Doula School Canada

Tag: birthwork

  • Reflections on Trans Inclusion in Birth & Lactation Support

    Reflections on Trans Inclusion in Birth & Lactation Support

    Miriam Main, one of the directors of La Leche League Great Britain (LLLGB) recently resigned because she objects to the organizational directive to be inclusive of all people who lactate, regardless of sex or gender identity. Her open resignation letter explaining her decision echoes much of the feedback we’ve heard in recent years from birthworkers who disagree with our use of language such as “chestfeeding”, “birthing person” and other terms aimed at ensuring that all people who birth babies and feed infants from their mammary glands feel included and supported with the resources required to meet their feeding goals. 

    Her objections to trans inclusivity include:

    • Women cannot be physically and emotionally open with “men” present
    • Men will make LLL meetings unsafe
    • It might be dangerous for men to feed babies
    • Men feeding babies separates them from their mothers, causing damage to the mother-baby dyad.

    November 20 is Trans Day of Remembrance. The day was founded in 1999 in protest of the murders of two Black trans women, Rita Hester and Chanelle Pickett. There is heightened tension regarding this day this year because of the US election outcome. Trans people in the US and elsewhere are deeply afraid that emboldened transphobes will be incited to violence. Further restrictions on trans people’s ability to access affirming care is likely coming. The inability to access gender-affirming care increases suicidality among trans people. While Main claims that she is not anti-trans rights, unfortunately, rhetoric like Main’s fans the flames of fearful and hateful myths putting trans lives in danger.

    The Confusion About Main’s Objections

    Main is against the presence of “men” at LLL meetings. Confusingly, she includes transmen and non-binary people in a list of types of “women” she has effectively supported at LLL meetings in the past as a leader. When she uses the term “men” she could be referring to trans men who gave birth to their babies or trans women using the lactation induction protocol to assist with feeding their babies. Through this confusing use of language, Main appears to be asserting that trans men are “women” and that trans women are “men”.

    Main’s view is rooted in an idea called “gender essentialism”. This is the belief that there are two genders, that gender and sex are the same, and that the characteristics of the genders are an innate, hardwired aspect of our biology. While many people subscribe to this normative view, there is a growing body of evidence that it is scientifically inaccurate. Since the dawn of recorded history, in cultures around the world, there have been people who don’t fall into the binary sex and gender categories of “man/male” or “woman/female”. Many cultures have acknowledged more than two genders. Now science is catching up with these age-old lived experiences. 

    Main’s statement recirculates several myths that we as birth workers need to dismantle:

    Women Cannot be Physically & Emotionally Open with “Men” Present

    Main argues that it would be impossible to maintain the open, honest environment of LLL meetings if men were present. How could women feel comfortable talking about things like chapped and mangled nipples, or nurse in front of others if men are present? Main doesn’t realize it, but she answers her own question. She notes that breastfeeding is “the great leveler”. She observes that LLL group participants put aside differences regarding race, religion, income, politics, and sexual orientation. They are united in their shared goal of feeding their babies from their bodies. Whether participants are cis women, trans men, or trans women they are all dealing with chapped nipples, sleepless nights, and internal and external pressure to use bottles. Imagine the world we’d be living in if we developed our ability to focus on what we share rather than what divides us.

    Men Will Make LLL Meetings Unsafe

    She also fears that women may not feel comfortable coming forward about domestic violence if men are present, noting that 1 in 4 women have experienced intimate partner violence. A Canadian study of trans people conducted in 2019 found that 3 in 5 trans women had experienced intimate partner violence. Contrary to some of the rhetoric surrounding the recent US election, trans women are not usually the perpetrators of violence. They are in the population that is at increased risk of experiencing gender-based violence. Cultivating the erroneous belief that trans people are a source of violence is a significant inciter of violence against trans people. This needs to stop immediately.

    Damage to the Mother-Baby Dyad

    The letter raises safety concerns that are fear rather than fact-based. She posits harm to mothers and babies caused by ripping babies from their mothers’ arms so that men can feed them. Like much of what is fueling the current trans panic, this is a total red herring. Babies are not being ripped from their mother’s arms so that men can feed them. In the case of trans men, they are usually the gestational parents of their babies. Non-gestational parents with breast tissue can induce lactation. This includes cis women, trans men, and trans women becoming parents through adoption, surrogacy, or their partner carrying the baby. The protocol to induce lactation is rigorous, involving high doses of hormones and domperidone for several months before the birth. In cases where nursing is shared between a gestational and non-gestational parent, this is with the consent of both parents. For anyone who has fed a baby with their body, it should be easy to see why sharing the load of this labour might be desirable. 

    Regardless of the exact nature of the situation, it’s safe to assume that anyone showing up to feed a baby at a La Leche League meeting is a parent to that baby. That’s really all that should matter.

    It Might be Dangerous for “Men” to Feed Babies

    She asserts that it might not be safe for babies to be fed by a “man”. She cites no evidence of any safety concerns. This is because there is none. Aside from universal precautions regarding substance use or infectious disease, If milk comes from your nipples, you can feed it to a baby. Where supply is inadequate to meet the baby’s nutritional needs, this can be addressed as it would be for anyone. We all know how frustrating and overwhelming supply issues can be. Parents experiencing this challenge need more compassion and support, not less.

