Doula School Canada

Category: Postpartum Doula

  • Why I Teach Full Spectrum Doula Training in Guatemala

    Why I Teach Full Spectrum Doula Training in Guatemala

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    Why I Teach Full-Spectrum Doula Training in Guatemala: A Transformative Retreat at Lake Atitlán

    [/mk_title_box][mk_title_box highlight_opacity=”0″ font_family=”none”]Author: Stefanie Antunes[/mk_title_box][vc_column_text margin_bottom=”0″ css=”.vc_custom_1767642223480{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Every time I step into the retreat space at Lake Atitlán in Guatemala to teach Full Spectrum Doula Training in Guatemala with a group of aspiring doulas, I feel deeply grateful. Teaching this immersive doula certification course through Doula School has shown me how powerful it can be when we combine modern, evidence-based birthwork with ancestral birthing wisdom rooted in place.

    In that setting surrounded by mountains, water, and a community that honors birth I get to guide people not just toward certification, but toward a grounded, compassionate practice that will serve families for years to come.[/vc_column_text][mk_title_box highlight_opacity=”0″ font_family=”none”]

    What Makes Full-Spectrum Doula Training Different?

    [/mk_title_box][vc_column_text margin_bottom=”0″ css=”.vc_custom_1767642698316{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]full spectrum doula training in Guatemala Stefanie Antunes teacher

    Unlike traditional birth doula training programs that focus solely on labor support, full-spectrum doula training prepares you to support families through every stage of their reproductive journey. This comprehensive approach means you’ll be equipped to serve clients during conception, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and even through pregnancy loss or infant loss.

    During this 7-day intensive retreat (complemented by online learning components), I guide trainees through our complete full-spectrum doula curriculum:

    Birth & Labor Support

    You’ll master comfort measures, labor support techniques, understanding medical interventions, client advocacy, and informed consent practices. This foundation ensures you can confidently support birthing people through whatever their labor brings.

    Postpartum & Newborn Care

    Learn essential newborn care skills, infant feeding support (including breastfeeding and bottle feeding), postpartum body changes, perinatal mental health awareness, and navigating complex family dynamics during the fourth trimester.

    Fertility & Reproductive Health Support

    For those called to support fertility journeys, we cover reproductive anatomy, menstrual cycle awareness, holistic fertility care, and how to compassionately guide clients through conception challenges.

    Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support

    Gain the specialized training needed to sensitively and professionally support clients through miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal loss, and fertility challenges—one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of doula work.

    Professional Practice Skills

    I provide practical guidance on launching and building your doula business, including client communication, professional ethics, contract writing, pricing structures, and sustainable business practices.

    Cultural Awareness & Inclusion

    We intentionally integrate learning about diverse birth traditions, cultural humility, anti-racism in birthwork, and inclusive support practices—essential skills for serving families from all backgrounds with respect and competence.

    With this training, my goal is to equip you not only as a doula but as a well-rounded, empathetic practitioner ready to support clients through any part of their reproductive journey.[/vc_column_text][mk_image src=”https://stefanie-techops.wisdmlabs.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/full-spectrum-doula-training-in-guatemala.jpg” image_height=”500″ align=”center”][mk_title_box highlight_opacity=”0″ font_family=”none”]

    Why Guatemala? The Power of Place in Doula Education:

    [/mk_title_box][vc_column_text margin_bottom=”0″ css=”.vc_custom_1767642649112{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]I chose Lake Atitlán for this doula training retreat for reasons that go far beyond its breathtaking beauty. This sacred space offers something transformative that traditional classroom settings simply cannot provide.

    Immersive Learning Without Distractions: 

    When you step away from your everyday environment and into this retreat setting, you leave behind the distractions of daily life. You can dive fully into learning, practice, embodiment, and personal transformation. This level of presence accelerates your growth as a doula in ways that weekend workshops spread over months cannot match.

    Balance of Education, Rest, and Cultural Immersion:

    Unlike intensive doula training programs that pack information into cramped schedules, our Guatemala retreat balances hands-on learning with rest, community building, and cultural immersion. You’ll have time to process what you’re learning, connect with your cohort, and experience local birth traditions firsthand.

    Ancestral Wisdom Meets Modern Evidence

    Guatemala’s rich birthing traditions offer profound lessons about instinctive birth, community support, and honoring the sacred in reproduction. By learning in this environment, you experience the beautiful blend of ancestral birthing knowledge and contemporary, evidence-based doula practice— creating a more complete understanding of what birth support can be.

    Personal, Professional, and Spiritual Transformation:

    This isn’t just about getting certified. The retreat format creates space for personal healing, professional clarity, and spiritual growth. Many graduates tell me the Guatemala experience didn’t just train them as doulas, it transformed how they see birth, themselves, and their purpose in the world.[/vc_column_text][mk_image src=”https://stefanie-techops.wisdmlabs.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/full-spectrum-doula-training-in-guatemala-room.jpg” image_height=”500″ align=”center”][mk_title_box highlight_opacity=”0″ font_family=”none”]

    Who Should Join This Full-Spectrum Doula Training?

