Wisdom and Births

We know, without any doubt, that women have been providing emotional, physical and experiential support to other women in labor throughout much of human history. We now have a plethora of research to demonstrate the beneficial effects of continuous, knowledgeable labor support, such as that of a Birth Doula. However, in our hearts, we don’t need the research to acknowledge the ease we feel when others are present to support us in a time of powerful internal and external struggle and growth. During such monumental transitions and experiences it is important to have supportive, nurturing, and knowledgeable witnesses and this is the service of Doula care. A doula, Greek for a woman who serves , is a caregiver who is present to provide continuous emotional, physical and informed care especially to the mother, but also to her partner and/or family . According to DONA International’s Code of Ethics, “the doula’s primary responsibility is to her clients… the doula should promote the general h...

When I first knew I wanted to break into the birth world I had no idea of where to start. I researched every profession and pathway I could find and chose to become a birth doula first. I decided to go with DONA International because of their strong evidence-based position on the positive effects of continuous labor support, the well-known names that founded the organization, and the fact that it is an international organization and I may decide to live and practice outside the U.S. someday.  I began with the required readings and finished these before purchasing my packet. In March 2010 I took the DONA International doula training, which entailed two full days of hands on birth learning with about 15 other very passionate women in the basement of a doula trainer's home. I felt exhilarated and empowered by my birth doula training and I was ready and determined to conquer the birth world. Within two months I found a Bradley Childbirth Education class that I was able to sit-in on for...