Yahweh’s Money®️: The Crossroads of Religion & Money

Womb & Wealth: The Financial Wisdom of Investing in Doula Care with Leah Hairston

• Crusaders for Change, LLC • Season 4 • Episode 91

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In this episode, we’re talking real faith, real stewardship, and real maternal health equity. I sat down with Leah Hairston—Baltimore doula, CEO & Founder of Sweet Bee Services, social worker, maternal health advocate, and daughter of a pastor—to explore what it truly means to care for the temple God has given us by investing in support before, during, and after childbirth.

From navigating racial disparities in the medical system to understanding the emotional, mental, and financial toll of an unprepared birth experience, Leah breaks down why doula care isn’t a luxury. It’s wise stewardship, preventive financial strategy, and spiritual protection for mothers, partners, and families. Through education, emotional attunement, birth preparation, postpartum support, and advocacy, her team at Sweet Bee Services helps families move from fear to confidence—and maintains a 10-year 100% survival rate for high-risk clients.

You’ll Discover:

1. The Financial Return of Doula Care - Preventing unnecessary interventions, avoiding overspending on baby items, reducing readmission, and catching life-threatening conditions early—doulas save families thousands in medical bills, time away from work, and mental health costs.

2. Why Birth Support Is a Spiritual Assignment - Leah explains how childbirth is one of the most vulnerable spiritual seasons of a woman’s life. Having someone present who can pray with you, hold space for you, ask the right questions, and help you discern medical decisions is an act of glorifying God through stewardship of the body He entrusted you with.

3. Preparing the Whole Family—Not Just the Baby - From financial readiness to relationship changes, Leah’s team asks the questions most families never think about:

  • How are your family finances?
  • What are your power of attorney plans?
  • Are you prepared emotionally and spiritually for postpartum? 

Featured Scripture

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 —
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you… You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.”

Action Step of the Week

This week, take inventory of your maternal, financial, and spiritual preparedness—whether you’re expecting, planning, or supporting someone who is.

Learn more about Sweet Bee Services here:

Send us a text

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Our podcast is proudly sponsored by Crusaders for Change, LLC (C4C) and hosted by our CEO and Founder, Mrs. Shay Cook. At C4C, we provide customized corporate financial wellness programs for businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Our services are tailored to create happier, healthier, and more productive work environments. We also empower individuals and couples to overcome debt, improve their credit, boost savings, and more. Ready to learn more about how C4C can impact your life? Contact us today at https://www.crusaders4change.org/!

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Music by: Lamonte Silver - Owner of essentialmusicclub.com | Previously by ROA - roa-music.com

Leah Hairston [00:00:02]:

I'm not just here to like, give you little bits of information. I am here to help you all become parents. And in that process, there is a lot that we have to help educate you on, make sure that you feel comfortable and informed. We are attuned to your emotions. So we ask you, how do you feel about becoming a parent? Are your family finances, are you set up to be parents? How are you feeling about your relationship? A lot of times relationships suffer when, when people have children because the amount of attention that you can provide to your partner that you had been, is now shifted. And so there can be guilt on one side, there could be frustration. And as a doula team, we ask you these questions to make sure that you are completely prepared for your birth experience and for postpartum.

Shay Cook [00:00:43]:

Ever felt those awkward vibes? When religion and money come up. You're not alone. Welcome to Yahweh's Money, the podcast where we tackle the crossroads of faith and finance. I'm Shay Cook, an accredited financial counselor and the CEO and founder of Crusaders for Change, LLC. Join us on our journey as we discuss topics like tithing, saving and conquering debt through religious perspectives. Let's get started.

Shay Cook [00:01:11]:

Hey everyone. Welcome back to another episode of Yahweh's Money. Today, we're going to be talking about womb and wealth, the financial wisdom of investing in doula care with Leah Hairston. I am so excited to be here. I say that about every guest, but this woman right here, we about to get into an introduction about her, but she is amazing and I'm just glad that this sister is in my life. So bringing a new life into the world is one of the most sacred experiences yet. The financial and health disparities surrounding birth are stark. Today, we're talking about a crucial advocate for mothers, the doula, which I'm just going to pause there. I wish I had a doula, but we're about to talk about it and hopefully everybody listening will get one that needs one.