    [/mk_title_box][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1767626015601{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]I welcome you to this doula certification program if you:

    • Feel called to support families through birth, fertility, postpartum care, or pregnancy loss
    • Want comprehensive training that covers the full spectrum of reproductive support—not just labor and delivery
    • Appreciate immersive, in-person learning in a beautiful, supportive retreat environment
    • Value cultural humility, diversity, inclusion, and a holistic approach to birthwork
    • Are ready to build a doula practice rooted in respect, compassion, skill, and professional excellence
    • Want to be part of a supportive community of birth workers who will continue learning together long after the retreat ends

    Whether you’re starting fresh in birthwork, transitioning from nursing or midwifery, seeking postpartum doula training, or expanding from birth doula work into full-spectrum care, this program will meet you where you are and guide you forward.[/vc_column_text][mk_title_box highlight_opacity=”0″ font_family=”none”]

    My Promise to You as Your Doula Trainer:

    [/mk_title_box][vc_column_text margin_bottom=”0″ css=”.vc_custom_1767642612899{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]My commitment is to teach with heart, knowledge, and integrity—and to support you fully, long after the retreat ends. I believe in giving you the tools, confidence, and compassion needed to walk beside families during their most vulnerable, sacred moments.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text margin_bottom=”0″ css=”.vc_custom_1767642574347{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]My commitment is to teach with heart, knowledge, and integrity—and to support you fully, long after the retreat ends. I believe in giving you the tools, confidence, and compassion needed to walk beside families during their most vulnerable, sacred moments.[/vc_column_text][mk_title_box highlight_opacity=”0″ font_family=”none”]

    You’ll leave Guatemala with:

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    • A recognized doula certification that opens doors professionally
    • Practical skills you can immediately apply with clients
    • A supportive network of fellow doulas
    • Ongoing mentorship and community through Doula School
    • Confidence in your ability to serve families with excellence
    • A transformed understanding of what birthwork can be

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    Begin Your Journey as a Full-Spectrum Doula:

    [/mk_title_box][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1767626399312{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]If you feel called to this work, I would be honored to guide you in the stunning surroundings of Lake Atitlán as you begin your journey as a full-spectrum doula with Doula School.

    Our next Guatemala doula training retreat is filling quickly. Learn more about the program, see what’s included, review the curriculum details, and register here:[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Full Spectrum Guatemala Doula Training” css=”” link=”url:%2Ffull-spectrum-guatemala-doula-training%2F”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1767632756726{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Your calling to support families through their most transformative moments deserves training that’s equally transformative. I look forward to welcoming you to Guatemala.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1767632852709{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]stefanie antunes

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stefanie Antunes, Co-director of Doula School

    Stefanie is co-director of Doula School with a vision of creating trauma-informed, culturally responsive doula education that honors both evidence-based practice and ancestral wisdom. With over 20 years in birthwork she brings depth, experience, and heart to every training.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Combating Shame in Postpartum Substance Use with Compassion

    Combating Shame in Postpartum Substance Use with Compassion

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    Combating Shame in Postpartum Substance Use with Compassion

    Many parents feel pressure to present a perfect image after birth, yet postpartum substance use remains hidden in silence. This silence creates deep isolation and pushes struggling parents further away from needed care. Shame acts like a heavy barrier, cutting off connection and worsening feelings of failure. Compassion opens the door to trust and understanding. Doulas stand in a unique position to notice the unspoken struggles and respond with empathy. As a matter of fact, compassionate conversations break the cycle of judgment and help parents feel seen. Not to mention, they create safe spaces where healing can begin. With this in mind, doulas can guide families toward hope and healthier paths without fear.

    doula school training. Combating Shame in Postpartum Substance Use with Compassion

    Why Shame Deepens the Struggle

    New parents who face postpartum substance use often carry heavy shame, which creates
    powerful obstacles to recovery. Shame tells them they are unworthy of care, while guilt says they made a mistake. Guilt can guide someone to make better choices, whereas shame convinces them they are broken. In truth, this belief drives many parents deeper into secrecy and pain. Not to mention, shame silences their voice and prevents them from asking for help.

    On the other hand, guilt can push toward growth when met with support. The emotional cost of shame feels unbearable for new parents already coping with sleepless nights and shifting identities. With this in mind, doulas who recognize the weight of shame can offer compassion that restores connection, reduces isolation, and supports the path toward healing.

