Evelyn Matsuura, Doula

I first started getting interested in being a doula when I was looking into getting some extra support during my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum time period. I LOVED everything I was reading and everyone I was talking to. I had wanted to go to school to be a therapist or maybe a nurse (I can’t do needles however). So finding out I could do a job that is kind of a culmination of them both without me having to be the person using the needles and where I can stay active and build relationships and friendships with the people I help. Plus, BABIES! Being an oldest child I have always loved everything about babies, the way they smell, their little noises, the beautiful relationship they build with their mamas and other family members. So it’s honestly amazing to be able to work with (and smell hahaha) babies and their amazing families.
My love for kids and their families lead me to work a lot of jobs including being a counselor at a summer camp and working at a gymnastics gym! At both of these jobs I was able to develop a skill for connecting with kids of all different ages and their parents. I developed so many special connections that really enriched my life and made me so much more confident that I wanted to choose a profession that kept me social and serving. The specific skills that transferred from these jobs were, problem solving, interpersonal skills, leadership, deference, cooking, health and sanitation, I’m pretty dang good at putting a bandaid on a scraped knee when needed, and I was able to learn how to apply an artistic flair when appropriate. This is definitely not all I learned but these are the ones that I feel will help make me an especially good doula. My main focus will be baby and mama but the family as a whole will have my support and care.
I live with my little boy, my husband, and my husband’s grandma who makes a mean angel food cake! We have got a cat named Taylor that roams around the acres we live on. We live on the most beautiful property in Shelly, ID. with fields around us, a perfect view of the mountains, and just a short walk from the snake river. I grew up all over the United States and loved all 15 states we lived in, Idaho will always have my heart however.
When I’m not working I love making homemade tallow balm, cooking, being outdoors, art in various forms, and most of all reading! I could talk your ear off about books if you let me. I’m an avid listener of music in all genres and even have some video games that I really enjoy playing. I watch a few TV shows but I couldn’t pick any as my favorite but I do enjoy watching Studio Ghibli films with my family. They were a huge part of my childhood and I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of any of them.