    There’s no reason to believe that trans lactators are at increased risk of under-supply or babies that are failing to thrive. In response to Main’s open letter, IBCLC Ashley Pickett has shared some helpful research. She notes that “When people take hormones, they can still breastfeed. It hasn’t been shown to be dangerous. Many AFABs [assigned female at birth] are entering menopause, and breastfeeding while on HRT [hormone replacement therapy]. Some trans women have taken estradiol and domperidone and their breastfed babies thrive.”

    The potential for trans women to lactate and nurse is a new phenomenon, and as such, bound to raise concerns. Ashley Pickett, IBCLC addresses this with the best available evidence also. She cites two articles showing no cause for concern at this time:

    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37138506/

    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7462406/

    Drawing from the articles she cites, she also provides evidence to allay fears that hormones are crossing over into the milk supply and causing harm to babies:

    “Spironolactone is poorly excreted into breastmilk and there are no reported adverse effects on infants.

    Cyproteone Acetate (used for [male to female] transitions as well as more commonly for acne and hirsutism, alopecia, etc) in people [assigned female at birth] transfers at 0.2% of the parental dose. However, in trans HRT uses high doses. Switching to an injectable Estradiol Valerate may be enough to elevate estrogen and not require an anti-androgen, and safely breastfeed. Breast development would remain, but she may grow some unwanted hair.

    GnRH treatment has been used in postpartum contraception for decades, and in this time, has been shown to be as low as undetectable in milk and up to 1-2 micrograms per feed at max. The amount ingested had no biological activity in the infant (would be destroyed in the gut before entering the system). When taken throughout pregnancies, as it has been for many many experiencing fertility care since the 1990s, there has been “no specific hazard observed” among newborns exposure.”

     ~

    The REAL issue

    Evidence has nothing to do with Miriam Main’s underlying fear. It is the same as that of our members complaining about our use of gender-inclusive language. She is afraid that she and her fellow cis women are being erased from spaces that should feel like home. While this fear is an understandable conditioned reaction to change, it is unfounded. Cis women continue to comprise the majority of people who birth and lactate. Our use of inclusive language is an action to begin opening the door for trans and non-binary people who birth and lactate to receive affirmation and support. For cis women reading this, take a moment to imagine what it would feel like to walk into an LLL meeting knowing that there will probably not be anyone else in the room who is like you, but you need help feeding your baby all the same. Would you be brave enough to walk into that room? Would you be grateful for any gesture that made it a little easier?

    Letting trans folks in doesn’t erase us as cis women. It is not usually presented this way, but trans inclusion and acceptance create more freedom for cis women. As we dismantle rigid, binary gender constructs and break down boundaries regarding what a “woman” can or should be, we are all freer to express ourselves authentically. I was raised in a family of women who couldn’t leave the house without “putting their faces on”. Now, I wear makeup when I feel like it. I speak truth to power without hesitation because I’m not limited by the belief that being a “woman” requires passivity. Every day I engage in numerous actions that I take for granted that would have been unthinkable for a Black woman a century ago. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to racialized trans ancestors, like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, who started the Stonewall Riots, and with them, the queer liberation movement in North America.

    If we let go of the fear of erasure, we can invite in the potential for trans people to enrich birth and lactation spaces. We may discover that the experiences of trans people add an important perspective on issues affecting all of us who experience gender oppression and gender-based violence. Community support and mutual aid are not finite resources. We don’t have to worry that by making space for trans people, cis women will be squeezed out. There is room in the circle for everyone.

     

    About the Author

    Keira Grant

    Keira Grant (she/her) Inclusion and Engagement Lead – Racialized Communities

    Keira brings a wealth of experience to the Online Community Moderator 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.

  • The Symbiotic Journey: How Prenatal Yoga Teaching Enriched My Doula Practice

    The Symbiotic Journey: How Prenatal Yoga Teaching Enriched My Doula Practice

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1726606915460{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The worlds of prenatal yoga teaching and doula support may initially seem like separate realms, but my experience has taught me that they are beautifully intertwined. As someone who has worn both hats, I’ve come to appreciate how teaching prenatal yoga profoundly enriched my role as a doula. This symbiotic journey has enriched my life as a birthworker and prenatal yoga teacher, and elevated my offering of comprehensive support and nurturing guidance to expectant parents as they embark on their unique paths to parenthood.

    Mind-Body Connection:

    My experience as a prenatal yoga teacher has deepened my understanding of the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of pregnancy and birth. It has allowed me to provide holistic support to expectant parents, empowering them to embrace the beauty and strength within themselves as they navigate the profound journey of childbirth. Prenatal yoga is all about cultivating a deep mind-body connection. 

    Breathwork Mastery:

    As a yoga teacher, I learned to guide expectant mothers through postures and breathwork that foster this connection, preparing them for childbirth. This understanding translated seamlessly into my role as a doula, where I could emphasize the importance of staying connected to one’s body during labor, enhancing relaxation and coping strategies.

    Teaching various pranayama techniques helps to explore the profound impact of breath on the body and mind. As a doula, I now guide birthing individuals in harnessing the power of breath to manage pain, stay grounded, and maintain focus during their pregnancies and in labor.

    Adaptability and Personalized Support:

    Prenatal yoga classes are filled with individuals at different stages of pregnancy, each with unique needs. Teaching yoga honed my ability to adapt and provide personalized support to cater to these diverse requirements. As a doula, I can now better understand and meet the individualized needs of laboring people and their partners, ensuring a tailored and empowering birth experience. Many yoga postures can be adapted and used as laboring and birthing positions. Practicing this and embodying natural pelvic and spinal movements is hugely beneficial.