    Compassion as a Healing Tool in Postpartum Substance Use

    Compassion softens the weight of shame for parents who suffer. It reminds them they deserve care, not judgment. In contrast, shame isolates while compassion builds bridges back to support. Another key point is that compassion fosters trust between doulas and clients. Clients begin to feel safe enough to share struggles openly. Then again, compassion does not excuse harmful behavior, but it offers a path toward healing without fear. With this in mind, doulas can model empathy through presence, attentive listening, and gentle reassurance. Similarly, research shows compassion lowers stress and supports recovery. Above all, compassion affirms the humanity of each parent while guiding them toward healthier choices. Doulas who practice consistent compassion especially during postpartum substance use encourage parents to believe change is possible and achievable.

    Understanding the Root Causes of Postpartum Substance Use

    The postpartum substance use often begins with overwhelming stress and untreated trauma. Hormonal shifts, birth-related pain, and emotional exhaustion amplify vulnerability. In like manner, social pressure to appear strong forces many parents to hide their struggles. Shame deepens when outside voices label substance use as weakness instead of survival. To move forward, doulas must understand that addiction does not arise from one single cause.

    On the contrary, support without judgment helps parents feel less alone in their experiences. Another key point is that untreated depression and anxiety often drive unhealthy coping methods. With this in mind, doulas should recognize how medical, emotional, and social factors all intersect. Above all, awareness of root causes empowers doulas to approach families with understanding rather than blame.

    Connecting Clients With Resources Without Pressure

    Shame often keeps new mothers from reaching out for help with substance use. Many fear judgment or worry that seeking treatment will reflect poorly on their ability to parent. That makes it important for doulas to present treatment resources as supportive options rather than demands. Safe, judgment-free environments allow mothers to accept care without feeling blamed or stigmatized, which is often the first step toward healing. For some, addressing physical dependence in a medically supervised setting provides the foundation to move forward. In truth, there are situations—such as having a co-occurring mental health disorder, a comorbid medical condition, or a history of using multiple substances—where medical detox is necessary to protect both health and long-term recovery.

    When doulas explain these options with compassion, new mothers are more likely to view treatment as empowerment instead of punishment. By avoiding forced referrals and instead focusing on respect, doulas help reduce feelings of shame. Ongoing support combined with access to appropriate levels of care builds trust and strengthens the recovery journey. Ultimately, doulas who center their work on empathy and understanding create stronger bridges that guide parents toward lasting healing.

    The Doula’s Role in Supporting Healing

    Doulas stand close to families during their most vulnerable days. For this reason, they often notice hidden struggles others may overlook. Of course, their supportive presence gives parents the courage to speak honestly. Similarly, doulas can normalize difficult conversations about substance use by showing respect and compassion. Then again, clients may hesitate at first, so patience becomes important. In short, a doula’s role is not to diagnose or treat, but to provide safety and empathy. Another key point is offering nonjudgmental listening without rushing to solutions. With this in mind, doulas can validate parents’ feelings and guide them toward helpful resources. Above all, their role is to stand beside families with understanding, ensuring no parent feels abandoned during recovery.

    Infant Massage for Doulas

    Language Matters: Words That Heal vs. Words That Harm

    Language shapes recovery outcomes more than many realize. For this reason, doulas should avoid harsh terms like “addict” or “failure.” Instead, use person-first language such as “parent experiencing substance use.” That reduces stigma and protects dignity. In truth, words that shame can close the door to trust instantly.

    In contrast, supportive language keeps dialogue open and healing possible. Another key point, tone matters as much as the words chosen. Not to mention, gentle phrasing can lower fear and invite honest sharing. As a study published by Science Direct shows, doula support decreases the odds of postpartum depression by 57.5%. With this in mind, doulas must practice conscious communication daily. Above all, their language should affirm that every parent deserves compassion and care. In like manner, doulas who speak with respect help parents believe recovery is possible.

    Practical Strategies for Doulas to Offer Support

    Parents need practical guidance, not just comforting words. For this reason, doulas can start by creating stigma-free environments where parents feel safe. Listening without interruption helps parents open up. Not to mention, offering grounding techniques supports emotional stability during stressful moments. Also, doulas can encourage daily practices like mindful breathing or gentle stretching.

    However, they should respect individual readiness and never pressure immediate change. With this in mind, doulas can communicate with clients and suggest professional help when they seem open. In like manner, referrals should always empower choice, not enforce action. Above all, strategies must reinforce trust so parents believe they are worthy of support. Consistency in care strengthens resilience and creates steady progress toward recovery.

