably check out one of the rotating immersive art experiences at LightHouse Art Space. And I’m a foodie, so for my next meal I’d take her to El Paraiso on Jefferson Blvd. And we would have to find the time to get burgers from Harvey B’s too! I would pretty much spend most of the trip taking her to new-to-her restaurants! And if we have time to wait in the (well worth the wait line) for Aunt Irene’s…. I will be one happy camper!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The DFW birth and postpartum community deserve so much credit for who I am today. Some of those people include; Kristine Tawater, Kiesha Baker, Dr. Alexandra Meleski, Yvette “Eve” Akins, but this is by no means the full list. And of course, my family for allowing me the space to grow and helping at home so I can keep moving forward.

Website: www.sagansbirthnerdservices.com

Instagram: @sagansbirthnerdservices

Facebook: @sagansbirthnerdservices

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sagan-s-birth-nerd-services-postpartum-doula-dallas

Other: https://ourwellnesscommunitydallas.com/our-partners

Image Credits
Logo by @mattiep -Instagram Pictures by @evebirthservices and myself