    Empowerment Through Education:

    In both roles, education is a cornerstone. Prenatal yoga teaching reinforced the importance of providing expectant parents with knowledge about their bodies and birthing options. Armed with this understanding, I can empower my doula clients to make informed choices during childbirth, fostering a sense of ownership over their birthing experiences.

    Creating a Safe Space:

    Prenatal yoga classes are sanctuaries of support and community. As a yoga teacher, I discovered the significance of creating a safe and welcoming space for expectant mothers to connect, share, and grow. This experience translates directly into my doula practice, where I prioritize helping individuals feel at home in their bodies and creating a supportive environment where birthing individuals feel heard, respected, and cherished.

    Embracing Mindfulness:

    Prenatal yoga introduced me to mindfulness practices that encourage present-moment awareness and self-compassion. My own practice of mindfulness and my ability to guide individuals with compassion, empathy, and a deep appreciation for the sacredness of pregnancy and birth is something that I feel stands out to my clients. These tools have become invaluable in my doula work, where I guide individuals in staying centered, reducing anxiety, and embracing the beauty and intensity of their birthing experiences.

    The journey of teaching prenatal yoga has been a symbiotic one, enriching my doula practice in ways I couldn’t have anticipated. It’s a reminder that our roles as prenatal yoga teachers and doulas are interconnected, both focused on nurturing and supporting individuals on their transformative journeys into parenthood. 

    If adding yoga or embodied pregnancy and postpartum education has been calling you, check out our new offerings here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1726604707769{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Julia Forest

    About the Author

    Julia (she/her) is an international yoga teacher, birth doula, women’s health advocate, and closet artist who is passionate about health, environmentalism and empowered birth. She is co-creator of the internationally renown “Sacred Birth Yoga & Doula Training”, is founding director of Awakened Spirit Yoga and co-founder of the Wellkind Foundation, a non-profit that focuses on community empowerment and wellbeing through the lens of permaculture. She also created the Sacred Earth Yoga Training, the first yoga teacher training program that combines yoga, mindfulness, permaculture and leadership to transform lives and communities. Julia is Co-Director of Doula School.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • EDI Year in Review 2023

    EDI Year in Review 2023

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1709738042033{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]A river may be so still that you can see your reflection, but its current is always in motion. This year has been a time of great change for Doula Canada as we have welcomed renewal in the form of new leadership. We have taken advantage of this transition to reflect on revitalizing our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion at DC and in the birth sphere. Our goal is to ensure that Doula Canada alumni have the necessary tools and frameworks to meet the diverse spectrum of birthing people, families, and communities with compassion, affirmation, and allyship. In the coming year, we will continue to apply the lessons learned from all of your insights to realize policy, curricula, and continuing education that sets doulas, reproductive health educators, and birthworkers up for long-term success in an ever-changing world. 

    Here are some of the highlights of our actions in 2023 and our plans to advance our journey towards achieving social justice in our learning community and perinatal social systems in 2024.

     

    Content & Communications

    One of our goals is to ensure that DC alumni have access to a wealth of information that offers insight into the experiences of equity-seeking birthers and families, and tools to empower effective support. This year, we accomplished this by creating and publishing original articles, position statements, downloadable resources, and live-streamed discussions.  

    Articles and Position Statements 

    Our blog provides ongoing equity, diversity, and inclusion content that situates reproductive justice in the context of social issues, and that supports our learners to cultivate a deeper understanding of the social determinants of reproductive health. In 2023, our blog offered articles on trans inclusion, domestic and gender-based violence, truth and reconciliation, poverty, black maternal health, and many other essential perinatal health equity topics. 

    We also endeavoured to be responsive to the impact of current events on community well-being by providing a statement on the Israel-Hamas conflict that offered comfort to our members and practical strategies for preserving emotional stability and community connectedness.

    Downloadable Resources 

    In 2023, we created three downloadable resources to provide practical guidance for birth workers. The first was our Advocacy Toolkit. The toolkit continues the work done in 2022 to develop an advocacy framework for Doula Canada. The Toolkit works through examples of the ingenious strategies that birthworkers use to promote client self-advocacy and advocate on behalf of clients in a manner that affirms their autonomy and right to informed consent.

    Additionally, we created two resources to support human milk feeding. One is an infographic on human milk sharing that provides information on the risks and benefits of milk sharing, as well as safety guidelines that support families to make informed choices about their feeding options. The second is a curated Lactation Recipe Box with meal and snack ideas that are packed with ingredients that gently encourage milk production. 

    Live Streams

    We continued our tradition of hosting great conversations with experts and thought leaders from within Doula Canada and the broader birth world. Our guests offer insight into how they’ve applied their training and lived experience to facilitate clients’ access to equitable care. In 2023, topics included empowering teen birthers, debunking fatphobic reproductive health myths, barriers to fertility care, what we need to know about birthers who use testosterone, and the experiences of black families with more than “2.5 kids”. Content ideas were generated from discussions with our members at live events and online and from suggestions made using our anonymous feedback form. Our audience can access this content at any time from our Facebook page or our YouTube Channel.

    In 2024, live streaming content will shift to a virtual, guest speaker Q&A series, opening with Support Men’s Lactation Like a Boss on February 29. 