    Compassion Breaks the Cycle of Shame

    Compassion transforms recovery for families facing postpartum substance use. Shame isolates parents, but empathy creates connection and hope. Doulas who support with respect and nonjudgmental care strengthen healing. In short, every compassionate act helps break the silence, reduce stigma, and guide parents toward safe, supportive paths of recovery.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Why We Need More Human Milk

    Why We Need More Human Milk

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”509749″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][mk_padding_divider][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1690821411248{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”] At Doula Canada we celebrate August  as Human Lactation Month. A month of honouring and celebrating the many lactation weeks that happen throughout August. Including but not limited to  World Breastfeeding Week 2023 is from Tuesday 1st August – Monday 7th August 2023. Indigenous Milk Medicine Week is held annually August 8-14.  Black Breastfeeding Week runs August 25th – 31st.  As we honour Human Milk pay attention to our blog and social media for more information and takeaways throughout the month.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][mk_padding_divider][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1690820935893{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

    Why We Need More Human Milk

    I had a conversation with a new colleague with expertise in lactation support that blew my understanding of late-stage capitalist discourse on breast/chestfeeding wide open. She said that when we talk about the benefits of breastfeeding we construct formula as the baseline and feeding infants human milk as an added bonus. The construct should be to perceive human milk as a baseline and formula as an intervention that has risks and benefits and is to be used when feeding human milk is not an option.

    Most of the clients I work with prenatally have a strong goal of feeding their baby their own milk exclusively for at least the first 6 months of life, and continue nursing after food introduction. Some have a goal of nursing for, up to two years. My clients understand that this goal tracks with evidence-based infant feeding recommendations. (The Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada and the World Health Organization) What they are often blindsided by is just how many obstacles exist to achieving that goal. 

    Talking about the joys and the barriers to feeding our babies our milk is vital during Human Lactation Month (commonly known as Breastfeeding Awareness Month). Many of the specific obstacles to meeting feeding goals that I have seen are rooted in silence that starts long before the pregnancy.

    Many of us have never held a baby or seen someone nurse before we’re attempting to feed our firstborns for the first time. That’s not normal. It used to be that our efforts to initiate chest/breastfeeding came after a lifetime of watching other milk-producing members of our community do this important job. As a result, we have a lot of catching up to do while we are overwhelmed with getting to know our new babes.

    There is also silence about our bodies. We encounter people who have never touched their breasts and are uncomfortable with learning hand expressions. There are those who have never heard of colostrum and are therefore susceptible to well-meaning advice from family or professionals that their supply is not enough and that they need to supplement with formula on day one or two. 

    And there is silence about the impact of intergenerational and individual trauma. There are Black folks who unexpectedly feel the humiliation of slave wet nurses rising inside them across time when they put their own newborns to the breast. There are Indigenous folks whose mothers have repeated to them what they heard from doctors in hospitals, away from their communities “formula is better than your breastmilk”.

    The current evidence continues to be irrefutable that our milk is best for our babies. The probiotics in each person’s milk are custom designed for their baby, resulting in optimized digestive, immune, and cognitive functioning, and many other health indicators.  

    If milk from the biological parent is not an option, human milk from a donor is the next best thing. Of course, there are many obstacles to human milk sharing as well, with attempts to walk this road often leading right back to formula.

    Over the course of this month we’ll be sharing some fun, interactive content in support and celebration of human milk. Stay tuned for a lactation recipe box, an infographic on milk sharing, and some fun facts and tips about getting those juices flowing. Wishing you a productive August![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][mk_padding_divider][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1690821366833{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Keira Grant (she/her) brings a wealth of experience to her EDI Co-Lead role. She is a Queer, Black woman with a twenty-year track record in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) education, projects, and community building initiatives. As a mom and partner she uses her lived expereince to provide support and reflection for her clients and her work. Keira is the owner of Awakened Changes Perinatal Doula Services.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Advocacy at Doula Canada

    Advocacy at Doula Canada

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1669384798061{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Doulas support birthers, babies, and family members during an intimate and emotionally charged experience that often involves many medical twists and turns along the way. For many doula clients, pregnancy and childbirth are among the most complicated experiences with our healthcare system they will have ever had to navigate. We know that birthers need to feel in control of what happens to their bodies and to be making informed choices about their care to create a positive experience and avoid trauma. 

    Doulas can change a person’s healthcare experience for the better by supporting their bodily autonomy and informed decision-making. Additionally, we are well placed to notice systemic issues that impact our clients again and again, and to use our knowledge to encourage and support changes.

    Learning to engage in this type of advocacy within the scope of the doula’s role, so that our efforts are helpful, is an important aspect of our learning and professional development. To support our students and alumni, Doula Canada has developed an advocacy framework that defines advocacy in the context of doula practice and describes approaches to individual advocacy that are aligned with respect for client autonomy. 

    Our framework identifies three categories of advocacy that doulas engage in: systemic advocacy, self-advocacy promotion, and individual advocacy. 

    Systemic advocacy is any effort to change, remove, or add a policy or process that affects the lives of birthers, families, babies, or doulas. Examples include lobbying your elected federal representative to change the birth evacuation policy or amplifying social media campaigns that raise awareness regarding perinatal mental illness.