Shay Cook [00:01:54]:

Many view doula care as a luxury, but what if it's actually an act of wise financial stewardship and faith filled health planning? We'll explore how investing in maternal health support can significantly reduce costly medical interventions, mitigate income loss from complications, and ensure a flourishing start for a new family. It's about seeing our bodies and family as God's temple worthy of proactive faith driven investment. The main scripture for today is 1 Corinthians 6, 19-20. “For do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have From God, you are not your own, for you were bought for a price. So glorify God in your body”. Amen. This verse reminds us that our bodies are a sacred trust. The temple.

Shay Cook [00:02:48]:

Therefore, prioritizing excellent maternal health, which includes hiring support like a doula, is an act of glorifying God through prudent stewardship of the life and body God He, God, has given us. It's a spiritual investment with tangible financial returns. So the guest of the honor, the hour is Leah. She is not only a doula, the CEO and founder of Sweet Bee Services, a woman's health advocate, a friend, a sister of the Well, I'm just so proud of her. Welcome, Leah.

Leah Hairston [00:03:25]:

Thank you, Shay. Thank you for having me.

Shay Cook [00:03:27]:

Yes. Tell us more about you.

Leah Hairston [00:03:30]:

Yes. Well, I am honored to be here.

Shay Cook [00:03:33]:

Thank you.

Leah Hairston [00:03:33]:

I am also honored to be the CEO and founder of Sweet Bee Services. We are Baltimore's concierge doula agency, and we're on a mission to end maternal mortality. So everything that we do is really focused around educating, equipping, and empowering families so that they move from a place of fear to a place of confidence as they navigate their birth, pregnancy, and postpartum experiences.

Shay Cook [00:03:56]:

Wow. That's amazing. I have never met anybody like you.

Leah Hairston [00:04:00]:

Thank you.

Shay Cook [00:04:01]:

No, seriously, I don't think I ever met a black doula before. Just, your spirit is amazing. I really. I mean, my daughter's almost 25 next month, which is crazy, but I wish I had had somebody like you in my life because my experience was not good. And we'll talk about that a little bit, I'm sure. But how did you get to being who you are today?

Leah Hairston [00:04:23]:

Well, the long and the short of it is that, you know, when black people say that, it's going to be a long, long story.

Leah Hairston [00:04:30]:

I really will keep it brief. The brief version is that I'm the oldest of four children, and we were born within five years of each other. So my most core first memories really have to do with my parents getting pregnant, going to the hospital, coming back with, like, my mom now has an empty belly, but there's a little baby. And they did that three times. And I'm like, okay, you keep doing this. Like, I guess this is what families do. But in order to help me acclimate, my family got me a Cabbage Patch doll. Her name was Baby Sonya.

Leah Hairston [00:04:59]:

And Baby Sonya is the way that I learned how to change diapers and how to pretend to breastfeed and learned how to burp a baby, because my mom would model and have me sit right next to her as a way for me to be included in the process of becoming a big sister. Fast forward. And I was in middle school, and there was this TV show called birth story. It came on TLC, and it was right after a wedding story.

Shay Cook [00:05:22]:

So, like, I remember that. It's like, show the real life, man. Like, everything.

Leah Hairston [00:05:27]:

This was not, like, a cute little Love Is Blind.

Shay Cook [00:05:30]:

I remember that. Yeah.

Leah Hairston [00:05:31]:

Plan a wedding and the beautiful love story. And then it would go into all these people getting ready to have babies. And so I found it fascinating. And I would sit there for hours dissecting the differences between black and white people's birth experiences. And I didn't have that language at the time. I was, like, 11. But I did recognize white people seem to have a lot of privilege and freedom and joy in this experience.

Leah Hairston [00:05:55]:

And Black people, comparatively, were, like, sometimes physically strapped to a bed. We're always given the option of a C section. We're never in a birthing center, from what I saw. And I saw that there were options to have an empowering, uplifting, like, almost orgasmic birth experience, But I never saw black people have that. And so I assumed, like, well, I guess that's just not something that we're allowed to have. And I also never saw a black doula, but I saw doulas, white doulas with white families. And so I. Well, that's just not a black thing.

Leah Hairston [00:06:24]:

Yeah. Fast forward again. I became a Bison. I went to the illustrious Howard University.

Shay Cook [00:06:31]:

Yes.

Leah Hairston [00:06:31]:

And while I was there, all my Howard fam will understand.

Shay Cook [00:06:35]:

Yes, they will.

