Doulas Of The Roundtable

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 familiar with the terminology and process of birth before you enter a labor room. Adding childbirth education as an established doula will build your confidence. It will also help you gain a deeper understanding of the pregnancy and birth process.  Either way, it's a win/win situation. For many, childbirth education may be your first exposure to potent

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. Yet the cause of back labor is often misunderstood. Come join us as we explore the causes of back labor, and our favorite techniques to help clients cope during labor.

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. Come join us as we discuss the reality of providing long-term postpartum care, boundary setting, and how we approach long-term postpartum care with our clients.

When we look into what the future might hold for doula work in the next 5-10 years, one topic keeps turning up again & again. Doula licensure. But what is it & what does it mean for doulas? Some doulas are very pro licensure. Others are against licensure due to what they feel are the imposition of restrictions that they think are too limiting. There's no doubt there is much discussion to be hand on both sides of this coin. Join us as we discuss the ins and outs of what licensing for doulas might look like.

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. It's critical to take a look at systems, processes, website, marketing and so much more. Come join us as we discuss our end-of-year business review for our doula agency and discuss our favorite podcast episodes for 2021.

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. Doula agencies are experiencing more demand for services than ever. The demand for independent contractors to provide doula services is at the highest demand ever. Special guest Randy Patterson joins us to discuss the exponential growth that many doulas are experiencing in 2021. We also discuss why 2022 is going to exceed expectations!

November is National Adoption Month and so we continue the second part of our Supporting Adoption series. 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 doulas, it is important to understand that there may be different psychology at play for adoptive parents. Come join us as we take a look at the ins and outs of supporting adoptive parents!

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. Come join us as we take a deep dive into the trauma of adoption on adoptees as our guest Isaac, and Angela share their stories.

Like most topics we discuss, there is a lot of nuance surrounding how to support adoption. There are many choices that are available to the birthing parent. Will the adoptive parents be present for the birth?  During the immediate postpartum period will they want to hold and/or feed the baby? Do they desire no contact with the baby? Come join us as we take a deep dive into the ins and outs of supporting birth parents through pregnancy, labor and birth."

A question we see often in doula forums is about sliding scales. How do you determine the low & high end of the scale? How do you make sure that those who can afford to pay, are honest about their ability to pay? Many doulas underestimate the amount of time involved in setting up a sliding scale. Then there is the maintenance & moving prospective clients through the application & verification process. There is much more than this to consider. Come join us as we discuss the ins & outs of sliding scales.

As birth workers, one of the most common concerns families face is the health and well-being of their babies. Understanding SIDS is a topic of great importance to doulas & parents alike. SIDS is the sudden death of an infant under one year of age. The death is unexpected and has no known cause. Come join us as we discuss the difference between SIDS and SUIDS and learn how to discuss how to reduce risk with families via the Safe to Sleep practices.

The term Rainbow Baby is to define a pregnancy that happens after a miscarriage or infant loss. All too often the communities that supporting clients after loss comes with many variables and nuances. It is critical that doulas prepare themselves to support a client through, or following loss well before the opportunity actually arises. Come join us as we discuss how to support clients who are walking through the Rainbow Experience through pregnancy and postpartum.

When an individual sets out to become a doula the focus is often on workshops, birth bags, postpartum gadgets, and supplies that clients may need. However, many individuals often leave out the most essential tool that a doula will ever have. The backup doula. Come join us as we discuss important considerations for choosing a backup doula and explore why the backup doula is so essential.

One question we see asked often in doula discussion groups is which organization an individual should pick to train and certify with. For some people making this choice is simple, while for others they need more information. In this episode, we discuss how to find an organization that feels right for you & how they can support you through your doula career. We also discuss the things you may want to consider when making a choice & give you some food for thought on things you might not have considered before.

After the whirlwind of labor and delivery has passed, parents find themselves sinking into the routine of taking care of their baby. Now imagine there are two or more newborns to navigate. This is where you as a postpartum doula can provide invaluable support. Supporting multiples is more than just being a second set of hands, although that part is important too! In this episode, we talk about what it’s like to be a doula for more than one baby and how this changes the family's needs that you are supporting.

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 multiple pregnancy. 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. Come join us as we explore the ins and outs of support for the birth of multiples.

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. Come join us as we explore the causes and remedies for doula burnout.

The internal workings of the birthing body are often a mystery to both clients and doulas alike. Often the numbers and percentages surrounding cervical dilation and effacement are thought of as hard and fast. While dilation is often the one measurement that receives the most focus, it is not the only factor to be considered. There are 4 ways that the cervix will change in the weeks leading up to and during labor as well.  Come join us as we explore the many aspects of cervical change during pregnancy, labor, and birth.

As birth professionals, it is not uncommon to experience self-doubt as we begin working with clients. It is prevalent for birth professionals to feel the weight of imposter syndrome when working with clients we perceive as more educated—for example, doctors, nurses, or lawyers.  As individuals, we all have insecurities and self-doubt. Come join us as we talk about imposter syndrome and how to navigate the many challenges it presents and approaches to stepping beyond self-doubt and fear.

When it comes to supporting clients, there is no doubt that it can take a physical toll on our bodies. From hip squeezes to counterpressure the impact that these common comfort measures can take on our bodies can be extreme. It is essential that we find ways to adapt the care we give while providing support so that we can reduce the physical toll that it will take on our bodies.  Come join us as we explore the physical demands of birth and postpartum work and identify ways to help doulas mitigate the impacts.