    While we don’t usually think of it as such, our work with clients to support them to know the evidence regarding their perinatal circumstances, and ask the right questions of their healthcare providers is a form of advocacy. We encourage them to use their voice and make their conversations more effective because they are armed with information.

    Sometimes, especially in the birth room, it might be necessary to advocate for the client in more direct ways. It is important that this individual advocacy does not manifest as speaking for or over the client, or in a manner that could worsen their care or medical situation.

    A 2020 paper by S.S. Yam based on interviews with doulas identified three types of tactics that doulas use to advocate for their clients during labour and delivery. She calls these “soft-advocacy” techniques because they differ from what we usually think of as advocacy. Staff and instructors at Doula Canada agreed they used these strategies and had lots of guidance to offer on exactly how to use them. Their guidance was used to develop the advocacy framework. 

    The three tactics identified by Yam are 1) creating deliberative space, 2) cultural and knowledge brokering, and 3) physical touch and spatial maneuvers. 

    Creating deliberative space refers to strategies that give the client more time to ask questions and make decisions. One example of how doulas do this is by noticing that care that deviates from their preferences is about to happen and bringing it to the client’s attention, prompting them to ask about the intervention that is about to happen.

    Cultural and knowledge brokering refer to the tactics doulas use to make sure the client understands medical jargon or cultural norms. This could involve paying close attention to the information provided by the medical team, observing how well this is understood by the client, and repeating the information in language that the client uses and understands.

    Physical touch and spatial maneuvering refers to the ways we use our bodies and physical contact with the client to advocate for their needs. Examples include using our bodies to conceal the client from view, modeling consent by asking permission each time we touch the client, and using our presence to back up the client during interactions. 

    The complete framework is linked below. It offers more detail on the three types of advocacy and the soft-advocacy strategies. It illustrates these concepts using case studies based on staff and instructor experiences. 

    In 2023, Doula Canada will continue its work to support advocacy among its members by developing an advocacy toolkit from the framework and launching an advocacy working group for students and alumni. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][mk_button corner_style=”rounded” size=”large” url=”https://stefanie-techops.wisdmlabs.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/advocacy-framework-paper.pdf” align=”center”]Click here to view the full Advocacy Framework document[/mk_button][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Standing out from the Crowd in your Birth Work Business

    Standing out from the Crowd in your Birth Work Business

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1655208046361{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]One of my favourite aspects of getting to know more doulas is hearing everyone’s “Why I became a birth worker story”. While there are common themes, every doula’s story is unique and visceral. Our motivations are often connected to our own experiences of birth trauma or the traumatic experience of a loved one. Others want to disrupt the systemic injustices of the medicalized birth model that have impacted them and their community directly. Others are “birth nerds” who are just fascinated by all things birth and baby. Others remember their own experience of wishing they had had more support and more information and want to provide that for others.

    Our specific reasons are as unique as we all are. Yet, many of us struggle to communicate this innate individuality to prospective clients. It can be hard to know how to make what you offer clients sound different from the standard list of doula services: “continuous labour support, informational support, assistance with establishing a good latch, emotional needs during labour, non-medical comfort” etc. All of those services are invaluable, but we also know that parents looking for a doula are not just looking for another clinical person with certain skills. Creating marketing materials that clearly convey how you will deliver those services in a way that is different from any other doula can be very elusive.

    This is where brand identity comes into play. To be honest, when I hear the word “brand” the first thing that pops into my head is that shoe company’s swoosh. But branding is actually much more complex than an eye-catching, memorable logo. When we see that iconic swoosh, we have specific feelings and perceptions about who wears those shoes and who we would be in them, as compared to any other athletic footwear.

    Similarly, our brand as birth workers needs to make it intuitively clear to prospective clients who we are in the birth room and who our support will affirm them to be. When we connect with our audience using a strong brand identity, our business name, logos, shapes, and colours all fit together seamlessly to tell the story of who we are and how the way we do what we do is different from any other doula in our community.

    Another thing I have observed about doulas is that the birth worker community is collaborative rather than competitive. Stemming from our deeply personal reasons for taking up this labour of love, we want our clients to find the best fit for their needs. We want a consistent stream of clients without having to haggle with each other for our share of the market.

    On Tuesday, June 14 at 7 PM ET, Business Consultant Gaileen Flaman will be supporting us to ensure that our public presence stands out from the crowd. Using a mix of self-reflection, visualization, and storytelling exercises we will emerge with the ability to market with precision and cohesion. This is an invaluable opportunity for anyone building their business who wants to know how to tap into the clients that are looking for you. You can register for the Building your Brand Webinar here!

     

    The webinar will be close-captioned. Ticket holders who are unable to attend the webinar live will receive a recording of the session within two business days.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Why YOU matter in business.

    Why YOU matter in business.

