Donna Walker Gowans
Birth & Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator and Belly Binding Specialist
Serving Dallas, Denton, Collin, Tarrant, and Parker County
For over the last three decades, I have had the opportunity to work in the healthcare industry. Though I have worked in Family Practices and Internal Medicine, my passion has always been women's health. I have spent the last eighteen years working in Obstetrics/Gynecology. It has allowed me to care for amazing women ranging from teens and expecting mothers to those well beyond their menopausal years. I can genuinely say I have enjoyed every minute of it. Through these years, I have spent my time in an office setting since I knew early on in my nursing career that I wanted the opportunity to care for patients and truly get to know them.
As the healthcare industry began to change, I struggled with the limited interaction and time spent with my patients. One of my greatest strengths lies in caring for others by listening, as well as having the ability to communicate with them to navigate options, make informed decisions, and help them to feel supported. With these changes, I began to explore where I could incorporate my strengths into a way of really pouring into women. During my daughter's surrogacy, I was introduced to the role of a Birth and Postpartum Doula. It was almost instantly that I realized stepping into the birth field is where I was being called to have the ability to continue my passion. And although I have worked with pregnant and postpartum women for almost twenty years, I am challenged by the opportunity to be a part of their labor and delivery as a source of support rather than a clinical role. There are as many different birth preferences as there are women who give birth, and they should all be honored. A little education and support for the patient can go a long way.
On a personal note, I enjoy reading, memorizing quotes, a few tv programs, patios in springtime, outdoor activities, women's ministry, prison ministry, but most of all, spending time with friends and family. I have two adult children, Jordan and Lilyan, and a three-year-old granddaughter Adeline who is the apple of my eye. Serving is my passion, and I look forward to not only having the opportunity to serve you but the many years of providing support to women and families through my role as a doula.
"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." — Maya Angelou
Trainings
- BEST Doula
Get to Know Donna
What was your biggest takeaway from doula training?
The biggest thing that I took away from training is that there is an overwhelming need for people to have support in birth. Very often they are not aware of their rights as a birthing person, or the fact that they have options. My other take away is that there is a disparity in birth outcomes between people of color and others and I hope to be able to advocate in such a way that everyone has access to quality care and information so that they can make the best and safest decisions for themselves.
Why should a client hire you?
I think a client should hire me because I approach my role as a doula with love, compassion, and open mindedness. I have a lot of knowledge in the area of birth, not just because of my training as a doula but also my many years of working in women's health. Although being a doula is a non medical role, I learned so much about pregnancy and postpartum care from working directly with patients and I had the honor of working with some of the best Drs in the field. I also treat each client the way I want to be treated or would want my daughter treated. Pregnancy is a monumental time in a woman's life and I will always strive to help make it a beautiful, memorable experience.
What is the number one thing you use when supporting a family?
I think the number one thing I use is reassurance. Women need to know they're doing a great job, and that regardless of the path their delivery takes, it can still be a beautiful birth. I also try to be very encouraging because women need to tap into the knowledge that they are so incredibly strong.
Number one birth and postpartum book recommendation?
I actually love The Mama Natural Guide To Pregnancy & Childbirth.
As a Doula and medical professional, I find it to be very complete, easy to understand and informative, and it covers many of the topics that I'm asked as a doula as well as many of those I was asked as a nurse.
Reviews for Donna
From families Donna has supported, via Google and Facebook.
"We are so grateful to have had Donna as our birth doula. From the moment we met her, she brought a calm, reassuring presence that helped us feel more prepared and confident going into labor. Throughout the birth, she was incredibly supportive, knowledgeable, and respectful of our wishes. She knew exactly when to offer guidance, encouragement, and practical comfort measures while also allowing us the space to make our own decisions. Her experience was evident, and having her by our side made a challenging experience feel much more manageable.…"
"Donna was an amazing (and necessary) addition to our birth story. Not only is she great at what she does, she is compassionate, listens to your needs, and fights for you during labor. If you are on the fence about hiring a doula - do it!! The support and clarity she brought to our birth experience was immeasurable."
"I don’t know what I would’ve done without Mrs. Donna as my doula! She made my birthing experience perfect! We had some hiccups at the hospital with the doctor on call and my husband and I couldn’t stop saying “thank goodness we had Donna there”! I will recommend her to everyone I know having a baby. She was like family from start to finish. She prepared me so well for birth, laboring at home and then by my side at the hospital. I fully trust all of her recommendations from her for myself and my baby girl. 10/10 recommend!"
"We absolutely adored Donna as our doula! Every single step of the way she was so supportive. She had an abundance of resources up her sleeve that we appreciated so much throughout our first pregnancy. Her personality is warm, inviting, and full of joy. Whether you need to laugh or cry, Donna is going to be right there with you. She was the calm and steadiness that we needed, and she was so encouraging. When we had to navigate unexpected decisions, she was an amazing resource, and comforter, and helped us navigate stressful situations with confi…"
"Donna was my doula, she is extremely knowledgeable in her 16 years working as a labor nurse and now Doula. She thoroughly walks me through the birthing process and checks in after every midwife/prenatal visit. She knows every medical term there is on pregnancy and delivery. She was fully supportive on my birthing plan and what I wanted to decline for baby. My contractions happened so fast I had no time to bring food with me. Donna brought me Canes as my postpartum take home meal close to midnight!"
"I cannot say enough good things about Donna. She was an absolute dream to work with throughout pregnancy and delivery of our miracle baby. I'm an older first time mom and because my pregnancy was long-awaited, we started the doula search early. We had a list of doulas we wanted to consult with before choosing but when we met with Donna that was it. She was always responsive, warm, informative and not intrusive. She also never advised me to go against what my doctor was saying, she gave information and explanations, empowered me to be able to as…"