    Programming 

    Doulas for Reconcili-ACTION

    Committing to our Truth and Reconciliation Action Plan, we launched the Doulas for Reconcili-ACTION program. The Doulas for Reconcili-ACTION program aims to include non-Indigenous doulas in important conversations about the impacts of settler-colonialism, and build cultural humility skills in an applied workshop format. Our first workshop was held for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and focused on the historical traumas imposed on Indigenous communities, and the role of doulas in mitigating risk factors for Indigenous families.

    In 2024, the Doulas for Reconcili-ACTION program will be running on a monthly basis. 

    Webinars

    Recognizing a need for community healing and dialogues in the aftermath of the disturbing events culminating in the arrest of Kaitlyn Braun in March of 2023, we hosted a session aimed at providing a safe container for community members to unpack the feelings arising from this distressing incident. The session was facilitated by Elizabeth Evans, RSW, and Psychotherapist and generated a presentation for community members on collective healing after traumatic events.

    In order to provide practical support to our members regarding the implementation of ethical practice as defined by the law, we also hosted a webinar on understanding the legalities of your doula biz facilitated by Ane Posno, LLB, an expert in health and contract law at Lenczner Slaght. The first webinar of its kind at DTC, the live session provided vital information on documentation, confidentiality, and reporting obligations for doulas. 

    Organizational Development 

    Census

    For the first time in its over 20-year history, DTC undertook a demographic census of its student and alumni population to learn more about how we can ensure that our content is responsive to our existing population and target our recruitment efforts to attract equity-seeking communities that may be underrepresented at DTC or in the birth work field. 

    154 members completed the survey and the findings were illuminating. DTC’s population is highly diverse, with DTC members being more likely to be equity-seeking than the general population across several categories including Queer people, and some racial groups (e.g. Black, Indigenous). Other equity-seeking populations, such as disabled people have representation that is similar to the Canadian population.

    One challenge with analyzing this data is that 6.5% of our sample are international but Canadian data has been used for comparison. Other limitations of this data set include categories not always being exactly aligned with the categories used by Statistics Canada, and questions that should be further segmented to create clarity, most notably education. 

    On the whole, it appears that organizational efforts to ensure that equity-seeking members feel included and represented have been effective at attracting diverse students to our programs. In 2024 we should conduct an evaluation of the EDI climate to learn more about the quality of the learning experience for equity-seeking students, focusing on learning more about the experiences of underrepresented groups. In the case of underrepresented groups, DTC could also consider key informant interviews with individuals external to DTC to learn more about their needs in a birth worker training program and successful recruitment and retention strategies for their community.

    Roll out of advocacy framework 

    In addition to sharing the toolkit mentioned above, we are in the process of ensuring that the lessons learned from the advocacy initiative are incorporated into the anti-oppression module in our courses. The revised curriculum was piloted during the live session on anti-oppression for the fall 2023 cohort of the holistic doula program. The new content includes introducing learners to the 3 soft-advocacy techniques used by doulas as codified by S.S. Yam, namely 1) creating deliberative space, 2) culture and knowledge brokering, and 3) Spatial maneuvering. Live session attendees have the opportunity to discuss examples of how doulas use these advocacy techniques to benefit clients.

    TRAP module

    In 2023 we launched our truth and reconciliation module, which focuses on educating students about colonial violence toward Indigenous communities. This module was inspired by various universities that have mandated Indigenous Credit Requirements (ICR) to show respect to Indigenous communities, and foster reconciliation between settler and Indigenous groups. In 2024, applications will be open to students and alumni wanting to participate in a review of the Truth and Reconciliation Action Plan, including the module. This committee will also focus on creating a template for a wider five year TRAP outline.

     

    What’s Next

    In 2024, we will continue to grow equity, diversity, and inclusion within DTC by undertaking a review of our policies and curricula, developing original video content and offering a mix of new and remounted webinars that build reproductive justice facilitation capacity within our birth work community. 

     

    We’re grateful to our alumni community for always inspiring us to continue this important work. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”534490″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1709738266702{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Keira Grant (she/her) Inclusion and Engagement Lead – Racialized Communities

    Keira brings a wealth of experience to the Online Community Moderator 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.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • The Mothers of Gynecology

    The Mothers of Gynecology

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1707747263915{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Anarcha, Betsy, and Lucy’s gynecological advancements have undoubtedly saved and improved countless lives. Yet they are not celebrated in most textbooks on gynecology or its history. Lucy, Betsy, and Anarcha were not medical researchers. Their ingenuity was a matter of survival. They were among the enslaved Black women that physician Marion Simms tortured and butchered by experimenting on them without anesthesia in the name of medical research.

    Marion Simms is regarded as the “Father of Gynecology”. Not only is he remembered in the textbooks, but there is also a statue in his honour in his hometown of Alabama, in front of the clinic where he tortured Black women. He invented the speculum and the position of lying on one’s back with feet in the stirrups, that most birthers are expected to adopt in medicalized deliveries is named after him.

    Simms believed that as a result of being less human than white women, Black women did not feel pain. He had no ethical qualms about conducting his “experiments” without anesthesia, despite the need to restrain the screaming women. When his medical assistants did and quit, he trained Lucy, Betsy, and Anarcha to perform this role. The three women perfected many of the procedures he was developing to save each other’s lives. Simms took the credit of course.