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1647449189768{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Birthwork is personal. Everyone comes to this work with some level of personal investment. Clients may be drawn to your logo, website, or social media but who they hire is you. 

    Imagine you are following a company on Instagram and Facebook. The images are warm and cozy feeling. The person in the images is wearing relaxed clothing and a big smile. So you set up a meeting. You are excited to connect with the person you see every day online. 

    When you arrive to meet with this person you walk into an office with modern décor and are greeted by a person in a business suit. How do you feel? Do you stay? Do you continue to want to work with this person?

    This person’s marketing was not representative of who they are. For whatever reason, they were trying to be someone else in the marketing of their business. 

    Finding your voice in this business can be hard. You want to stand out, you want your ideal client to find you. The best and most effective way of finding your market is by showing up. Be vulnerable and honest about who you are. 

    Does this mean baring your soul on social media? Not necessarily. Authenticity is more important than transparency. Clients are not looking for every detail of your life. They are however wanting to meet you, not who you think you should be. 

    So what is authenticity? It means staying true to who YOU are, what YOU do, who YOU serve and, most importantly, why YOU do what you do. To quote Simon Sinek of Start with Why, “It means that the things we say and the things we do are things we actually believe.”

    Authenticity is the basis of the trust clients develops in your business. A client wants to have some sense that the beliefs and values you express in your business, align with theirs. People are drawn to others who are similar to them in certain ways.  What it means is finding your voice. Finding your people and letting them get to know who you are. 

     

    Where do you start? 

    Confidence (even if you have to fake it till you make it)

    This means believing in the power of you. Trusting that what you offer is so much more than the number of births you have attended, clients you have supported, or classes you have taught. That who you are is unique, and your clients are excited to meet you.

    Connection

    Getting yourself out there matters, but what matters most is relationships. Relationships with clients, caregivers, and other professionals are what business is built on. Through relationships all things are possible. Who you are matters in these relationships. Your business depends on your integrity of self. 

    Find a way to position yourself as the expert in your field. Find where your ideal clients hang out, what groups they are in, where they go to the shop, and build those relationships. Talk to the business owners, organize speaking events, be visible.  

    Clients are seeking connection. They want interaction, transparency, and relevance. They want to feel special. If a client likes your Facebook page or gives you their email they are saying “hey I like you!”. How can you say that back? How can you connect with them? Maybe that is as simple as shout-out on your social media platform or maybe that is a gift with purchase.

    Consistency

    This is more than just regularly posting on social media. This means that who you are and what images and ideas you are sharing align. All the time.  That your brand is consistent. Being authentic doesn’t mean you have to post every day and rack up 1000 likes. It just requires you to deliver a consistent, compelling identity that gets clients talking.

    It also means that if you are changing your marketing materials you need to be transparent as to what is to come. People have a hard time with change. Something as simple as a new haircut that makes you appear different from the headshot shown on your website can affect a client’s trust in your business. 

    Collaboration

    Going back to speaking to other business owners. We have a saying here at Doula Canada. There is no such thing as competition. WHAT?! Shocking I know. Here is the thing. Competition breeds contempt. Collaboration builds business. Your market, your clients are unique to you. Visibility matters. The more birth professionals out there (in a small town or big city) the more clients there are out there looking for service. 

    Find like-minded individuals and collaborate. Put on a talk, share space, and find ways to build a market through and with each other.  When you collaborate, you build connections. Connections bring clients. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • 2018, a year of connection – A message from our Director

    2018, a year of connection – A message from our Director

    2018.  A year of connection.
    A message of reflection from our Director.

    When the last light switch is turned off on our yearly trainings I like to sit back and reflect on the growth, the hiccups, and the bounty of support we have created at Doula Canada.  Were our 2018 goals achieved?  What were the lessons we learned?  How can we make this better for our members in the year to come?  

    365 days of continuous trainings and member support can feel like a daunting task at the turning of the new calendar year, but 2018 leaned towards healthy growth via the streamlining of our online learning centre and the dedication of our expert training staff.   In short, this past year was a year of vibrancy and commitment by our growing membership, our hardworking team, and the community of networking partners we set out to encompass.

    It was also a lot of fun!  We made videos, held webinars, and we increased our communitas for members who wished to take part in our online check-in’s, social media platforms, monthly newsletters, and closed community forums.  

    But fun wasn’t the only focus of this past year.  2018 was about making connections and beginning the work on collaborations both with and for our Doula Canada members.  The year allowed for us to ask and to receive.

    In Canada we found incredible partnerships in The Gabriel Dumont Institute and the onset of our Indigenous Doula program.  We set the groundwork for our doula programs to be offered bilingually through Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB).  We continued to strengthen our relationship with Douglas College in New Westminster, BC, and we began discussions with multiple national partners to increase access to doula support through increased funding, alongside obstetrical partnerships, and increased awareness of maternal and infant mental health.  