Leah Hairston [00:06:37]:

Okay. While I was there, I decided to be pre-med because I had shadowed my gynecologist as a senior in high school and learned all about maternal fetal medicine specialists and gynecologists who focus in on specific needs. I learned about geneticists and the whole process of how do you support someone when there are all these risk factors? And I thought, wow, this is fantastic. I would love to do this as a career. But when I got to Howard, I was reading ahead of my psychology and Spanish books, and I really wasn't as invested in my biology work. And so I decided, you know what? I want to focus in on the things that I love. And right now, I'm loving understanding how human beings function and how we, as societies, either protect each other or harm each other. And how can I help to create a society in a world where we're always perpetuating joy and unity and healing and not the opposite things.

Shay Cook [00:07:33]:

Love that.

Leah Hairston [00:07:35]:

I ended up working for a nonprofit when I graduated college that focused on human rights and specifically inter partner violence and protecting people from that. And there I met a lot of social workers. And the social workers really piqued my interest. Cuz at the time I was like, well, I guess med school isn't for me. I had taken the LSAT. I thought I wanted to be a lawyer. I said, I don't want to do, I don't want to do this. This is not for me.

Leah Hairston [00:07:58]:

So in the middle of taking the LSAT, I remember I was sitting at Morgan State University taking the LSAT and I said, this is not my career.

Shay Cook [00:08:04]:

Wow.

Leah Hairston [00:08:05]:

Finished it and went on and applied to social work school. And I only applied to one social work school and only one program. Cause I said, if I don't get into this, it's not for me. Come to find out, I went to Columbia University in New York.

Shay Cook [00:08:18]:

Wow.

Leah Hairston [00:08:19]:

Also the, like HBCU to Ivy pipeline. Yes. But I decided to go there because they had a focus on entrepreneurship and nonprofit management. It was the only business social work combo I'd found across the country. It's also the first school of social work in the country. So I went there and my first couple of weeks I met a black doula and I said, wait, this is a unicorn? Like how? Tell me more. I was so excited. So she told me about how to become a doula and what she loves about it.

Leah Hairston [00:08:48]:

And at the time, it was not a full time career. It was something that people did as a hobby, investing back into community. And I said, okay, no problem, I'll do that. So I got trained in April of 2016 and every question I'd had about like, how do you navigate the hospital system and why should I ask these questions and who else can I call and like, do I have to be on my back to give birth? All of that was clarified for me. And so immediately they were like, we have a pro bono opportunity if you'd like to volunteer. I was like, yes, yes. Who's pregnant? Who needs help? I went to eight births in eight weeks. And I promise you, I was like, God, I was not playing.

Leah Hairston [00:09:22]:

It's probably my, like neurodivergent hyper. I was like, yes, let's do it.

Leah Hairston [00:09:26]:

But I also finally found an opportunity to do the thing that I'd known I wanted to do my whole life. I just didn't know how. So I went to eight births in eight weeks. And I quickly realized, yes, I had been trained as a doula, but there was so much more I needed to learn to really serve families well. And so I've spent the last 10 years perfecting my craft, getting additional certifications, and then building community around me so that we can support our community, our like, broader community well. And support each other well.

Shay Cook [00:09:54]:

Oh my God, I love that. First of all, you. Well, kudos. Super proud. You were like so obedient to your spirit. You didn't hesitate.

Leah Hairston [00:10:06]:

I have to be.

Shay Cook [00:10:06]:

So many people, including me, you know, God says one thing, you like, whatever. I know this, but she was like, nah, da da da da da. Like you were following the steps. It's like you knew that and you didn't know what it was and what it was called. But then when you saw it and you was like, okay. You just kept adding, you were so obedient. So that is amazing.

Leah Hairston [00:10:26]:

To that point though, Shay, I have to give credit to my parents because I am a pastor's daughter. My parents. Yes. I'm a PK. And I come from an entrepreneurial family and we've always had very non-traditional, like lifestyles. And so even growing up, I remember I was born in Silver Spring, Maryland. When I was three weeks old, my parents moved across the country to LA so that my dad could be a full time missionary for collegiate athletes.

Leah Hairston [00:10:51]:

And that meant my family moved away from their family in order to call to ministry. So I've grown up and like we've done that multiple times when I was a child. So I grew up seeing very faithful and obedient parents. And even when they didn't have the finances to match their faith, they always said, God will provide. And so they said, as long as you're obedient to the call, he will always provide. And if he's not providing in the ways that are true to his word, you need to check if you're outside of the will that he has for your life and or have you not completed the mission to the way that he has instructed you to do so. So I really have to credit Rod and Sherry Hairston for.

Shay Cook [00:11:28]:

All right, Rod and Sherry, shout out to you. Thank you for this beautiful light here. And I'm sure your siblings are probably just as if not. I don't know if you. Are you the oldest? They are. That's amazing.

