Doula School Canada

Category: Uncategorised

  • An Open Letter to the Canadian Minister of Health

    Good afternoon Honourable Jane Philpott, MP, Minister of Health,

    I am contacting you about fully recognizing Labour and Birth Doulas as a therapeutic and provincially covered profession across Canada.

    The World Health Organization recently reported that the support of Doulas through Labour and Birth is best practice and that Doulas should become covered by our government.

    Specific to that report dated March 23, 2016:
    “All hospitals should implement programmes that offer continuous support to women during labour. The presence of a companion of the woman’s own choice should be permitted and encouraged. An alternative to this may be to integrate “doulas” in maternity wards for the provision of continuous support to women during labour. Doulas are lay women who have received special training to provide non-medical support to women and families during labour, childbirth and the postpartum period (7, 9). Policy-makers and administrators should recognize that the best outcomes are achieved when continuous labour support is provided by non-staff providers, especially doulas. This is particularly important where policy-makers wish to reduce high caesarean rates in their hospitals or country.

    The costs of doula services, where available, are usually passed on to the mother’s family. These costs could be a barrier to the provision of continuous support. Considering all the advantages and possible lower costs to the health system associated with the presence of a doula (less likelihood of cesareans sections and analgesia use), covering the cost of doula services should be considered by policy-makers. Programmes for training and accreditation of doulas should be available in all regions of the country. Courses and programmes can be offered by public hospitals and primary health services for training community doulas.”

    For the full study please click here:
    (http://apps.who.int/…/routine_care/cd0003766_amorimm_com/en/)

    As the Director and Program Coordinator for one of Canada’s Doula certification programs I see this as a great opportunity to work together. I would like to speak to someone about how we can implement Doula training and programs into current birth practice across the country.

    I look forward to hearing from you.

    Mrs. Shaunacy King, BD, CBE
    ​
    Director & Program Coordinator
    Doula Training Canada

  • Doula Shaming: How to Spot the Professional Bully

    Doula Shaming: How to Spot the Professional Bully

    There’s a pandemic of shame happening in the Doula world right now and it’s time we cleared the air on the adult bullying and elitism currently running course.

    The Doula profession has taken off in the past decade, with more people acknowledging the overall value in the attendance of a Doula through labour and into the postpartum period.

    Big certification agencies are now competing with boutique certification agencies, all making claims that they are “premier,” “modern,” “professional,” and “comprehensive.”  Each vy for the attention of potential students who are searching for the “right” certification agency for them.  Their “Doula family,” if you will.

    Loyalty to a Doula organization, no different than loyalty to a family member, runs thick.  Students and alumni square off to defend their own and herald the joys of their experiences.  This is to be expected – after all they did choose them in the end!

    Unfortunately as a result of this need to choose we have seen a number of our Doula sisters become subject to a stream of bullying that is uncalled for and completely unprofessional.  The explicit questioning of ethnicity, language, and choice of certification agency by some of the “leaders” in certain organizations is, to be blunt, disgusting.  These same people are teaching their students that it is important to book clients by being nurturing and professional, yet in the same breath demanding their audience “do what I say” or “hit the highway.”

    ​Um, what?!

    Watching some of these conversations go down over social media is like watching the mean girls in fifth grade pass notes back in forth at the expense of their bullied victim.  Like, super mature (insert eye roll).

    Here’s the thing.  The mean girl eventually just becomes known as a bully (I actually thought of another 5 letter ‘b’ word… but I’m playing nice today friends!).  The bully’s game becomes tiring and no one wants to play anymore.  As Doulas become recognized by policy makers, and regulatory associations grow collaboration will prevail over competition.  The mean girls may even find themselves on the outside looking in.
    There is no “right” or “wrong” way to Doula.  There is YOUR way.  Can certification organizations give you training and mentorship to move you toward success?  We hope so!

    However, what you do with the information you are given lies no where but with you.  There is no magic bag of tricks to guarantee that you are going to be the most successful Doula in your community.

    Do we want to mentor you to make it happen?  Absolutely!

    Can a certification agency guarantee it at the expense of others?  No flipping way.