    We are grateful to have held space and made plans with First Family Wellness (Regina), Beausoleil First Nation (Christian Island), BirthMark (Toronto), Hon. Min. John Haggie (Newfoundland) and his community partners, Canadian Mental Health Association (National), and a number of hospital administrators and boards.  We look forward to continuing our discussions and plans in 2019.

    Connections were also made outside of Canada as our team worked to create bridges between the maternal support needs of International communities and the strength of our Doula nation and its trainings.  Many of our members volunteered in countries like Honduras, Costa Rica, and Haiti, and in early 2019 a number of Doula Canada students will travel to Tanzania with Wombs of the World to work as alongside obstetrical support, and to increase access to safe water and sustainable job opportunities.  We will continue to support these initiatives as we make plans for future retreat and learning opportunities held abroad by Doula Canada in 2019.  

    Lastly, 2018 was a year of growth.  As an organization we saw our membership increase by over 38% from the previous fiscal year, and we expanded our certifications and workshop offerings to include expansive programs such as Infant and Pregnancy Loss, Sex and Birth, Rock Your VBAC, and the announcement of our Fertility Support and Menopause Practitioner trainings. 

    So, 2018, you were kind to us, and for that we are grateful.  Our organization at Doula Canada grew and created beautiful connections that we look forward to nurturing in 2019.   As the Director for this organization I am continuously grateful for the opportunities to learn from each of our members, for those who put forward their best intention to help our Learning Centre get off the ground, and for all the individuals who continue to show up for our profession and our communities.   I am also grateful to the Doula Canada team, who work 24/7, 365 days a year to support our growing membership and their professional needs.

    This New Year’s Eve we will ring it in with many new friends and colleagues, and for that we say…

    (more…)
  • Gratitude for Doula Work with Guest Blogger The Maternal Sidekick

    Gratitude for Doula Work with Guest Blogger The Maternal Sidekick

     

    Hey there folks, introducing an entrepreneurial spirit, a wife, mother to three children under the age of 6, a postpartum doula, personal trainer and an advocate for pelvic floor health, Erika Matkovich.  This day, I sit here writing this article, I am grateful. Full of gratitude for my family, friends, and for what I have done with my doula business, The Maternal Sidekick.

    The Maternal Sidekick is a service-based business focusing on the postpartum family, offering in-home care and personal training services with a focus on pelvic floor health education and awareness.  This area of postpartum wellness is a crucial aspect of recovery after childbirth, with significant impact on a birthing person’s quality of life, which is often not given adequate attention during the postpartum period. My goal with every client is that the family is provided with a more positive postpartum experience as well as realistic expectations of their evolving realities.  Increasing the quality of a new family’s life in this way is an essential part of facilitating their wellbeing and will also serve to enhance the knowledge and awareness of their peers surrounding the value of postpartum support!

    Back Story

    When we finish high school we are funneled into some sort of post-secondary program and with a hope and a prayer from those paying for our education, that program pays off.  Not me, I did the college route, and then spent years jumping job to job never feeling satisfied or fulfilled. It was starting to wear on me, a late 20-something year old with no true aspiration and about to start a family.  Was a stay at home mother my true calling? Don’t get me wrong, I love my little nuggets but still had that career passion void.

    2013, the birth of my first daughter, no complications, and pretty uneventful keeping this little bean alive. As the months dragged on I sunk into a funk that felt like I was losing pieces of my old self and had an identity crisis 6 months postpartum. I didn’t have a large support system and was the first of my friends to have a baby so I felt isolated. I didn’t have the information that I was experiencing postpartum depression, and I was too afraid to ask for help, because I didn’t want others to think I wasn’t a good mother for feeling this way.   Google became my friend trying to find something to heal this crisis I was in.

    I joined a local fitness club specializing in postnatal exercise.  Over the next four years, I witnessed the real struggles, lack of postnatal knowledge, and lack of support faced by new moms outside of this group. In 2016, I pursued a fitness instructor certification and starting teaching postnatal classes and fell head over heels in love.  My newfound awareness and passion for women’s postnatal health and wellness and my own struggles birthed the idea of The Maternal Sidekick.

    (more…)

  • Why Sex & Birth Support Person? With Tynan Rhea

    Doula Canada in partnership with Tynan Rhea is offering our Sex and Birth Support Person Training again starting October 1st. Below, Tynan discusses the importance of this training and why discussing sex with clients is a vital part of pregnancy and postpartum support . 

    When I give talks to professionals on Sex & Birth, or when I go to talks about integrating sexual health questions into any health profession, there’s one phrase I hear all too often:

    “If my client has any questions, I trust that they will ask me.”

    But here’s the thing… no they won’t! Okay, maybe sometimes, but more often than not people will not come forward with their sexual health questions.