Leah Hairston [00:11:38]:

I boast about everyone in our family because they're just so brilliant. I have brilliant artists, very kind family members, even my sister in love. Alrighty.

Shay Cook [00:11:47]:

Well, thank you for that story and that background and just being obedient. Let's get into our rapid fire questions.

Leah Hairston [00:11:54]:

Okay.

Rapid Fire Questions Jingle [00:11:56]:

Take your seat. Let the wisdom inherit. Let’s hit the rapid fire questions. Say, what's on your spirit.  Take your seat. Let the wisdom inherit hit the rapid fire questions say, what's on your spirit?

Shay Cook [00:12:20]:

What is the single biggest financial misconception people have about hiring a doula?

Leah Hairston [00:12:26]:

People assume that a doula is a luxury and when they say that, they also say that they are not worthy of luxurious experiences.

Shay Cook [00:12:34]:

Oh, wow. Wow. Yeah. And we know that's not true.

Leah Hairston [00:12:37]:

And that's not true at all. We deserve luxurious experiences. 

Shay Cook [00:12:40]:

Exactly. Exactly. Beyond the hospital bill, what is the most unexpected financial cost that a good doula support can help a family avoid?

Leah Hairston [00:12:50]:

More than anything, having a doula also makes sure that you're not overspending when it comes to additional resources or that you're spending wisely. There is an investment. When you have a child, you're going to have to pay for certain things, but knowing which things to pay for so that you don't have to duplicate and, or that you are clear on how to maximize your support system, you're really paying for wisdom.

Leah Hairston [00:13:16]:

You have a, a well trained and or seasoned doula, then that's an investment that will have lifelong dividends for you.

Shay Cook [00:13:24]:

That's good because I mean I had my mama, which was good. I'm not going to discount that. She was, somebody would have. I'm telling you, I'm so jealous. I wish I had a doula.

Leah Hairston [00:13:32]:

The reason you have a doula is so that your mom could be your mom..

Shay Cook [00:13:36]:

Exactly. Yeah. Because she was really there helping me with the health care and all of the things and say, get this book, that book. And there were some educational programs. I was, I had a baby through the military system. My husband was in the military at the time, so they had some programs set up. But I'm sure there was a lot that I missed and I just had to learn as I go and I love that. Let your mom be your mom and not your doula. Yes.

Shay Cook [00:13:56]:

And so lastly, from a financial faith perspective, is investing in a doula an expense or an investment?

Leah Hairston [00:14:04]:

It's an investment.

Shay Cook [00:14:05]:

Yes, that's pretty obvious, especially with your light and your obedience. Obviously it is an investment.

Leah Hairston [00:14:11]:

Yeah, it's an investment because people who are prepared pay for their investments. Like you. If you're going to buy a house, then you find a good realtor. If you want to have great, you know, financial practices, you're going to get a financial advisor, you're going to talk, you're going to build that team. If you want great health outcomes, you need to build your healthcare team. And a part of that, especially in the US has to do with combating maternal mortality rates. You need a team. You need a team of advocates and people who are well versed in that process because you can be like, you know, the quarterback of your birth experience.

Leah Hairston [00:14:47]:

I was raised, you know, football. So you can be the quarterback of your birth experience, but you need a good coach. And that's really what your doula is here for, is that we are coaches. We can see things that maybe you can't see. We can provide resources that you didn't know about before. We can help to bring cohesion to the team so that everyone's working on your, like, to your benefit and on your behalf in a way that you should not have to while you are in the midst of your birth or postpartum experience. It's a vulnerable time, and you have freedom to be in that vulnerable time.

Shay Cook [00:15:17]:

I love that. And so the alignment there, what we do as financial counselors that Crusaders for Change. I got a shout out there because we're there when people are going through rough times, whether there's a lot of debt or no savings and just crazy. Lost a job, want to buy a house. So good and bad side, either way, you're stressed out. We're here to come in and like you said, be that coach, be that counselor. Help them change that behavior, deal with any mind money trauma and so forth. So, yeah, I love that.

Leah Hairston [00:15:41]:

Yeah.

Shay Cook [00:15:42]:

All right, let's get into the main discussion. Let's talk about this investment. Cause I think some people like, what up? I don't need that. But, yes, you do. If you pregnant right now or planning on getting pregnant, you really need to consider this. You need to reach out to Sweet Bee Services. I'm just saying. Okay, so.