    We applaud the growing body of certification options available to incoming Doulas.  Personal choice and satisfaction is an important component to successfully fulfilling your Doula goals and living your passion each day.  However, what we (insert I) do not condone is the tactics of bullying and elitism that some of these options are employing.
    So, in stereotypical Canadian fashion.  It’s time to play peacemaker.  It’s time to play nice.  No one likes to be bullied.  It’s time for the Doula world to grow up and work collaboratively together.  Are you ready to Doula Canada?

    Here is a fantastic article by Amy Gilliland from “Doulaing the Doula” about things to consider when choosing a Doula Certification organization:  Click Here.

  • 3 Damn Good Reasons for Childbirth Education courses

    3 Damn Good Reasons for Childbirth Education courses

     

    We live in an information age.  At the tip of your fingertips is all of the world’s information.  How crazy is that?!  Want to know how to fix your car engine?  Google!  Curious about what happened in 1215 B.C?  Let’s type it in!  Looking for a delicious gluten, dairy, sugar, GMO, organic recipe?  Yup, you’ll find it – and what time is dinner?!

    To the newly expecting parent (congrats!) the plethora of online articles, blogs, Q & A’s and parenting forums can be slightly intimidating and like, whoa, overwhelming.  A simple online search about “strollers” can leave you confused for weeks… no, wait, make that months!

    FACT:  it took my husband and I five months to decide on our stroller.  It took us three days to buy our first home!

    Finding a clear, non-confuted explanation about what you could expect in your upcoming labour experience (and the multiple years of parenting!) can be, excuse my parlez français, fucking impossible.

    So here are 3 damn good reasons to take a prenatal course in your community:

    Reason #1: Down to the Nitty-Gritty

    At the end of the day there are two things most expecting women want answered:

    (A)  How will I know when I’m in labour?

    AND

    (B) How the hell am I going to get through it?

    Prenatal instructors answer this.  Easily.  Without agenda or obtusity.

    Imagine a prenatal world where you get an answer like this:  “Here is a cervix.  This is how it works.  This is what you and your baby need to get this shit done.  Congratulations and best wishes!”

    Prenatal courses and strong instructors cut through the crap and give you facts.  Evidence.  Amazing!

    Reason #2:  The Good Stuff
    People who teach private prenatal courses tend to attack their profession with an amorous rage!   We are birth junkies.  Labour geeks.  And as a result, research addicts.

    When we teach a course to the newly expecting we want to make sure that our programs are solid and that our students are…. oh man…imagine this… HAPPY!

    By researching and sharing THE BEST information available, online and otherwise, your prenatal instructor hopes that the small time they have spent with you has a positive affect on your labour and parenting experience.  Say what?!

    Of course there are no guarantees, but our intentions are altruistic.  Pinky swear!

    Reason #3:  Wait for it…. You’re not the Only One
    Expecting a baby can feel isolating.  Online resources write of the amazing journey and beauty one should feel towards growing a baby.  Um, duh.

    Yet the simultaneous images of something the size of an avocado (wait for the pumpkin!) growing inside of you can sometimes be enough to open the Hoover Dam of hormonal tears.  “It has to come out somehow!”  Pass the Kleenex.  And damn you sappy Canadian Tire commercials!

    Attending a prenatal class and sitting with others who are also feeling the highs and lows of becoming parents can be incredibly therapeutic and wonderfully relieving.

    If you want to do yourself a HUGE favour for your upcoming labour and parenting experience then research prenatal course options available in your community.  Find one that fits your schedule, birth philosophy, and personality.  Then SIGN UP!

    Let the birth junkies remove information overload and create colloquial clarity for your experiences ahead!

    For more information about becoming a Labour Doula or Childbirth Education… click HERE.

    About the author:  
    Shaunacy is a full-time Labour Doula in the Peterborough, ON, Canada.   
    She strongly feels that through evidenced based approaches to learning all families can benefit from prenatal education courses – and have fun doing it too!  
    Now as an instructor for Doula Training Canada she travels across Canada teaching others to become Labour Doulas and Childbirth Educators.  
    Are you ready to Doula and CBE Canada?  Join her!

