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Episode 77: Supporting Back Labor
There is no doubt that for clients, back labor can present a major challenge. Some experience intermittent pain, while for others it will be continuous. As doulas, it can feel intimidating and frustrating when presented with the challenge of supporting a client with back labor. There are many approaches available for doulas to help our clients cope with back labor. At the same time, the cause of back labor often seems to be misunderstood. Many doulas assume that back labor indicates that the baby is posterior. However, when we look at available data on back labor, it tells a different story. If we dig deeper into the whys of back…
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Episode 76: Childbirth Education
Teaching childbirth education classes is one way to support pregnant individuals and their families. It is also a great way to enter birth work. Especially when labor or postpartum doula work just isn’t something that you can make work for your current circumstances. Adding childbirth education when you’re already an established doula or birth worker is also a great way to expand your knowledge, services and add to your revenue stream. Those considering becoming a childbirth educator or doula may ask, “Which avenue should I pursue first?” The good news is there is no one right answer. Becoming a childbirth educator before you become a doula will help you become…
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Episode 75: Long Term Postpartum Care
We often hear doulas ask “When should I stop working with clients postpartum? While some doula training organizations seem to limit the work of a postpartum doula to a few weeks or the first few months, we have a different approach. Long-term postpartum care is a highly beneficial service to both doulas and families. It has many benefits, but at the same time, there are also drawbacks. Mostly for the doula. Growing families thrive from this type of postpartum care. Parents have a caregiver that they trust, have come to depend on, and with who they often have a deep relationship with. Especially if their doula was also a part…
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Episode 74: Doula Licensure
When we look into what the future might hold for doula work in the next 5-10 years, one topic keeps turning up again and again. Doula licensure. But what is doula licensure? What does it mean to be licensed? Who regulates licensure? Who sets the standards that a doula must meet to become licensed? How is licensure different than certification? These are all common questions that many doulas have. Licensing in the United States is typically facilitated and controlled at the state level. Individual states set the standards of professionalism and scope of practice for those within a licensed profession. Those who do not meet these standards, apply for, and…
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Episode 73: Doula Business Wrap Up
Doula business year in review. As the year comes to a close there are many important tasks to complete in order to close out the current year and anticipate and plan for how to proceed into the new year. As doulas, it’s important to review every aspect of our business with a critical eye. Our first goal is to determine what is working and what needs to be changed. Should we stay with the same systems, or are there improvements to be made? Does our process from contact to contract run smoothly? Or do we need to change our process to result in more client conversions? Do our contracts still…
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Episode 72: Year of the Doula
If there is one thing that 2021 has taught us it is that this has been the year of the doula. Navigating through 2021, doulas still feel the impact of visitor restrictions. Restrictions that limit their ability to provide in-person support. But at the same time, doulas across the globe have seen exponential growth in their business. Underscoring these business successes is the ability to pivot. Doulas denied access to in-person support, pivoted to virtual support. Others approached local birth facilities to underscore the importance of doula support. As a result, doulas negotiate with facilities to allow doulas access to in-person support. While the discourse of these restrictions plays out,…
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Episode 71: Supporting Adoption: Adoptive Parent(s)
November is National Adoption Month and so we continue the second part of our Supporting Adoption series. For some, adoption has always been a part of the plan for growing their family. For others, adoption is an option that is considered due to infertility, loss, or other unanticipated circumstances. In this episode, we take a look at how to support adoptive parents who will welcome a new baby to their family in the days or weeks after birth. As a doula, supporting the adoptive family can come in many forms. If the adoptive family will be present for the birth, a childbirth education class may be beneficial. Especially for those…
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Bonus Episode: Adoptee Trauma
Trigger Warning: This episode discusses suicide, self-harm, and addiction. When you mention adoption, for most individuals it brings to mind a solution. A solution for infants and children who are in need of homes and loving families. Yet what rarely comes to mind is the psychological and physical impact of adoption on adoptees. Adoption, specifically the separation of an infant or child from their biological mother creates what is called the primal wound. As defined by Nancy Verrier, author of The Primal Wound: “…the primal wound, a wound which is physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual, a wound which causes pain so profound as to have been described as cellular by…
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Episode 70: Supporting Adoption: Birth Parent(s)
November is National Adoption Month. This month we are going to focus on supporting adoption from the side of the birthing person and the side of the adoptive parents. There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding adoption. Some misconceptions surrounding the preferred language. Misconceptions about what “type” of birthing person chooses an adoption plan. One of the biggest misconceptions is that adoption is a positive experience for all of those involved. Like most topics we discuss, there is a lot of nuance surrounding how to support adoption. As a doula supporting adoption, it’s important to give thought as to how you will support the birthing person regardless of who is…
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Episode 69: Sliding Scales
 A question we see frequently in doula forums is about sliding scales. Who uses them? How do you determine the low and high end of the scale? How do you make sure that those who can afford to pay, are honest about their ability to pay? Some doulas will approach setting their fees on a scale from a perspective of access for those who may otherwise be unable to pay. Others will utilize a sliding scale as a part of work that they consider charitable. Establishing a sliding scale requires several calculations. How much money do you need to be profitable? Have you established is the estimated amount of…