    In 2022, a sculpture by Afrian-American artist and activist Michelle Browder finally began giving these women the recognition they are due while raising awareness of the suffering that was inflicted on them without their consent or free will. “Mothers of Gynecology” tells the stories of these heroes visually. 

    All three women had suffered painful pelvic floor injuries during childbirth that affected their bowel and bladder control, making them unfit for hard labour on plantations. Now useless to their owners, they were leased to Dr. Simms in the hopes of him finding a cure that would restore them to productivity. His first experimental surgeries were failures. Undaunted, he continued his experiments, training the women to function as his assistants after his white assistants quit. They each became skilled medical providers in their own right. Simms experimented on a total of 12 enslaved women, but only Anarcha, Betsey, and Lucy’s names are preserved in his reports. To make his research more palatable, his reports state that the experiments were conducted on white women with assistance from white nurses. 

    Browder’s arresting sculpture manages to convey the details of this horrific story in a way that transcends words and restores power and dignity to these exploited women. The sculptures are intricately fashioned from found metal. The three women are towering in this commanding piece, with Anarcha standing at 15 feet, Betsy standing at 12 feet, and Lucy at 9 feet. While the viewer’s emotional reaction to the piece is immediate and visceral, the symbolism possesses such a wealth of detail that you’d need to stand in front of it for at least an hour to pick up on everything. This Smithsonian article describes the symbolism like this:

    “The statues incorporate meaningful—and painful—symbolism. Anarcha’s abdomen is empty, except for a single red rose where her uterus would be. Her womb sits nearby, full of cut glass, needles, medical instruments, scissors, and sharp objects intended to help viewers feel the women’s pain and suffering.

    Medical scissors are attached to one woman. Another wears a tiara created out of a speculum—a device Sims invented for vaginal exams. The names of Black women [civil rights heroes] are welded to the statues.”

    The figures have no arms or lower legs to represent the women’s lack of bodily autonomy.

    Michelle Browder uses art as one aspect of her reproductive justice work. In 2022, she bought the land on which Simms conducted his experiments and is working on opening a clinic and museum for Black women’s health on the site. 

    Simms’ racist belief that Black women had a higher pain tolerance than white women is still prevalent among healthcare providers. In perinatal health, this means Black birthers’ pain goes under or unmanaged, and pain that should sound the alarm regarding complications goes ignored. Black birthers know this and the main reason we seek birth doula support is to ensure we have an observer and advocate making sure our pain is being taken seriously and treated appropriately. 

    Learning more about the mothers of gynecology is one activity that you can do to observe Black Future Month. You can find out more here:

     

    Artist Works to Correct Narrative of Gynecology’s Beginnings

    https://www.anarchalucybetsey.org/ 

     

     

    [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”534490″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1707747309073{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Keira Grant (she/her) Inclusion and Engagement Lead – Racialized Communities

    Keira brings a wealth of experience to the Online Community Moderator 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.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • 10 Ways to Improve Your Emails to Doula Clients

    10 Ways to Improve Your Emails to Doula Clients

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1707508805916{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

    Doula School alumni will often ask “what’s the best way to get new clients?” and our answer is almost always the same – email. It’s the most effective way to connect with people and become a regular part of their lives. On a social media platforms like Instagram or Tik Tok, you’re competing with hundreds if not thousands of accounts – all vying for someone’s limited attention. Conversely, once you get into an email inbox, you go right to the top each time .

    There are several ways to build your email list. It can include past clients, freebies (like guides or offers), advertising on Google or Facebook, opt-in forms on your website, and so much more. Today we aren’t talking about BUILDING your list, we’re looking at how to get the most out of the list you do have. Whether you have 20 people or 2000, having an email list that is working for you can make all the difference in your doula career. Below are 10 ways to optimize your emails and improve your sales.

    Use an Email Platform

    There are SO many different platforms out there for managing your email list. Some of our favourites are Kit, Mail Chimp, and Constant Contact. Even if you have a small list, it’s important to be using a professional email platform. This allows you to set up automations, send emails in bulk, manage unsubscribes, and so much more. The good news is that most of these services offer a free version you can start with. Perfect for doulas starting out with a small marketing budget.

    Add Personalization

    Most email providers will offer the ability to “personalize” messages. So when you get someone’s email address, you can make sure to get their first name as well. That way when sending out an email it will start with “Hi Marie” instead of more robotic or impersonal openings. Research has shown that adding personalization can help improve results from emails and make readers feel more connected.

    Ask for Reviews

    As birth workers we sometimes feel uncomfortable asking for support or feedback from clients. But we’re here to tell you it’s ok! Clients will be excited to share their testimonials, especially if they had a great experience working with you. Reviews on your website, social channels, google, and in emails can make a huge difference to sales. Future clients are always looking for “social proof” that you’re a trustworthy person and a doula they want to work with.

    Use Images of Yourself

    You know when you’re on a website or Instagram page, you can always tell when someone is using a lot of stock images. There is nothing wrong with using images you bought online now and then, but you’ll find that your emails and social content does better when it feels personal and real. Don’t be afraid to use photos of yourself in action. Maybe have a friend take some nice pictures of you at the park, or snap a couple of you working with a client (with their consent of course). Over time you can create a catalogue of images to use in a bunch of places.

    Improve Your Subject Lines

    The average email is only going to have an open rate of 30 or 40%. That means most people on your list may never even read the content! That’s why the subject line is so important. It’s your one chance to make an impression and get the reader interested. The best lines tend to be short and punchy, creating a sense of urgency for the reader. For example, something like “5 Baby Proofing TIPs from a Doula.” Most email platforms will let you test multiple subject lines per message, so you can start to understand what works best for your followers.

