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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…
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Episode 68: Understanding SIDS
October is SIDS Awareness Month. Trigger warning: This episode discusses infant loss. As birth workers, one of the most common concerns families face is the health and well-being of their babies. As postpartum doulas, understanding SIDS is a topic of great importance to doulas and parents alike. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS is the sudden death of an infant under one year of age. The death is unexpected and has no known cause. SIDS is the leading cause of death of infants under one year of age. Approximately 90% of SIDS deaths occur before the baby is six months old. It is important to understand that Sudden Infant Death Syndrome…
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Episode 67: The Rainbow Experience
October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month. Trigger warning: This episode discusses pregnancy & infant loss. The term Rainbow Baby is to define a pregnancy that happens after a miscarriage or infant loss. It signifies the hope or rainbow that comes after the storm or loss of a child. All too often the communities that surround families who have experienced loss seem to forget or overlook the experience this family has weathered before. Using the term rainbow baby often helps families to remember, identify and acknowledge what came before. The loss of a child. By using this language it gives the family an opportunity to disclose more about their…
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Episode 66: The Backup Doula
When an individual sets out to become a doula, the focus is often on workshops, birth bags, or the “things” that the doula or client may need. However, many individuals often leave out the most essential tool that a doula will ever have. The backup doula. While the thought of having or being a backup doula seems simple, in fact, the process from either side is actually quite complex. We often see individuals who express a willingness to be a backup for other doulas, especially when they may not be able to commit to taking on clients of their own fully. Or perhaps, who have difficulty finding their own clients.…
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Episode 65: Choosing A Doula Training
One of the most common questions we see in doula forum is “Which doula training should I choose?” When it comes to choosing a doula training, there are a lot of factors to consider. Some are more important than others. It’s important to consider the community and the birth climate that you will practice in as a doula. Yet for many, cost will be a primary consideration. From workshop registration fees, to certification packets, required reading books, membership fees, to recertification fees the costs for becoming a doula can add up fast depending on the organization you choose. Other factors to consider may be scope of practice, and code of…
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Episode 64: Postpartum Support of Multiples
Let’s talk about the postpartum support of multiples. Providing postpartum support to two or more babies can pose a bit of a challenge to any doula. But what does it actually look like to provide support to multiples? When it comes to supporting multiples after birth, there are many variables. These variables can direct the course of your care and there are many things that the doula will have to juggle. One variable is when the babies will come home. Just because the babies are born at the same time, does not mean that they will always come home at the same time. Gestational age, health complications and the need…
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Episode 63: Supporting Multiple Births
Understanding the nuances of multiple births is critical to providing support to families expecting more than one baby. There are many factors that influence the management of a pregnancy with multiples. In addition, the birth of multiples is also typically different than that of a single baby. As doulas, we help clients to know what to expect. We also help them to prepare for a birth that may be different than they expected. Some clients may need to deliver at a hospital with an accessible NICU. Others may deliver in one hospital and the babies are transferred to another shortly after birth. This is most common when the babies require…
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Episode 62: Doula Burnout
Let’s talk about doula burnout. The average length of a doula’s career is about 3-5 years. One of the most common reasons that doulas abandon their passion is because of burnout. It is important that doulas protect that passion from the start. We need people who have passion and drive to be in this field for the long term. Doula burnout, fueled by poor boundaries taught as part of doula training. Or burnout fueled by a lack of support or a way to effectively process the things we bear witness to as doulas. Systems that are not sustainable and fail to create a structure for longevity. One of the reasons…
