Girl, you got this

A doula’s dose of positivity, for when clouded thoughts need a ray of sunshine to cut through.

- Sneha Mankani

You may know Domino Kirke-Badgley as the better half of Penn Badgley, the actor who went from mysterious blogger on Gossip Girl to scary sociopath in You, but her world also includes quite a few thankful parents who credit her with their calm state of mind during childbirth, including actor-comedian Amy Schumer.

Based in New York, Kirke-Badgley is a doula or certified birth worker, an educator, and the co-founder of Carriage House Birth NY/LA. She helps parents-to-be feel safe, learn to trust their instincts, and provides information and support. “Surround yourself with people that believe in you, really listen to you and lift your spirits,” she says. “People that you can call in the middle of the night. People that will support you postpartum—and know when they’ve overstayed their welcome.” This affirms what I’ve come to learn after my recent visits to a childhood friend, a mum-to-be.

“I have two heartbeats,” my friend said to me when I saw her last. She now hates chocolate and cringes at the smell of milk, but a glass of mango juice makes her smile. Her supplement intake has doubled, as have her walks to the bathroom when she feels nauseous. But it can’t conquer the joy she feels watching her seedling somersault during a sonography. “I’m glad we met today,” she told me before I left.