Meet Justina Meadows | Birth and Postpartum Doula

We had the good fortune of connecting with Justina Meadows and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Justina, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
It feels a bit crazy/unreal that I am typing the answer to this question because if you would have asked me 5 years ago if I would ever own my own business I would have said, “pssh yea right!” For whatever reason I continued to put this doubt in my mind about owning my own business, it just seemed so scary, and I didn’t think I out of all people could do it.

It wasn’t until I left my job as a social worker without a job that I was like, “Ya know what Justina, what is holding you back from doing what you truly want to do?” I have always had an interest in birth and wellness, after watching the documentary of “The business of being born”, I really became intrigued about birth and how Western medicine has in simple terms tainted the process of birth. I did a lot of research about whether or not I wanted to join an agency as a doula or start my own business. I decided to start my own business because I wanted to challenge myself and do something that I truly, truly loved. Random fact about the name of my business, I originally was going to open my own Hookah bar and name it Just Smoke LLC, but then when I started researching the laws and requirements behind this idea, I quickly discovered that it was not a very wise idea. I loved using part of my name Justina in my business name. With Just Birth LLC, my goal is for you to “just birth” in whichever way that looks for you and your family.

One more cool random fact which I feel inspired me when I was in 4th grade and did a project on her is, “Justina L. Ford (1871–1952) was a medical pioneer and Denver’s first licensed African American female doctor. Ford is best known for her obstetrics and pediatric work in Denver’s Five Points community. Patients knew Dr. Ford as “the Baby Doctor,” and it is estimated that she delivered over 7,000 babies during her fifty years as a doctor in Denver.”

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Just Birth LLC, is a birth and postpartum doula service, that was started and ran by me, Justina Meadows. I offer birth and postpartum doula services for expectant birthing people in the Denver metro area. I provide childbirth education, labor support, information on how to best prepare for labor and how your partner can best support you. I think I am most excited about learning, birth work is forever evolving, and I learn something new, every birth, which is extremely exciting to me, along with every future birth and every future client that I will be able to serve and assist through such a sacred time. I am also very excited for how my business will evolve, and what different services I will eventually offer.

Getting to where I am today business wise, took a lot of faith and courage. I began this journey when I just had left a career, I spent quite a bit of time in and was also unemployed. It was scary, to take the risk, but I really believed in myself and felt really good about my plan. I think truly developing a plan when you want to start a business, helps tremendously. The most challenging thing when developing a business in my opinion is, money, simple as that, not knowing how much money you should start with. Whether or not you should take out a loan or not. This was especially a challenge for me when I had made the decision to leave my main source of income. I had to trust myself that everything would work out okay.

I would like the world to know about myself, my brand and my story is that I truly started out from nothing and a low confidence about being able to start my own business, but there is truly so much passion and love behind it. Also, that there are so many resources out there that helped me teach myself about business. I would also like the world to know that with my business and with me as a doula, I want to support you in your birth however that looks for YOU and your family, hence the name “Just Birth”. There seems to be a misconception about doulas in that we only help woman who want to have home births and that is not the case whatsoever.

I think what sets me apart from others is me, I am the only Justina Meadows and I am different from every other doula because no one else is me 😊, I think most doulas would say the same for themselves, which makes this work so individualized. I would have to say that is the exciting part about being a doula is that you work for yourself (usually), and you will never provide support exactly like the next doula. You may have similar ideas but because as a doula you are providing support by yourself, it will always be different. Every birth is different and the way you need to and do show up will vary from every birth.

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?
Oooh! I love this question especially because I am a native, but being a native, there are several things that I still don’t know about. My itinerary would be for example: Brunch at Snooze or any of the awesome brunch places, then I would take them to the Castle Rock Outlets and experience a bit of shopping. I would then maybe take them to an evening in the botanical gardens, which is such a beautiful experience, especially during spring and Christmas.
To eat: Monsoon Indian Cuisine, Cholon, Qs Cuisine, Three Little Griddles, Four Friends, Colorado Hacienda, Vibe Foods, and Tatas for a homemade/mom and pop shop burrito, Monk and Monsoon, Legends, these are just to name a few because there are so many food places in Denver.

Drink/Bar places: Agave Shore, View House, Beer Garden, Stanley Market Place (which has so many different restaurants and things to do/see), Pindustry, the list can go on 😊

To hang out/visit: Soiled Dove underground, Red rocks, Bandimere Speedway, Garden of the Gods, Castle Rock incline, Manitou Springs Incline, Steamboat Springs, Blackhawk Casinos, Hanging Lake, Green Spaces. This list is hard to compile because Colorado has so many great places to see and do.

Things to do: Vibes in Park, Farmer’s Market, Winter Park Jazz Festival, The Butterfly Pavilion and the Aquarium (some of these things are dependent on the month that you visit Colorado), manicure/pedicure at Polished Nail Salon.

This is just a small list, but would be a good start for an itinerary, I am a native and have lived here for 30 years and have not even came close to seeing, visiting, eating at all of the places that Colorado has to offer.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would first like to shoutout Ann Pollack, who was my trainer for my Doula Certification and she has also become my mentor and I am forever grateful for her knowledge and wisdom through this process. She helped me realize that this work is my calling and I am where I am supposed to be. Thank you Ann!

I would also like to shoutout all my friends and family, especially my parents, they have always supported me in any dream that I have has. Everyone who supported me taking the leap of faith into starting my own business and leaving a career that I had been in for so long. I appreciate you all.

Last but not least, all of my past, present and future clients who have trusted me with guiding them through their sacred birth experience. I am forever grateful for you.

Website: www.justbirthwjustina.com

Instagram: just_birth_w_justina

Other: Email: justbirthwjustina@gmail.com

Image Credits
The photo of me with a balloon in my stomach at a training credit goes to Ann Pollack, DONA international Doula trainer.