Doulas Of The Roundtable

One skill set that many doulas express a lack of confidence in is supporting clients with an epidural. Many doula workshops overemphasize how to support an unmedicated birth. As a result, doulas may feel uncertain and often unprepared to support the client who has chosen an epidural. Supporting the client with an epidural is multi-faceted. Many clients and even doulas may assume that a doula's job is done once an epidural is in place. The reality is, that the doula's job has just begun.  Physical support is still necessary when supporting epidurals. Frequent position changes help the baby navigate the changing diameters of the pelvis.  The necessity for emotional support can also increase as clients process their feelings surrounding receiving the epidural. Some may feel only relief. Others may feel guilt or regret. Feelings of failure can also be common.  Come join us as we discuss the ins and outs of supporting our clients who have chosen to receive an epidural.

Newborn soothing can sometimes seem like a mysterious, magical, art, especially to new parents. The phone rings, it's a new parent who needs help. Sometimes they need more sleep. Others need help with learning how to settle or soothe their newborns. They are feeling panicked, helpless, desperate, and oftentimes as if they are not doing it right. Some also express that they feel as if their baby doesn't like them. For some, the frantic urgency to try and calm their baby perpetuates the cycle. For others, they cycle through the newborn claiming techniques they know too quickly. As a result, no one technique is given enough time to work. This sense of urgency and desperation often leads families to utilize unsafe practices such as unsafe sleep habits. As birth professionals, we benefit families by showing them what is possible. Knowing that their baby can be calmed and soothed gives them hope. We give them the skills to recreate a calm and happy newborn when we are not there. Come join us as we explore the many

Navigating family challenges surrounding our clients and their support systems can be challenging for many doulas. The relationships between our clients and their support systems are nuanced and built over time. As with all relationships, there is often a deep history that we as doulas are not privy to. Helping clients navigate the challenges that family and friends can present is often a huge part of our role. Giving birth and becoming a parent are emotionally charged transitions. At the same time, it is also an extremely vulnerable state, both emotionally and physically. The people our clients choose to have around them during birth can impact how they view themselves. As a result, those who are present can also result in a client feeling guarded or inhibited. New parents are faced with judgment and are given unsolicited advice on a daily basis. The pressures to "do it right" are immense. This advice is often well-intentioned, yet family or social pressures can undermine a parent's self-confidence. Come joi

While there are many reasons for dilation during labor to take time or pause, one reason is often overlooked—cervical scar tissue.  Cervical scar tissue can come from many sources. Biopsies, cryosurgery, LEEP procedures, to name a few. For some, the scar tissue caused by these procedures may pose no problem at all during labor. But for others, cervical scar tissue can impact the progression of dilation.  While doulas are not clinical care providers, some will choose to explore a clients GYN history a bit to see if there is a history of such procedures. Others may decide not to ask but instead remain mindful and watchful for signs of possible scar tissue during labor. Join us as we discuss the possible impacts of cervical scar tissue on labor, how we navigate conversations surrounding it with clients, and how to navigate discussions surrounding cervical scar tissue in labor.

As doulas, it's easy to let the what-ifs that surround our lives take control. Unlike many other professions, a doula's entire life can center around our work. Being a doula may become a bit of a lived identity if you will. For some, the philosophies of doula work will apply to everyone they encounter. Non-judgmental support, reflective listening, the desire to help in any way possible. For others, the role of a doula is an intentional mindset that they step into or out of as they go to work or transition back to at-home life. Come join us as we discuss the many facets of doula work as a lived identity.

When it comes to advocacy, there is more than one definition. Ask a handful of doulas what it means to advocate for a client and you're like to get a handful of answers. We believe that it is not our place to speak for our clients. This belief can ruffle some doula feathers. While we can achieve the same goals, we tend to define advocate and advocacy a bit differently. We believe that as doulas, we amplify our client's voices. Speaking for them removes their voice. It assumes that they haven't changed their mind. Speaking for the client can actually remove their power and silence their voices.  Come join us as we discuss the many facets of doulas as advocates.

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.

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.