    Only use ONE Call-to-Action

    Have you ever gotten one of those BUSY emails with like 7 different places to click? They can be overwhelming and hard to understand. The key to a good email is keeping it simple. Don’t be afraid of white space and making it easy for a reader to follow. You do this by having only ONE call to action. If the email is about your overnight doula services, then make sure that’s the only thing you’re asking people to click on.

    Don’t always SELL

    Having someone’s email address is a big deal. They’re letting you send them information that goes directly to the top of their inbox. That’s a privilege. And it’s a privilege you can lose quickly if you abuse it. Every email you send can’t be a sale or a product or a doula service. Make sure you’re adding VALUE to your readers. This could be through tips and tricks, personal anecdotes, birth stories, interesting videos, or anything. By providing value, your readers will be more open to receiving the odd sale or product offering.

    Have a Plan

    We talk to some birth workers who feel overwhelmed by creating content and email newsletters. I don’t know when to send it? How many should I do a month? What kind of content? It can be a lot to manage, especially when your focus is working with clients. One way to simplify this is to have a plan. If you’re going to send a newsletter every 3 weeks, then set that schedule and stick to it. It will also help your readers start to expect your content on a regular basis.

    Consistency

    Designing things is fun. It’s especially fun if you have a bit of design know-how in photoshop, or adobe, or just got your new CANVA account. You might feel the urge to constantly be creating NEW and innovative designs to use in emails (and on social media, the website…etc). However, new designs can be confusing for readers and clients. They want to know what to expect. And seeing a consistent color, font type, and design will allow them to start recognizing your doula or birth brand. Where possible, try to pick a standard look and feel that you can maintain.

    Automate Where Possible

    You might be reading all this and thinking “I barely have time to reply to clients, when am I going to write additional emails?” That’s ok, it’s a lot! The good news is that you can automate a lot of things through email platforms. For example, maybe when someone provides their email address, they are automatically sent 2-3 emails that explain your doula services, what they cost, your availability, and more! It will take a bit of time in the early going to set up automatic email funnels, but these can save you a TON of time in the long run.

    Make sure to check back with the blog next month, as we’ll be sharing more doula marketing and sales tips.

    [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Learning from US Healthcare on Doula Access

    Learning from US Healthcare on Doula Access

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1706711380769{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]I vividly remember “The Greatest Canadian”, a 13-part  competitive series produced by CBC in 2004. Each week, a biographical documentary on individuals who have made a great contribution to Canada aired, including Terry Fox, David Suzuki, and Tommy Douglas. Viewers got to vote on who the greatest Canadian of all time was. Tommy Douglas, recognized as the father of publicly funded health care in Canada, emerged victorious. 

    Douglas’ win says a lot about the value we attach to our healthcare system and the national pride we take in making sure that every Canadian has access to the care they need. We often look to our American neighbours with pity when we hear about $700+ a month insurance plans ($2000+ for a family plan) or families going into debt or going bankrupt to pay for life-saving treatment. But if the Canadian healthcare system is so superior to that of the US, why is publicly-funded doula access expanding by leaps and bounds in the US, while progress on the same front has been stagnant in Canada?

    Over the last few years, an increasing number of jurisdictions in the US have made doula care payable via Medicaid. Medicaid is public health insurance for people who are unable to access private coverage. 11 States that have introduced Medicaid-funded doula care programs include New York, California, and Michigan. California cites familiar research as the rationale for its decision: “doula care was associated with positive delivery outcomes including a reduction in cesarean sections, epidural use, length of labor, low-birthweight and premature deliveries. Additionally, the emotional support provided by doulas lowered stress and anxiety during the labor period”. 

    One reason why advocates for publicly funded doula care have gained more traction in the US is that the US collects race-based healthcare data, along with information on many other social determinants of health. This data has demonstrated significant disparities in perinatal outcomes based on race, income, and other factors. The Black maternal and neonatal mortality crisis has emerged as a system disaster that requires urgent solutions. Combined with a growing body of health research demonstrating that doulas are an effective intervention that improves outcomes for Black birthers and babies, this has made a strong case for access to doula care for Black and other at-risk communities.

    In Canada, we have the same research to show that doulas solve a problem, but we don’t have the same amount of data to show that there’s a problem to solve. That being said, while our race-based data collection needs to improve, we do collect data on other topics. In 2023 OBGYN researchers at McMaster University published findings on operative deliveries and 3rd and 4th-degree tears in Canada. They found that “among high-income countries, Canada has the highest rate of maternal trauma after births in which tools like forceps and vacuums are used”. Sadly, their research only compares operative deliveries (forceps/vacuum) to surgical deliveries (cesarean sections). They do not take into account the ample evidence that California and other US jurisdictions considered showing that support from a birth doula reduces the likelihood of any of these interventions. 