Shay Cook [00:15:57]:

So what's your personal philosophy on why doula care is a financial asset? We started talking about this a little bit, and not a luxury, but give me an example of somebody who was really on the fence and then used it, if you have any. And that was like, oh, my God, like, this is the best thing ever.

Leah Hairston [00:16:12]:

Oh, absolutely. One of my favorite parts about being a doula is actually working with dads, because I find that dads are in many ways a gatekeeper. They're like, they're the ones who, traditionally, for our heterosexual couples, they're the ones who manage the money or can say, yes, we're going to make these big purchases. And so when it comes to our families, oftentimes Dad's like, it costs how much? And why. Why am I investing this many thousands? And I'm like, okay, I hear you. Also, this is a transformation. I'm not just here to like give you little bits of information. I am here to help you all become parents.

Leah Hairston [00:16:46]:

And in that process, there is a lot that we have to help educate you on, make sure that you feel comfortable and informed. We are attuned to your emotions. So we ask you, how do you feel about becoming a parent? How are your family finances? Are you set up to be parents? How are you feeling about your relationship? A lot of times relationships suffer when, when people have children because the amount of attention that you can provide to your partner that you had been, is now shifted. And so there can be guilt on one side, there could be frustration. And as a doula team, we ask you these questions to make sure that you are completely prepared for your birth, for postpartum. But we also have to ask you some pretty tough questions like power of attorney. Do you have, have you talked about what you would do if you're incapable of making medical decisions for yourself? And so in that process, especially for any of our families, like whoever is the breadwinner and or the most anxious person, typically is the one who appreciates these questions because it's in the back of their mind but they don't feel safe enough to voice it and, or they how to say it in a way that will be received. So as your doula team, like that's part of what we do.

Leah Hairston [00:17:50]:

And I've had dads who are like, I know you told me to come to this consultation and I really didn't know who you were and why I needed to be there. But then they came to the consultation, they were convinced to, you know, book services like, okay, I guess my wife will be safe with you. We'll see how it goes. They sat in the office while we would come in for consultation. So we practice different positions because anatomic also know what's happening in your body during pregnancy, how it's shifting and how I call it minor tweaks that can make a big difference. But pain points. We have a pelvic floor physical therapist who works with our clients to help prevent postpartum complications and relieve pregnancy complications. Registered dietitian.

Leah Hairston [00:18:26]:

So they see like this is a team of experts. We have 20, 30 year vets on our team who have been in the field long time and know what we're talking about. We also proudly right now have an all Black woman team which is yes to say a lot the way that we, yeah, benefits navigator who can help you, help you understand your insurance plan, whether it's commercial or public and what benefits you have available. And then as he sat listening to, like, okay, you have these people on your team. Y' all really know what you're talking about. You've answered my questions. He came to our childbirth education class, which I teach for four weeks.

Shay Cook [00:19:00]:

Oh, wow.

Leah Hairston [00:19:00]:

And everyone is invited to take that class, and we spend two hours a week talking through the material. Understanding your options are during birth, understanding how to navigate and communicate with the hospital staff in a way that they actually understand you and, like, work with you. And how do we plan for postpartum, whether it's a C section, a vaginal birth, if there's a NICU experience. Like, we talk about it all. We get to their birth experience. And before I could even get to the hospital, they're like, we're good. You can take your time coming to us because we feel comfortable. I said, are you sure? Because, like, you got me here.

Leah Hairston [00:19:32]:

I set up my time. I'm ready. Like, no, no, no, we're good. We're contact you in a couple hours. Well, I went, you know, at the time that they requested. And when I walked in, the dad was beaming from ear to ear. Mom is, like, resting in a very. They got praise music going.

Leah Hairston [00:19:45]:

She's resting on the peanut ball. She looks very ethereal, and he's just smiling. I'm like, what's going on? How are we feeling? Like, oh, no, no, we have plenty of time. But they asked if he's a nurse. I said, what? The medical team asked if the dad was a nurse because he was so well prepared for the.

Shay Cook [00:19:58]:

Oh, my God. That just gave me chills.

Leah Hairston [00:20:01]:

Like, oh, he must. He must be an expert. And I said, that is why people buy. That's why you come to Sweet Bee services, so that you are so prepared that, like, you feel comfortable, even if I'm not physically there, because you know what you're talking about. You know what you need, and you know how to advocate. They had a beautiful birth experience. That baby is now, like, two and a half years old. The family is doing well, and all of our clients are typically at risk of some sort of complication.

Leah Hairston [00:20:27]:

Have a label of being high risk, which most of our clients should not have survived or should have had very serious complications. Wow. And we have a hundred percent survival rate.

