Meet Adilah
Happy Meet A Mom Monday, Katy Moms! Today we’d like you to meet Adilah! Born in Saudi Arabia, she’s lived in 6 different countries and settled back in the Houston area about a year ago. She’s got two sweet daughters and after giving birth to her first and having the most wonderful experience with a birth Doula, she decided to get certified herself! Adilah has a passion for giving women the birth experience they need, by providing a calm and encouraging environment for mama and baby.
We got to chat with the awesome Adilah about embarking on a career as a Doula, her favorite things about Katy, and who inspires her most as a mother.
Read her interview below!
Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in Katy?
It’s hard to say where I’m originally from, my mother is from Singapore and my father from Texas, but I grew up in 6 different countries as an oil baby. Born in Saudi Arabia we left right before the Gulf War and moved to Indonesia then Malaysia, Singapore, Scotland before settling in The Woodlands north of Houston. When I married my husband I moved to New York living in Queens and then the city before settling back in Houston again a little over a year ago. I’m an American with a mixed background of various cultures and traditions!
How many kiddos do you have and how old?
My husband and I have two little girls. Aya is three, and Aniyah is one. We also have two cats that seem to complete our little family.
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
I know how to ride! I use to own a horse named Dylan’s and competed in dressage, hunters, and cross country. I have always hoped one of our kids would love horses and pick up the sport. I have many great memories with my horse. I also know how to hunt and skin a deer. Being that my father is a true Texan he would take my brother and I out on hunts since I was 14! We eat mostly venison in our house.
Favorite local things to do in Katy?
Feed the ducks at the ponds, go to the playground next to Quiet Lake off S Lake Village drive, check out the farmers market on Saturday mornings, going to the pool with the kids at LifeTime Fitness.
What’s your favorite thing about Katy and why did you choose to raise your family here?
I love that Katy is still growing and developing. We chose Katy mostly because my husbands family live here and It was a bargaining chip to get us to move from New York. He loves his concrete jungle and the city life, but raising a family in Katy Texas is more ideal and there’s always room to grow.
Do you have a favorite family friendly restaurant in the area?
We love going to Jimmy Changas! They have great food, and I love the free ice cream for not just the kids but myself as well, and the outdoor playground. We can eat outside and still be able to watch the kids in the play ground.
What is your go-to activity for yourself for pampering or for fun?
You won’t find a better place to get a foot massage than Footworks Boutique & Spa. I love to slip away for an hour foot massage while the baby sitter is with the girls. Or just go walk around target and see what’s new without having to entertain two little girls at the same time.
Funniest shortcut/routine for helping you through parenthood?
Painting time in the bathtub instead of on the kitchen table or on the floor. I tape the paper to the bathtub, set the girls in there with their paint and brushes. When they’re done painting themselves, because let’s admit It, that’s where 70% of the paint goes, I take the paper out and turn the shower on! Fun time and clean up time all in one.
Best mom hack that makes life easier?
One of my hacks is keeping our kids on their schedule as much as possible. Both my girls take their naps at the same time so I’m able to get things done for 2-3hours without any distractions or take a nap myself. That saying, “sleep when baby sleeps” really works for us, it makes a huge difference in my day if I can get a 30min or 2 hour nap!
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
I am a birth Doula and currently work with Marley and Moo Maternity. I teach classes, usually once a month, for new and expecting parents on childbirth eduction and parenting. I also do henna for brides, maternity bellies, and just for fun. Occasionally I help cohost a postpartum online group. We meet every other Wednesday and talk about various topics on postpartum life, as well as allowing a safe place for mothers to talk about their struggles and share their experiences. This group Preggers Can Be Choosers: Afterbirth can also be listened on podcast form. I’m also about to do a few workshops, one being on South East Asian postpartum care and traditions with Innate Potential Chiropractic and Dr Lauren Collins.
Tell us about being a birth Doula and what inspired you to explore this!
I had a birth doula with both my kids and I felt It made a world of a difference in my birth experience. I felt empowered, knowledgeable, and supported. I had great support from my husband, but having a doula who was calm, who had been there before, who carried the knowledge and experience, gave me the confidence I needed to trust my baby and trust my body. I soon realize many of my friends didn’t have the same experience and thought they deserved more. So I decided to start my path in education and get certified to become a doula after my first birth.
What are some things others should know about what a doula is and what they do?
There are many misconceptions about what a birth Doula does. A doula is not a midwife, we do not deliver babies, do cervical checks, take your blood pressure, etc. A lot of people also think we only work with home birth moms but this is not true! I have never actually had a home birth client, while I have worked in many birth centers with midwives, most of my clients are giving birth in hospitals. Doulas are privately hired and most doctors or nurses know what a doula is. We are professional labor support that support mothers emotionally and physically through their pregnancy, during labor, and after birth. We also help moms with breastfeeding and have unlimited resources on all things birth related. We are like your dictionary and fact producer on clinical terms or medical producers you may not understand. I love my job, helping mothers get the knowledge and education they need to make decisions in their birth.
How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
Katy has only been our home for a little over a year now but with the growing community and resources, my family and career have the potential to grow and meet our goals. I love meeting new families through Katy events, workshops and just being out and about.
What is the best advice for juggling mommyhood and running a business (or volunteering, working, etc)?
We sometimes forget we are not just a mother, because being a mom is a 24hr job. Even if you’re not with your children for part of the day you still think about them constantly. Being the best mom you can be also means being the best you. If working or doing a hobby outside the house life is what makes you happy that will show in your family. A mothers mental health is a big key to happy kids and a happy house hold.
Who most influenced you to be the mom you are?
Everyone, not just my mother or other mothers, but my husband and father as well. They inspire me to be a better person and mom. My sister in law who’s not a mom but works in early childhood development shows me how she handles a tantrums or teaches the kids something new and I’m always watching and learning from her.
When parenting gets hard, what’s something you tell yourself that gets you through?
There’s someone out there that has It harder than me. Someone with a sick child or who is less fortunate. I start counting my blessings and feel better about my bad day or any hard period I’m going through. I’m also a big reader, and use books to go into different worlds, escaping reality for a little.
Name one thing you hope your kids look back and remember about their childhood and you as their mama?
I hope my children can look back and see love, family and happiness, something that will reinstate with them as adults.
What would you tell the old “You” before you had kids?
The world is bigger than you think, don’t worry, everything will work out.
LINKS:
Website: http://3adilahyelton5.wixsite.com/doulaadilah/home
Marley and Moo Maternity: http://www.marleymoomaternity.com/
Preggers can be Choosers: http://preggers.rocks
Upcoming Birth Education Class: http://marleyandmoo.synduit.com/CBLE0001