    Not only do we need to collect data that demonstrates the impact of the social determinants of health, we need to put the research we do have into action. This action needs to encompass the role that all care providers play in improving conditions and outcomes for birthing people. This includes ensuring that all birthers can access the reduction in medical interventions and related increases in good birth outcomes and satisfaction that skilled doula support can achieve. [/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”534490″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1706711516822{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Keira Grant (she/her) Inclusion and Engagement Lead – Racialized Communities

    Keira brings a wealth of experience to the Online Community Moderator 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.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Respecting All Life: Reflections on International Holocaust Remembrance Day and National Day of Remembrance and Action Against Islamophobia

    Respecting All Life: Reflections on International Holocaust Remembrance Day and National Day of Remembrance and Action Against Islamophobia

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1706563078413{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]That horrible day in 2017 when for no reason other than hate a 6 Muslim Canadians were killed at a Mosque in Quebec is still haunting. In a society that claims to love peace, equality, and freedom, the level of hate that spawned this horrific attack should never have been able to arise. What’s almost as haunting is that in the intervening 7 years, we’ve learned very little about the thinly veiled hate that is clearly pervasive in this country because we haven’t learned how to have an ongoing, brave discussion about it.

    This year, Holocaust Remembrance Day (Jan. 25) and National Day of Action Against Islamophobia fall as a very deadly conflict in Israel-Palestine has raged on for over 100 days. While Jewish and Muslim Canadians are no more complicit in the conflict than any other Canadians, they have been forced to endure an unprecedented increase in hate-motivated attacks against them. I wish I was more surprised.

    We’re too polite to talk about hate until people are getting killed, and by then it’s too late. We hold the guilty party accountable when the van attack and similar crimes happen, but we don’t hear the call to examine the society that created the van attack.

    As birthworkers, we see and snuggle many brand-new babies. Every single one is special and they all deserve to grow up and live the lives they create for themselves based on the values that were cultivated in childhood. The presence of hate in the world makes this right impossible to realize for all children, so hate must be eradicated.

    To our Israeli, Jewish, Muslim, and Palestinian alumni and audience, we know this has been an unbearably distressing last few months within your communities here in Canada and internationally. As birthworkers in your communities, you have had to process your own feelings while supporting birthers in your community who are under incredible strain. We know that extreme stress can contribute to complicated pregnancies and challenging outcomes. We see the vital work you are doing in your communities at this time and we are continuing to extend our compassion and support.

    As doulas, we will continue to shine a light on hate in the healthcare system, institutions, communities, and ourselves. Only when hate is diligently brought out into the open and swept away can we have communities where all life is truly respected and it is safe for all children to grow. 

    If you are looking for guidance on how you can support your community and access support for yourself at this difficult time, please visit our blog post “Our Hearts Are With You” from November 10, 2023. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”534490″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1706554746991{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Keira Grant (she/her) Inclusion and Engagement Lead – Racialized Communities

    Keira brings a wealth of experience to the Online Community Moderator 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.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Insurance Announcement

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1707147428773{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]We are thrilled to announce a huge win in our movement for better access to doula care in Canada. Effective immediately, Sun Life has approved that Doula Training Canada certified doulas are on the list of approved providers whose clients can use their benefits for coverage IF they have that coverage in their plan!

    This will make it easier for thousands of people to afford the cost of this life-changing support. Doula Canada is so proud to be considered a leading certification organization for doulas in Canada and find itself listed alongside the two other largest organizations internationally (DONA and CAPPA). As we continue our strategic growth initiatives, we will continue to expand the work we do to advocate for families’ access to doula care in Canada and around the world. 

    How to Help Your Clients Get Reimbursement

    For your clients to be able to submit receipts for reimbursement from Sun Life, invoices must contain the following information:

    • Your Full Legal Name and company name
    • Address
    • Services provided
    • Service dates

    Price (if you collect tax, your tax number is legally required to be on all your receipts/invoices)

    The certification/graduation number that was included in your graduation letter from DTC.

    Please also keep in mind that not everyone that has SunLife coverage will be able to use their benefits for doula reimbursement. Insurance and benefit plans are complex and vary from person to pereson. Clients should confirm their coverage to be sure of what might be covered.

    If you would like us to send you an updated certification document with your certification number please email us at info@stefanie-techops.wisdmlabs.net and we’ll be happy to email you a new certificate.

    While this is undoubtedly a huge win for DTC doulas and our clients, we don’t intend to rest on our laurels. We will use what we have learned from our success with Sun Life to continue to advocate for more insurance companies to cover doula care! A reminder that each person’s plan is different and not all customers will qualify. They should check with Sunlife for their specific coverage. 

    If you have any questions please feel free to email us anytime at info@stefanie-techops.wisdmlabs.net

    Doula Training Canada

    www.DoulaTraining.ca[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women

    National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1701888370897{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (December 6) hits a bit different for me this year. On December 6, 1989, 14 young women were murdered at Polytechnique Montreal. The women were pursuing degrees in engineering. Their murderer felt that by entering into a male profession these women were usurping a place in society that rightfully belonged to him. He ordered their male peers from the room at gunpoint to make sure we knew this was about hating women.

    Earlier this year, doulas were targeted for gender-based violence because of their career choices. In this instance for choosing a feminized profession, the intimate and sexualized nature of which could be exploited by a fraudulent predator. As a result of the persistent efforts of the fraudster’s victims, she was arrested in March of this year and the situation did not escalate to worse violence. Still, I’m left with many questions about the climate of fear, suspicion, and infighting that existed within the doula community for months while police and other organizations that are supposed to protect the public did nothing to stop this person’s malicious, harmful behaviour. This despite so many incidents where woman-hating behaviour has escalated to femicide.

