Labor of Love: Holding Space and the Power of Presence
Hello, and welcome back to week 3 of our Labor of Love series.
As our agency continues to grow, one truth has become clearer than ever. The space we hold for one another is not only about the conversations we have or the rooms we step into. It is also about the emotional and relational safety we create, hold, and embody for ourselves and for those we care for. At Bloom Baby Doulas, this is our why: to be a safe and steady presence where every family feels seen, heard, and supported.
In this post, we will explore three ways this presence shows up in our work and in life: making space, holding space, and being space. Together, these practices reveal why presence matters for families, caregivers, and communities, and how intentional space can transform the way we live, parent, and care for one another.
Making Space
Making space is an act of intention. It involves creating room for stories, identities, and experiences that may not always have been welcomed. Making space means listening without interruption, honoring complexity, and allowing joy, grief, uncertainty, and courage to exist side by side.
In practice, making space can look like sitting with a parent navigating fertility treatments and saying, “You do not have to go through this alone.” It can look like sitting on the floor with a postpartum parent and their newborn, reminding them that every messy, tearful, and joyful moment belongs. It can also involve protecting the quiet of a birth room so that a family feels empowered to make decisions without pressure.
For families in marginalized communities, making space is especially powerful. Their voices are often silenced and their needs overlooked. Making space involves actively widening the circle so they see themselves reflected in care, support, and representation. It also includes connecting families to trusted resources that support their journey.
Making space is the simple yet profound act of saying, “You belong here. Your story and your experience matter.”
Holding Space
Holding space builds on the foundation of making space. While making space is about intention, holding space is about presence. It is the steady, compassionate practice of being with someone without trying to fix, rush, or control their process.
Holding space can be sitting quietly while tears fall. It can be protecting a moment of laughter in the middle of exhaustion. It can also be saying, “I am here,” and meaning it fully.
I cannot even begin to count the number of times I have sat with a new parent who felt overwhelmed by the constant noise of advice from family, friends, and the internet. Instead of adding to the noise, I try to simply listen. When given the chance, they speak openly, often with relief at being able to share without fear of judgment. Holding space creates an environment where people can process without being silenced or hurried.
Holding space is advocacy in its purest form. It protects vulnerability and allows transformation to unfold naturally. This skill serves not only in supporting families as a doula, but also in every corner of family life and community care.
Being Space
Being space takes presence one step further. It is not only something we create for others, but also something we embody ourselves. As doulas, we are trained to hold space quietly, often without fanfare. Being space also asks us to show up visibly, as havens of care and belonging.
For me, this has meant making Bloom Baby Doulas a visible safe space, not only in homes and birth rooms but in the community. We also align with networks such as the Safe Space Alliance to ensure that our spaces (in person and online) remain inclusive, supportive, and free of judgment.
Being space applies to parents and caregivers as well. Our culture often glorifies selflessness in parenthood, encouraging people to pour themselves out endlessly. Children thrive when their caregivers thrive. By tending to our own needs, whether stepping outside for fresh air, reading a book for pleasure, or asking a partner or friend to step in, we model resilience, balance, and self-respect.
Being space means knowing that we are worthy of the same gentleness, patience, and compassion we extend to others. By embodying that truth, we give children and communities a living example of what it looks like to value wholeness.
The Power and Impact of Presence
When we make, hold, and become space, our lives are transformed. We gain the freedom to show up as our full selves. We can grieve, celebrate, create, parent, or simply exist without fear of judgment. For those whose voices have been marginalized, these acts provide more than support. They offer belonging, healing, and the affirmation that every life and every story matters.
This understanding has guided how we show up in our work and in our communities. At Bloom Baby Doulas, this commitment is reflected in our efforts to make the agency a visible, welcoming space. We are proud to be part of the Safe Space Alliance, a global LGBTQI+ network, and to connect families with resources and organizations like Be Her Village and our local Community Partners. These connections ensure that the care and support we offer are accessible, sustainable, and rooted in community.
Presence is active love. It calls us to show up steadily and intentionally, allowing each other to be fully ourselves. It is also something we cultivate within. By tending to our own needs, we model balance, resilience, and wholeness for those around us, showing what it looks like to honor our shared humanity.
We can practice the power of presence in everyday moments:
Pause before responding. Presence can be more powerful than words.
Create grounding rituals, such as a quiet cup of tea, a bedtime story, or a morning walk.
Listen without trying to fix. Let each other share stories fully before offering guidance.
Affirm identity and experience. Inclusive language and practices show that every story belongs.
Protect safe spaces. Be intentional about creating environments free of judgment and shame.
Connect each other to trusted resources. Our partnerships with Be Her Village, Tinyhood, and local community organizations help make support accessible and sustainable.
Choose presence over perfection. We do not need to be flawless; we need to be steady and compassionate.
Even small acts of presence ripple outward. Listening without judgment, protecting quiet moments, affirming experiences, and showing up fully help build cultures of compassion that extend far beyond ourselves and our immediate circles.
Carrying Presence Forward
At Bloom Baby Doulas, our work does not end with a single moment of support. Making, holding, and being space is an ongoing practice that extends into every day of family life and community. Carrying presence forward means reflecting on the ways we show up, tending to our own needs, and finding opportunities to extend care, compassion, and steadiness to others.
Consider these questions:
How have you experienced someone creating space for you?
What does it feel like to give yourself permission to take up space?
How can we, as a community, continue cultivating environments where everyone feels seen and supported?
Thank you for being part of this shared work of life, love, and family. Together, we will keep making, holding, and embodying presence, for ourselves, our children, and every family we serve.