Debra Pintley is deeply passionate about every birthing mother reclaiming her birthing rite of passage with complete autonomy: helping them to reconnect and listen to their intuitive selves during pregnancy, childbirth and beyond. She supports women to honour the innate wisdom of their bodies and embrace the unique journey of motherhood. At Renegade Doula, she is dedicated to reigniting the spark within every woman and nurturing a profound sense of inner self-trust. She offers invaluable guidance, support and empowerment that enables mothers to navigate this transformative experience with heightened confidence and authenticity. Here she talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about what inspired her to start Renegade Doula, her biggest breakthrough, and the challenges she has overcome along the way.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
Becoming a mother in 2013 opened a new world for me, prompting me to reflect on my birth experience and my value as a woman in society. I began to realise that I navigated the birth process reasonably unscathed. This led me to question whether I was just “lucky” as many suggested or if there was something more profound. The birth of Ruby reflected my independent nature and lack of trust in aspects of the medical system. So, in becoming hyper-vigilant in not allowing the system to groom me, it turned out to be my biggest superpower without my conscious awareness. This was a huge trigger for me, and I started to develop my skills in how to be a strong, thoughtful, and sovereign mother. Her birth was only one aspect of the journey; I was responsible for the health outcomes of my daughter, and I wanted to be able to make every decision from a space of knowledge and intuition rather than reflective obedience based on fear. Thus, from this point began the unfolding of myself into a birth doula who can help guide mothers who also feel birth is a sacred rite of passage and want to know the options they really have.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
After years of informal support and guidance for mothers, I formalised my commitment to this calling in March 2021 when I completed my certification as a Holistic Doula under the guidance of Jo Spies at New Beginnings. I was referred mums wanting to free birth during the lockdown period and then everything progressed from there.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
The first birth I supported was in April 2021 and I was being referred mothers wanting to birth outside the system during lockdown. The biggest innovation for my business was pulling back the veil of birth and allowing mothers to take ownership of their birthing journey and guiding them during that precious time. I feel it was more simplicity that needs to be seen in the realm of birth and allowing mothers to listen to their intuition.