Shay Cook [00:20:36]:

Okay.

Leah Hairston [00:20:37]:

Yes, ma'am. Am. Over 10 years.

Shay Cook [00:20:38]:

I'm feeling all kinds of emotions here. First, I was pissed off because I was like, why doesn't everybody have these services? It should be mandatory. And then I was, like, excited and, like, yay. This is amazing. Like, that testimony. Like, seriously, why am I 25 years into having a child and don't know? I'm just sitting here thinking about so many things. I'm going to talk off the line about it because we don't have enough time on this podcast. But I'm just like, oh, my God, do you.

Shay Cook [00:21:06]:

I mean, all the people from the teen moms to the young moms to the older moms that. All the people that, you know, lost children that shouldn't have. Because if they just had Sweet Bee services or something similar. Oh, my God. Like, this should be mandatory. Because all we think of is, we got the doctor and a nurse, and that's it. Right? We got a doctor. Usually you don't see a nurse, really, and just to, you know, check you in and out.

Leah Hairston [00:21:30]:

So you're. Yeah, yeah.

Shay Cook [00:21:31]:

Until you're in labor. But outside of that, you're on your own, on your own most of the times, 

Leah Hairston [00:21:38]:

And you should not be at all. A lot of times people say, well, do I need a doula? I already. I like. I like my doctor. I'm like, yes, that's great. I'm. I want you to like your doctor. Yeah. There's no guarantee that your doctor is going to be there.

Leah Hairston [00:21:48]:

And you only really get about 15 to 20 minutes per appointment.

Shay Cook [00:21:51]:

And you might say, what, once a month until you.

Leah Hairston [00:21:55]:

About 32 weeks.

Shay Cook [00:21:56]:

Exactly.

Leah Hairston [00:21:57]:

Even then, you only get one a week when you hit 36 weeks. But your doula. We spend, on average 75 to 80 hours per client, which means that we build relationship. We know your mom, come to your baby shower. We know your partner. I have folks who have told me things that they're like, I haven't even told my husband this. And I said, that's okay. I'm here to hold space and to hold you sometimes so that you can make it through this process.

Leah Hairston [00:22:20]:

And everyone deserves to be held and loved in that way. Especially when they're navigating reproductive justice, reproductive experiences. And you made a great point, like, what about folks who fall out of the category of, like, we're in our 30s or 40s and married and have our first baby? We have clients across the spectrum, so we have clients who are part of the LGBTQIA community. And I'm like, great, what do we need? What's going on? We have clients who are teen moms and are alone, clients who are single parents by choice. We have literally a client from any any group you could think of. We probably supported them. And we also are really intentional in letting people know that a doula is not just there for when you're giving birth and the baby is crying and alive.

Leah Hairston [00:23:01]:

We have clients who experience loss. We have clients who experience pregnancy loss when babies had a heartbeat and now no longer have a heartbeat. We've had medical terminations for everyone's safety that we've had to support folks through. We've had miscarriage or spontaneous loss early and late. We've had stillbirth. Like, we've run the gamut in terms of the experiences our clients have had. Folks have been in the NICU sometimes weeks on end. And so we are a team that is experienced in birth and nobody can guarantee what their birth process will be like.

Leah Hairston [00:23:34]:

Sometimes you're fearful, sometimes you're excited, sometimes it's a mix of both. All of those feelings are valid, so you should have the space to feel them and to unabashedly feel them. And as doulas, we provide that non judgmental support. But I also recognize, like I was on a, I told my team I'm on a mission to make a thousand plus doulas. Like I'm on a mission to clone that. We.

Shay Cook [00:23:54]:

Yes. And anyone I can help, I'm here.

Leah Hairston [00:23:57]:

Thank you. Yes, we need more doulas because in 2020, I believe only 6% of births were attended by a doula in the entire U.S. but in Maryland alone, we have around, I think it's just under 300,000 births per year was the last study done. So that's a lot of people that don't have support. And I wanted to find a way to fix that, especially because I see so often that people have a diagnosis of preeclampsia, which is a blood pressure disorder during pregnancy. And so I developed an app that helps people to track their health metrics, specifically their blood pressure and their mood throughout pregnancy and the first year postpartum, so that we can address at least two of the top maternal mortality factors, which are preeclampsia and postpartum depression.

Shay Cook [00:24:42]:

Oh, my God. Girl.