    Copyrigtht – Shaunacy King (Glow Maternity), 2016.  Please do not print or copy without permission from author.  

  • Childbirth Educators: A Cool Career

    Childbirth Educators: A Cool Career

    Impact. 

    If I were asked to choose one word summarizing the role of a Childbirth Educator, this is the word I would choose.  Impact.
    Installing confidence in new parents as they make plans and transitions towards becoming a family is one of the highlights of a Childbirth Educators career.  In this role a educator is able to work alongside their clients to help them mitigate the choices and challenges they may face in labour, birth and early parenting.  A Childbirth Educator has the opportunity to provide clear, well-researched, and relevant information that impacts a new family’s life in perpetuity.  Wow.  How awesome is that?!

    Skill.

    Childbirth Educators bring a diverse skill set to their courses, which benefits their prenatal course registrants.  Not all of our skills and experiences are the same, and one does not necessarily need to be a parent to become a fantastic Childbirth Educator.  A passion for birth and parenting, research-oriented initiative, and drive are all qualities that successful Childbirth Educators possess.  Do you love teaching?  Awesome!  Do you love people?  Even better!  Do you have a passion for birth and parenting related topics?  Perfect!

    Challenging.

    I use to be obsessed with the show “Mythbusters.”  There was something so gratifying in gambling on whether a myth would be busted or ratified.  Challenging myths and exploring evidence-based opportunities available to new parents is a big part of a Childbirth Educators role in the classroom.  We are the “mythbusters” of the modern-day childbirthing world who breakdown the walls of conformity between accepted and expected.  Ooooo… I sense a t-shirt tagline in the making!

    Fun.

    Name one other profession in the world that can get 10+ adults giggling simultaneously over topics like mucous plugs, leaky breasts, and sphincters.  None!  Childbirth Educators take the uncomfortable and make it cheerful.  We replace fear of childbirth with fun and fact.  We normalize the not-talked-about, we expose the eclipsed, clear up the cryptic…. And we can teach people all sorts of wonderfully fun positions for pushing a baby out too!

    Why Certify?

    Deciding to certify as a Childbirth Educator diversifies and developments your skills in pedagogical communication, research methods, lesson planning, marketing, business practices and much more.  A well developed CBE program will boost your confidence AND set you on the right path towards registering those first few families.  It is a commitment that qualifies you to take your passion for birth and parenting and transform it into a journey of a lifelong career.  A career with tremendous reward.  A career with tremendous impact.

  • The re-launch of CBE!

    The re-launch of CBE!

    We are so honored to have Shaunacy King from Peterborough, co-owner of Glow Maternity, join our team and work to help make our Childbirth Educator program as fabulous as our other programs (Birth Doula and Postpartum Doula).

    With a background in academia, Shaunacy is driven by an evidence based approach to educating and assisting expectant and new parents.  “My background in social research naturally drives me towards approaching birth and parenting from a perspective of advocacy.  Meaning, I strongly feel that each family should receive all of the facts that will lead to their best birth and birthing ‘their own way’.”  And this philosophy is what makes her such a great inspiration to our CBE students.  She wants each of YOUR families to be empowered too!

    But is it worth it for you to become a Childbirth Educator?  Have a look below at this great visual display of the benefits of receiving certification, especially if you are already a birth or postpartum doula.  As a Childbirth Educator you are in a great position to gain clients after they have already made a personal connection with you during their CBE class.  If you are not looking to be a Birth or Postpartum Doula, you could set your business up to work closely with those professionals in your community and network together to help increase each others businesses.
    Yes, our Childbirth Educator training is intense.  But that is what makes it well worth it in the end for you to be the BEST business professional you can be 🙂

    Why would someone choose to become a Childbirth Educator?  Some of the reasons are:

    * they have a passion for birth, parenting, helping, empowering or all of these!
    * their family life would benefit from the fixed schedule a Childbirth Educator over the variable schedule of a birth doula
    * they want to offer a diverse perspective on birth in their community

    In class trainings are being offered throughout Ontario in 2015 and will extend to other provinces in Canada in 2016.  Use the link below to register for one of these sessions and start your certification journey as a Childbirth Educator today!