Meet Shaletta McDade | Labor and Postpartum Doula & Registered Nurse

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shaletta McDade and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shaletta, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I believe a big part of life is about taking risks. Stepping into that unknown. Why not take that step? You only have one life to live! Although it can be scary, it’s also rewarding in the end. Not only because of what the outcome may be, but you also learn a lot about yourself in the midst of that. It makes you grow as a person and in that it propels you forward. For me personally, this is what risks have done for me in my life and career. I can say I am one that steps out on faith regardless of how it looks starting out. I believe the first big risk I took was leaving my career in nursing after my first year of working. At that time, I was heavily in my passion for dance and I had a desire to make an impact in my community by opening a dance studio for the young ladies I was teaching. So I left my job and opened a studio three months later that took off and was successful until it was my time to transition to Houston which was another big risk. It was time for me to leave home and spread my wings so I took that leap of faith despite what everyone else was saying and moved to Houston without a job in place. But because of my faith in Christ, I knew that I was headed in the right direction and after about a few months of a bumpy start, I finally got my footing and begin to thrive. I would say my next biggest risk was becoming a doula and starting another business. Each of these risks I have taken, transformed me into a better Shaletta. I have learned more about myself that I never knew I had on the inside of me. Before all of this I was never really stepping out of my box too much because of comfort but there was always a pulling I felt that caused me to always stay on that boundary line of taking risks. With risks there comes elevation in my action to step out.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

My career first started in my journey as a registered nurse. I knew that I had a gift and a desire to be there for people in their most vulnerable time and being that strength for them. My interest has always been in mothers and babies so I knew that was the direction I would more likely go as a nurse. During my research, I came across the career of a doula. I read up on what all it entailed and I figured I would pick it up later in my career because I wasn’t quite ready to become a birth coach. I am originally from northeast Louisiana (now residing in the Houston area) and at that time it was not an area of work that is well known.

So fast forward to 2020, I needed a change in my career. At that time, I had been working as a pediatric nurse and I hit that point where I needed a change. Being in the medical field, I have noticed a lot of politics when it comes to how things work and I wanted a more hands off approach in medical care and focus more on building the relationship with others. To be proactive instead of reactive. With still having an interest in mothers and babies, it just hit me out of nowhere to go into doula work. So I did a little more research and noticed that there is a need for it and it had become more popular now that it had been 10 years ago. I also read in how African American women have a higher chance of maternal mortality than any other race/ethnicity. A lot of that is because we are not often heard and there is a lapse in advocacy as well as being fully educated and informed in accessing resources. It hit home for me with being an African American woman myself. So I got certified through ProDoula in labor and postpartum when the pandemic hit and my journey started from there! I quickly learned that I fit into that safe space for moms and I become that middle man because I am more cognizant of what is going on. My driving force is bridging the gap through education, encouragement, and empowerment. When my families and I part after our time together, I want them to feel like they are confident and they are in control of their health.

It has not always been easy to get to where I am today. Like any career you have to find your niche. What gives you the most fulfillment, purpose, and provides a service to others?
That has been my journey along the way. We all have a purpose and a reason we are put on this earth. Things that we are specifically designed to accomplish for the greater good. I have learned so much about myself by taking those risks when things didn’t feel right or just the need to do something different. Working as a registered nurse could definitely cause some wear and tear on the body whether it is physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. Early on in my nursing career, I learned about the importance of self care and mental health. I’m not going to sacrifice my peace for any career that could replace me the very next day. Instead, I am going to work in purpose wherever the journey takes me and I really had to learn how to take care of myself first so that I could be an asset to others. That in turn really gave me a desire to encourage others in taking care of themselves. I am excited about walking this new path as a doula and filling that space for others.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My best friend is a lot like how I am. We both kind of have our set places we like to go to or we are just fine with relaxing at home. So more than likely, we would always go to a nail shop and do a manicure and pedicure first and then a movie. We would then would go to a nice seafood restaurant or try a restaurant that she had her sights set on before coming to visit and believe it or not WalMart is our place to go! It sounds a little weird but we can always have a good time in doing the simplest things and we have been doing that probably ever since our college days and early 20s. And then to top it off, we would have a girls night where we would find a movie, cook food, have drinks and probably even do a little spa treatment on ourselves.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I first and foremost dedicate my shoutout to God. Without him, I wouldn’t be where I am right now. My faith in Christ is what got me through every stage of my life up until now. I also dedicate my shoutout to my family because they have always encouraged me to find my niche and be at peace and content in what I’m passionate about. They have supported me in every endeavor I have set out to do. I also would like to shoutout everyone who has played a part in the different seasons of my life, from at a young age up until now. It’s so many people, I would be listing them all day! But they know who they are!

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