Shay Cook [00:24:45]:

This is. Oh, Lord. Oh, God. Thank you, Jesus. That's all I can say. Thank you, Jesus. So how do we reduce the likelihood of costly interventions like C sections that are more expensive than vaginal births and extended hospital stays? How do you help with that?

Leah Hairston [00:25:03]:

Doulas.

Shay Cook [00:25:03]:

Doulas. Yeah, exactly.

Leah Hairston [00:25:05]:

Doulas actually reduce the risk of a C section by 47%. 

Shay Cook  [00:25:07]

What? 

Leah Hairston [00:25:12]:

Yes. So if you have a doula by your side, having somebody who can help you understand your options, help you ask for a second opinion, who can help you understand what is a birth process and when is this an emergency? Helps to reduce the risk. And then we also shorten the postpartum recovery time, whether it's vaginal or C section birth by providing on hands and emotional support.

Shay Cook [00:25:34]:

I'm sure I went through postpartum because I mean I remember I didn't want to get dressed. I just wanted. I remember my family making fun of me. I think I shared this with because I wore a scarf for like two years, but I didn't want to do my hair. I didn't really want. I just wanted to take care of my baby. And I'm sure I went because I suffer from. I'm diagnosed with depression and anxiety, general anxiety disorder.

Shay Cook [00:25:52]:

Before I even had my child, like I literally was on Paxil for my depression and I had to get off because I was pregnant, because I didn't want to put her at risk. And I'm glad I didn't because then there was a lawsuit later for that. But I was just like, man, you know, and let's talk about the economic impact on health. Right? So you did, you know, a healthy birth, better postpartum recovery translate directly into less time off work, reduce mental health costs, long term financial stability for the family. I mean just life, period. Right. People are surviving. They're not dying like black women are dying in this country from having babies, which is to me, it's a systematic thing.

Shay Cook [00:26:26]:

We're not going to talk about that on the show. You know, they, they want us to die, unfortunately. But yeah, let's talk about that. What kind of what numbers or what have you seen? I'm sure all of that's true. Right, people, you're saving money for the country, for families.

Leah Hairston [00:26:39]:

Yeah, absolutely. Because the also one thing that people don't often talk about is the risk of readmission. So when I'm talking with our hospital partners and community based partners, I'm so adamant about making sure we address preeclampsia as early as possible. Because once somebody delivers their baby and the placenta comes out of their body, they're now at risk for eclampsia. And eclampsia and HELLP syndrome are the severest forms of this disorder, taking over the body, which can lead to seizures and, or stroke and death. So aside from like getting back to a great quality of life, she has a stroke in postpartum. You don't know like the severity of the stroke.

Leah Hairston [00:27:17]:

We've had and we've had folks that have diagnoses of diabetes and how that drastically impacted afterwards. But the complications in pregnancy They've done longitudinal studies about how they follow people for the rest of their lives. So if you had a complication in pregnancy that was not addressed or was improperly addressed, the likelihood of having like lifelong blood pressure issues, lifelong diabetes concerns, lifelong organ issues, especially when it comes to the pelvic floor, all at a greater risk. When you have a doula, we can catch things earlier. We can talk. Oh yeah, hey, that's a yellow flag. Let's go talk to your provider. The whole point of the app is to be able to say at 20 weeks, at 24 weeks, at 28 weeks, your blood pressure has been on a bad trend.

Leah Hairston [00:27:59]:

We need to go to your doctor and see if there's also protein in your urine. We need to see if your liver is enlarged. If those things are happening, we are at risk of preeclampsia. Most people go into an emergency C section at 34 weeks. Like nobody knew. How was I supposed to know our health care information and use this as a tool to take to your providers and have greater literacy but also pushing them to urgency because you're speaking a common language.

Shay Cook [00:28:24]:

Yeah.

Leah Hairston [00:28:24]:

The long term impact is like from a health standpoint. Absolutely. From emotional and mental well being. It's a major life transition. And so there's a process as you have experienced where you have to get. Everyone calls it like get back to. But get in a form of what I call homeostasis. It takes about two years for your hormones to regulate and then about five to seven really for people to feel in their body.

Shay Cook [00:28:51]:

Nobody taught me that. I recently learned that on some show or something.

Leah Hairston [00:28:55]:

Years that explained.

Shay Cook [00:28:57]:

When I, when I think about it, yes.

Leah Hairston [00:28:59]:

This is why I do what I do.

Shay Cook [00:29:01]:

This is why you're on this show. This is why you do what you do. Because this is ridiculous that I'm just learning about a lot of this stuff in this year of 2025. And I have a 25 year old and I have family members that are having babies still and they're in their 30s, 40s, people nearing 50s, like and they don't know about this. We just recently started talking about menopause. So I can only. You know what I mean?