    Why won’t people ask? Because they’re ashamed. Or embarrassed. Or they’re scared they’re not normal, that their care provider will treat them differently, or ignore their question, or make them feel like they did something wrong. Many of us find the topic of sexual health emotionally charged. I teach about it for a living and I still get a little anxious bringing up a sexual health concern with a new doctor. Not because I am ashamed or don’t feel I have a right to healthy sexuality, but because I don’t know what my care providers politics are if they don’t bring it up. I don’t know if this person is comfortable, knowledgable, or even indifferent. I do know that sex is a huge stigma for some folks still, and because of that stigma they may directly or indirectly shame me because of their own discomfort. Meaning, their response to my question could psychologically harm me. That’s a big deal!

    That’s why as front-line birth professionals we have an obligation to directly ask our clients if they have an sexual health concerns or questions. That also means, we need to educate ourselves on what kinds of sexual health needs folks might have during conception, pregnancy, labour, or the postpartum period. That doesn’t mean we have to know everything, you are definitely allowed to say, “that’s a great question! I’m not sure what the answer is, I’ll look into that for you and in the meantime, here is a great referral.” It does mean we have to take initiative, though, and be open to listening to our client’s needs.

    What’s as important as knowledge, is also self-reflection. Has someone ever told you about a food they love to eat that made you want to gag? More than one of my family members hates chocolate, like, really hates it. Luckily, because most people I know love chocolate at least half as much as I do, I don’t feel ashamed for my love of chocolate when so-and-so closes their eyes and makes a gag sound. Sex is similar and in a very important way also different. Because sex is so taboo, and most of us have felt some kind of judgement or shame for some aspect of our sexuality over the course of our lifetime, it’s all the more important to check-ourselves.

    Catch that micro expression of disgust before it happens! Be open to different forms of sexual expression and needs. This doesn’t mean you have to do it! It does mean you have to think about it, reflect on it, and maybe even challenge yourself: where did this assumption come from? What disgusts me about this? What excites me? Why do I think this is okay/wrong/neutral?

    Self-reflection also means not trying to inflict our politics or sexual preferences onto our clients, either. If someone just isn’t into sex before marriage or hitting up swingers clubs, that’s their business and their choice. It doesn’t matter if swinging was your gateway into a personal sexual revolution- that’s your story and it’s valid! But it doesn’t mean it’s theirs. It can be difficult to know the difference sometimes (I’m guilty of it, oh goodness), but that’s why self-reflection is so vital!

    The Sex & Birth Personal Support Worker course is designed to help you gain the knowledge and skills you need to ask the right questions and find the right answers, as well as reflect on your own experiences as a sexual being so you can hold space for your clients. You don’t have to know everything, and you don’t have to love everything, but you do have to provide reproductive health support and part of that support is about sex!

    So, instead of “if my client has any questions, I trust that they will ask me,” let’s start acting from a place of, “if my client has any questions, I’ll know because I asked.”.

    Tynan Rhea is a settler with German and Czechoslovakian ancestry. Tynan has a private practice online and in Toronto as a counselor, aromatherapist, and doula specializing in sex, intimacy, and relationships throughout the reproductive years and founder of PostpartumSex.com. Tynan graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Joint Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sexuality, Marriage, & Family. They received their doula training from the Revolutionary Doula Training program and their aromatherapy training with Anarres Apothecary Apprenticeship program. Tynan is currently enrolled at Yorkville University doing their Masters of Arts Counselling Psychology degree. Tynan approaches their practice from sex-positive, trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and feminist frameworks. Find Tynan on Facebook, Instagram @TynanRhea or TynanRhea.com

  • A Postpartum What?

     

    Do you know how wonderful labour doulas feel after a birth?  Knowing they worked hard and their client did IT.

    Do you know that same feeling can come from “Mothering the Mother”?  A beautiful gift of being a Postpartum Doula.  And our world *needs* this help!!  Most of us don’t have round the clock support.  Many times our own parents are not in the same community and our partners return to work after just a few weeks (or less!).  And being a new mom is hard.  We can all use a little support.

    Here is a piece from a then student’s postpartum doula report that brought a little tear to my eye because I could feel the joy of that little boy, and the relief of the new mom that she could give that to her boy.  (The student doesn’t know I’m using it so I hope she forgives me lol!  Names have been avoided for confidentiality purposes).

    “As a special surprise, she asked if I could stay in with the boys and M. while she met T. at the bus stop which she can’t usually do so she has a walker.  It made T.’s day!!!”

    Such a small thing, but made a world of difference to this postpartum family.  And that’s what a postpartum doula does!  A lot of little things that add up to a HUGE difference in the world of new (or growing) families.

    Do you think this is something you want to do?  Does this call to your heart?  Contact us today!  doulatrainingcanada@gmail.com 

    www.stefanie-techops.wisdmlabs.net