Hannah Atterberry and Rachael Hutchins

It is rare you cross paths with someone and know instantly that you have a connection and that the universe is working in beautiful ways. This happened for us! Our mutual friend and fellow birth professional, Dr. Shannon O’Brien introduced us. We met for coffee and a bagel at one of the local bagel shops and the rest is history. We were both working on our own businesses doing birth and postpartum doula work. Hannah was pregnant at the time and shared her beautiful family’s story and by the end of our conversation, Rachael offered to be Hannah’s doula for her upcoming birth. After meeting Hannah’s amazing husband and getting to know each other a little more, Hannah decided to hire Rachael as her doula! This was definitely the beginning of a very special relationship. Over the course of the next 2 years, Hannah and Rachael worked independently but maintained connection. During the 2020 pandemic, we met at a local park and sat outside and discussed what we were experiencing inside the birth community. The conversation about partnership was mentioned and discussed and the many benefits of a good doula partnership. The seed was planted! From there, we slowly watered it, fed it, and nourished our relationship and our desires to grow our birth business in partnership grew stronger. After working together with a couple of clients, we had a meeting where we shared our vision for the future. And with shaky hands, excited voices, and ready hearts we decided to create a co-doula partnership and thus North Atlanta Birth Services was born. We both have similar “big picture” views on making birth work sustainable, serving our community, and helping other doulas do the same. Providing compassionate, holistic, individualized, and evidence based care to birthing people should be the norm but unfortunately it is not. We are ready and willing to change that.