Leah Hairston [00:29:22]:

Don't get me started on menopause.

Shay Cook [00:29:23]:

I know that's a whole nother episode. So let's finish with this. So the spiritual piece of it all, the financial emotional piece that comes from planning with intention, trusting in God's provision while practicing practical diligence. Do you see a lot of people turning to God and faith? I'm sure you do. And Obviously, you know, dealing with the mental financial piece of it all, but planning, I mean, I, I, I was stressed out during my pregnancy and I'm sure that was transfer. I always tell my daughter that was transferred to her in in vitro or whatever. And because I knew that I was young, I had just gotten married.

Shay Cook [00:29:55]:

My husband and I, unfortunately, we were going through a separation. We got back together. Thank you, Jesus. But it was a lot going on and then just the whole physiological piece of it, right?

Leah Hairston [00:30:04]:

I'm like, it's just, it is stressful.

Shay Cook [00:30:07]:

Yes, it's very stressful. I'm stressed out just talking about it right now in this moment.

Leah Hairston [00:30:12]:

I believe it. Your body remembers.

Shay Cook [00:30:15]:

Your body remembers exactly well, y'all, you know, the average cost of a hospital birth in the US without complications is around $14 to $15,000. With complications, the average cost can rise significantly. Studies show that continuous support during labor, like provided by a doula. Hello, Sweet Bee Services reach out. Is associated with a 39% decrease in the risk of a C section, which dramatically reduces the financial burden of that birth. So any final thoughts?

Leah Hairston [00:30:47]:

Oh, yes, so many. I will say yes.

Leah Hairston [00:30:52]:

When I first began as a doula 10 years ago, you could have an unmedicated vaginal birth for around $7,000 in hospital and maybe around like $5,000 out of hospital. Now, most in hospital vaginal births with no additional medications like you shared are at that baseline of right around 15 to $20,000 and don't need any. That's if you don't get an epidural. That's if you know, eat all the food or whatever option. That's not even baby's concerns. And so often I, in conversations with people like, especially in the community, I share our services start right around $6,000 for a very comprehensive care plan that lasts for six months and that is both pregnancy and postpartum. But it really is for your life because a referral this morning from a client who we were her doula for two of her babies, so she now won over. So we as your doula team, yes, we're here to make sure that you're safe in this one experience.

Leah Hairston [00:31:48]:

But we're really invested in your well being for the rest of your life and for your baby's life. And if it costs, you know, $6,000 to make sure that you and your baby leave the hospital alive and well, I find that a worthwhile investment.

Shay Cook [00:32:00]:

I do too. And if you have trouble trying to find that money, call Crusaders for Change. We're going to help you because get that budget in line and figure that out because you need these services, right?

Leah Hairston [00:32:11]:

And you are worth. You are worth even more than that is. So this investment is really just to reinforce that.

Shay Cook [00:32:18]:

Yeah. Oh wow, y'all. Caring for a new mother and a child is a divine assignment. And like I said earlier in the show, Leah is on a divine assignment by God. She is obedient. And you know, by choosing to invest in a doula, we are choosing proactive stewardship over reactive spending. The decision aligns our finances with our faith, securing the health of the mother, the stability of the family, and honoring the sacredness of life.

Shay Cook [00:32:42]:

It's the smart money management guide by a heavenly purpose. Oh, I love that. So today's call to action or this week's dedicate your efforts to inform family planning research doula services in your area. Again, Sweet Bee services. I can't say that enough. Even if you aren't expecting to understand costs and available financial assistance, look up whether your insurance or state Medicaid program covers this essential service. And from the spiritual side, spend time in prayer for all mothers to be asking for God's peace provision and wisdom in making health and financial decisions for their growing family. Thank you for joining us today.

Shay Cook [00:33:20]:

Thank you, Leah.

Leah Hairston [00:33:21]:

Thank you, Shay.

Shay Cook [00:33:25]:

A big thank you for listening to this episode. We hope you found today's chat about the intersection of religion and money insightful. We would love to hear your feedback. Hit that subscribe button or follow the podcast and please feel free to leave us a review. For the latest Yahweh's Money content, visit us at crusaders4change.org or find us anywhere you listen to podcasts. Until next time, stay financially fit and spiritually inspired. And remember, it's always better Yahweh's way.



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Shay Cook

Host
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Leah Hairston

Guest