Meet Jo, the heart behind Earthside
Hiiii folks! My name is Jo House and my pronouns are they/she. I am an abortion doula, birth doula, childbirth educator, newborn care specialist, postpartum doula and placenta encapsulation specialist.
I was born and raised in the Carolinas and have been in Charlotte for the last 3 years. I have 2 really cute dogs, 5 niblings*, a great nibling, and I am the guardian parent of my best friends child. There is no lack of littles in my life, ever! When getting to know me it’s inevitable that you’ll hear about my incredibly supportive partner, she may even bring your partner(s) and myself food or coffee while you’re in labor :)
In my open time, I read books of all genres , find any reason to visit a coffee shop, go camping and wear A LOT of band t-shirts from artists I’ve seen live. I take care of myself by practicing yoga, meditation and mindfulness, asking for help when I need it and setting healthy boundaries in all aspects of my life. Checking in with my mental, spiritual and physical health is a daily priority for me. I believe that to offer the best care for you, I need to care for myself in the same way!
Now that you know a little about me, here are some things I want to make incredibly clear:
If you are a person of color, you are safe with me. If you are part of the LGBTQIA+ community, you are safe with me. If you are a transgender birthing person, you are safe with me. If you are here for abortion doula care, you are safe with me, no questions asked. I meant what I said with “doula services for all.”
I have spent thousands of hours caring for families, completed a dozen certifying trainings and have vowed to never stop learning and growing in this work. Your experience with this journey matters and I am here to help if it feels right to you.
*nibling- (gender neutral) a child of your sibling
Becoming A Doula
Our path to becoming doulas is rooted in a deep connection to nurturing and caring for others, a journey that has brought us to Earthside Doula Co. Founded in January 2023, our mission is to provide essential doula services to the Charlotte birthing community and beyond.
From a young age, tending to babies and birthing individuals felt like second nature. Over time, this natural calling evolved into a profound passion for supporting others during their most transformative moments. Our commitment to accessibility is unwavering. We operate on a sliding scale, ensuring that our support is accessible to everyone, regardless of their unique circumstances.
Our doula work is about creating a safe and welcoming space for all birthing people, standing in solidarity with people of color and transgender, non-binary, and queer individuals within the birthing community. We recognize that doula work is an energy exchange—a shared journey of intensified emotions and life-altering changes. It's about holding space for emotional well-being and empowering informed choices.
Our dream is to see a world where all birthing individuals receive equitable care. We're dedicated to raising our voices in advocacy and championing the well-being of all birthing people with every birthing experience. Your story is our story, and we're honored to be a part of it at Earthside Doula Co.