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Episode 25: Black Maternal & Infant Mortality
The topic of Black maternal & infant mortality is a hot topic in the birth community today. However, it’s a critically important topic, every single day. In this episode, we take a deeper dive into the issues surrounding Black maternal & infant mortality. Exploring some of the deeper reasons for the mortality rates among Black birthing people and their babies while exposing some of the well-intentioned misinformation. Our guest, Samantha Griffin joins us as we explore the topics of allostatic load, epigenetics, institutionalized racism and their impact on Black birthing bodies and their babies. Samantha is a Black doula, doula trainer, and owner of DC Metro Maternity who serves primarily…
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Episode 24: Parenting & Doula Work
One of the more common questions we see among those considering doula work is, “How do you balance doula work with family life?” Join us as we discuss common concerns about juggling doula work with family life with Aisha Fanning! Aisha is the mother of four. A doula agency owner and doula trainer. Married to her partner of 17 years. Oh, and did we mention that her partner is away for 6 months out of the year? When it comes to juggling doula work with family life, Aisha has worked hard to put systems in place. These systems allow Aisha to not only make sure that her family is well…
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Episode 23: Making Money As A Doula
Let’s talk about making money as a doula! This is a topic that comes up often for those considering becoming a doula. Many newly trained doulas also ask this question as well. It’s understandable that one would want to know how quickly they can see a return on their investment into doula training. The answer to the question though is nuanced and depends on many personal factors unique to the doula. Many doulas are also told that they can’t sustain a family on the income that doula work may bring in by trainers and training organizations. They are taught that doula work is heart work and that they shouldn’t expect…
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Episode 22: Season Two – Doula Shadowing and Mentoring
Welcome to Season Two! We are kicking off season two with a very common topic in the doula world. Doula Shadowing and Mentorship. We get calls all the time that request the opportunity to shadow us at a birth. Sometimes the caller simply wants to shadow a birth to see if doula work is for them. Others have taken training and are looking for more hands-on education to build their skillset. Then there are those who have taken training but lack the confidence to strike out on their own and are looking to ease into the work and build confidence through shadowing. Some newly-trained doulas also believe that doula shadowing…
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Episode 21: Season 1 Wrap Up
It’s been an amazing season here at Doulas of the Roundtable! We hit the ground running back in March and it’s been a whirlwind of activity ever since! In the past nine months, we’ve created some amazing content. This has been evidenced by the incredible number of downloads we’ve received. Over 13,000 Episode downloads! While the majority of our episodes received lots of download love, it is very clear that there are five that were the most loved. Check out of top five episodes below! Our Top 5 Most Downloaded Episodes Old School vs New School Doulas Self Confidence Supporting Infant Feeding What We Are Taught As Doulas: Why It…
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Episode 20: Birth Stories and Gift Giving
Let’s talk about writing birth stories and giving gifts to clients. Many doulas have been taught to provide a written account of their client’s birth. For some, this practice begins as a part of the certification process. Others are taught or assume that it’s a necessary part of the services doulas offer. But what are the potential drawbacks to providing a written record of the client’s experience? Are birth stories really beneficial to the client’s experience? In this episode, we also talk about gift-giving. Some doulas consider gift-giving a nice thing to do. Others look at gift-giving as a form of marketing. But is there really a good return on…
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Episode 19: Induction of Labor
Let’s talk about induction of labor. When, how and why induction of labor happens is a hot topic among many doulas. As we move through the holiday season we see many doulas posting warnings to pregnant people to question an induction. Especially those scheduled before a holiday. We see discussions about why inductions of labor may happen and how they may or may not be “justified.” In this episode, we discuss how to handle the nuances of support during an induction. When should we arrive? Should we go and stay from the beginning? Setting expectations for communication during the process and when to check-in. What we don’t often see is…
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Episode 18: The Virtual Doula
In this episode, we take a look at the concept of “the virtual doula.” A virtual doula is a doula that provides a ‘client’ emotional and informational support remotely. They are not physically present for pre-birth meetings or the birth. Instead, they utilize phone, video or text messaging to support a client during pregnancy and birth. By definition, doulas provide physical, emotional and informational support. So can a doula really provide the full scope of doula services without being physically present to provide continuous physical support? Join us as we discuss the ins and outs of virtual support along with the possible drawbacks to both the doula, the client and…
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Episode 17: Physical vs Emotional Pain
When we think about pain surrounding labor and birth, physical pain is usually what comes to mind. Yet the emotional pain experienced during labor can contribute to a traumatic experience and may often be left undetected by doulas. Clients often expect physical sensation or pain during labor. Yet when they feel overwhelming emotions during the process they may be taken off guard. As doulas, one of our roles is to help clients navigate both the physical and emotional pains of labor. One of the ways we do this is by being mindful if a client is coping vs suffering. Come join us as we discuss how we can best support…
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Episode 16: Doula Philosophies
Let’s talk doula philosophies. What does that mean? Do you have one? Do you allow them to dictate which clients you support? In this episode, we talk about some of the philosophies that we know doulas subscribe to and the reasons why. We try to unpack the reasons why doulas support some clients vs. others. Being a doula is not a philosophy, it’s a profession. Or at least it is to us. While we all bring our own life experience to working with clients, our personal philosophies should be left at the client’s door. Saying this is one thing, practicing it is quite another. In this episode, we cover a…
