Meet Natasha June

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

Hi Natasha, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I came to my doula practice after the birth of my own children. I knew that I wanted to provide that support to other mothers. The nature of most doula practices are solo practices – that was the easiest way to get started as a doula and I was eager to start serving clients. About 6 months before I trained to be a doula and then began taking clients, I started a vaginal steaming consulting business as well. I wanted to share a healing modality that was a total game changer for my postpartum healing with as many women as possible. Additionally, having my own business meant that I could set my own hours – to a degree – you can’t control when a baby will be born, but you can schedule your prenatal and postpartum appointments are your own schedule.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I do a lot of things 🙂 In the reproductive health/birth space I am a Full Spectrum Doula which is a Doula who provides services through out the reproductive cycle from pre-conception, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, as well as loss, miscarriage, and abortion. I work in private practice as well as I’m a mother of two amazing little beings who are 5 and 7 years old; my pregnancies and their births, as well as the experience of raising them, inform my doula practice.

I am also a Vaginal Steam Facilitator where I work with clients 1 on 1 to provide steaming protocols and herbs tailored to individual client’s needs as well as host vaginal steaming circles when women can connect to their wombs as well as deepen their connection to other women. I am an herbalist and weave plant allies into my work whenever possible. I’m a placenta specialist and encapsulate placentas after birth to help nourish mothers recovering from birth as well as make placenta art and tinctures. In every thing I do, I strive to help women to make educated, informed decisions so that they feel empowered throughout their reproductive cycle and their lives.

I’m also a DJ and play out at various venues and events. I’m working on creating events and spaces where mothers, and families can gather and create community.

Finally, I work in the Art Department for commercial productions as an Art Department Coordinator.

When I was pregnant with my first, I was a total birth nerd. I just devoured information about pregnancy and birth. I was fascinated with pregnancy, birth, and lactation. It amazed me that once doing the very magical thing of building a human skeleton, nervous system, and brain inside you, you then birth the baby, bringing a human soul Earthside; and then, you can nourish the child solely from breastmilk (if desired), for a year or more! The female body and spirit is truly a wonderous and I am continually fascinated by it as well as the strength of mind, body, and spirit of women.

I came to birth work after the birth of my first which was just shy of 72 hours of labor (3 days). I had a doula and I have NO idea what that experience would have been like without her support. I knew that I wanted to provide that kind of support to other women, everyone deserves to have someone who believes in them and will hold space for them through one of the most significant and transformative experiences you can have during a lifetime.

I initially took a short weekend training and did not feel like I had learned much more than I already knew having had 2 children of my own. At the suggestion of my doula, I applied for a scholarship to Doulas Training International’s (DTI) training which was much more in depth. It was 3 months of classroom training, followed by a 9 month mentorship as you worked to get certified, an extensive reading list addressing reproductive justice, birth equity, entreprenuership, making doula work sustainable, and more. I applied for their scholarship program and on the 3rd application, they awarded me a scholarship and I began the training. After the 3 months of classroom training, I felt well equipped to support clients as a Full Spectrum Doula. I still had 2 very small children at home, who I was the primary care taker of, so it was challenging finding the time (and energy) to commit to completing my certification. I even had to apply for an extension. After having begun to see clients in 2021 I finally got certified at the end of 2022. I may not have had the fastest path to the birth world, but I was absolutely determined to get certified and continue to serve clients as a doula. My passion for empowering birthing people and, in particular Black mothers who are 3x as likely to die in childbirth in the US, is what has always kept me coming back to support women.

Seeing the impact that I have on women and families is incredibly rewarding – from simply sharing resources that make motherhood easier, to sometimes saving a life. It’s been challenging to juggle being a present mother and working on-call and being fully supportive and available to clients; but I think that isn’t necessarily unique to me. Many working mothers find it challenging to balance motherhood with career/work expectations and ambitions.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First, we would go for a little hike at my local trail, the Claremont Loop, to enjoy a gorgeous morning in nature, soaking up the sunshine that graces us most days in sunny Southern California. We’d end the day by heading to Omo Mercado (a neighborhood natural wine bar in Upland) for a glass of wine.

We would make sure to hit the beach while they were here. Maybe get them a surfing lesson. Lately, I’ve been exploring a lot of the beaches in the OC since they are the closest to me. Sunset at the beach is not to be missed, plus, you gotta let rush hour traffic subside!

I would set aside a day to go to K-town for relaxation at a K-SPA followed by Korean BBQ dinner (Quarters) and karaoke.

Then we could do an art day where we go to MOCA Geffen in the morning. Grab lunch at Poppy + Rose. Hit the Broad after lunch. Make our way to Pizziana in Silverlake for dinner, the mosey back over to downtown for Art Walk, finishing the night listening to some live music and either 7 Grand or Zaya.

It wouldn’t be complete without going out dancing somewhere at night to experience one of the world class DJs that happen to be playing shows in Los Angeles on any given day/weekend. If there happened to be a music festival while they were visiting we would go to that – there are so many good ones in SoCal that bring lots of awesome musical acts and art together.

FInally, we’d finish the weekend at the Hollywood Farmer’s Market – a fabulous way to end a trip to LA.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First, I’d like to dedicate this to Doulas Training International (DTI) for their unwavering commitment to Reproductive Justice and Birth Equity and for providing me with comprehensive training and mentorship as I began my career as a Full Spectrum Doula. I’d also like to dedicate this to my ancestors and the many Black Birth Workers who have helped me learn, been there to listen, and encouraged me to grow along the way, including my first doula, Willie Larson, who is now a practicing Midwife here in Los Angeles.

Website: https://rarebreedhealer.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/rarebreedhealer

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-june-rarebreedapothecary

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/natashenough

Other: https://doulamatch.net/profile/30002/natasha-june

DJ instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natashenough/

Image Credits
David Solorzano (group steaming circle, steaming sauna product shot, doula actions shots chatting with couple and performing comfort measures, headshot with orange necklace)

Shannon Fisher (headshot with rose gold metallic freckles)

Alexis Blair (sequin jacket and sunglasses)