    In Sault Ste. Marie in October, a known perpetrator of intimate partner violence murdered 5 people, including 3 children, adding momentum to a national call for gender-based violence to be declared an epidemic. We at Doula Canada wholeheartedly support this call, and add our voices to it. As birth workers, we know that pregnancy and postpartum are vulnerable times. Existing IPV often worsens, and in many instances, this is when it starts.  

    Our own safety also matters in doing this work. We are often behind closed doors, in people’s homes, providing intimate care one-on-one. It’s not constructive to approach care work from a place of fear. Statistically, our clients are more likely to be victims of violence rather than perpetrators. However, one of the most disturbing things I learned from events earlier this year is that there is a casual normalization of sexual harassment in this field. Several people posted about having their time wasted by solicitation from fetishists posing as birth clients, as though this was simply par for the course. Privately, I’ve heard stories of doulas being sexually harassed by a client’s partner in the client’s home, and not knowing of any options for recourse. Earlier this year, when birth workers were being targeted, many birth workers focused on the perpetrator’s well-being rather than the well-being of a growing number of victims.

    The reason for this attitude is the same as the reason why some jurisdictions (such as the province of Ontario) have refused to declare GBV an epidemic. And it’s the same reason why opportunities to stop the perpetrator in the Sue before he killed were missed. GBV occurs in the context of normalized systemic misogyny. Even in a profession aimed at reducing reproductive violence for our clients, we’ve forgotten to expect more for ourselves.

    Alongside growing our conversation about GBV in relationships, we need to shine a light on occupational GBV. In other fields where home visits are carried out by a largely feminized workforce (e.g. nurses, social workers), trainees are given guidance on spotting red flags, mitigating risk, and acting to effect accountability. We’re going to start doing that here at Doula Canada. On Jan. 23 we will open this much-needed conversation by hosting a webinar on GBV in birthwork and how we can take charge of our community’s safety. We owe this to ourselves and each other. 

    Webinar Details Here: https://stefanie-techops.wisdmlabs.net/training/webinar-gender-based-violence-in-support-work/

    It is fitting that Women’s Remembrance Day falls within UN Women’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. For ideas for actions you can take against GBV check on this resource on Canadian Women Foundation’s #ActTogether Campaign. https://canadianwomen.org/acttogether-campaign/

    *If you are unfamiliar with the events of earlier this year that I reference in this article, you can learn more about that here: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a44866427/kaitlyn-braun-doula-pregnancy-accused-fraud-harassment/

    [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1701888381111{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Keira Grant (she/her) Inclusion and Engagement Lead – Racialized Communities

    Keira brings a wealth of experience to the Online Community Moderator 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.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

    16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1701109787897{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]For our observance of UN Women’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, we reflect on how doulas are involved in ending obstetric violence at the individual and systemic level. Reflecting on this year’s theme, we call on governments and insurance providers to Unite and Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls by funding better access to doula care.

    Where we need to go

    As doulas, companions, and birth keepers, we know in our bones that our presence alleviates the challenges of birth and new parenthood and supports people to have joyful, transformative experiences during this major life event. 

    A growing body of research supports our intuitive knowledge. Doula care is an effective perinatal intervention that reduces the need for medical interventions, including c-sections, decreases low birth weight and preterm births, and improves satisfaction with childbirth and postpartum well-being, among many other benefits. These benefits have the biggest impact on families adversely affected by the social determinants of health, including low-income, and racialized people (Cidro et al., 2023; Greiner et al., 2019; Kozhimannil et al., 2016; Marshall et al., 2022; Ramey-Collier et al., 2023; Robles, 2019; Thomas et al., 2023; Wodtke et al., 2022; Young, 2022).

    Yet, despite this, only 6% of birthing families receive support from a doula. Doulas are usually paid by families out of pocket, and care is not usually available to the populations for whom having a doula might have the greatest impact.

    Some exciting changes are happening in the United States. Starting from around 2020, several studies found that racialized birthers and newborns experienced much poorer outcomes than their white counterparts, including an increased likelihood of death. This disparity was most significant for black people. These studies opened a floodgate of conversation about a Black maternal health crisis in the US. State healthcare systems are under significant political pressure to find solutions. Doula care is seen as a critical intervention that improves outcomes for racialized birthers and babies, and many Medicaid-funded doula programs are emerging (Rochester, Delaware, Michigan).

    Sadly, Canada is lagging in finding innovative ways to make doula care accessible. One reason for this is that it is harder for researchers and advocates to demonstrate similar racial disparities because Canada does not collect race-based data. There is ample anecdotal evidence that Black and Indigenous people experience the same medical racism that has been identified in the US, but individual accounts can’t provide the level of “proof” that makes a strong case for funding.

    That being said, a recent study by obstetrician researchers at McMaster University learned that birthers in Canada experience a high rate of operative vaginal deliveries (forceps or vacuum) and has higher rates of 3rd and 4th-degree tears than any other high-income country (CTV, 2023). Continuous support from a doula during childbirth reduces the need for interventions like operative deliveries.

    Call to Action for International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (November 25)

    Whether you are a birthworker, a birther, or a concerned citizen, you can add your voice to the call for better access to doula care by doing two things:

    1. Write or call your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) and let them know you want coordinated public funding for doula care in your province’s healthcare plan. 
    2. If you have extended health coverage, call your insurance carrier and let them know you would like doula care to be an insured healthcare expense. More insurance companies covering doula care would make this support accessible to many more families.

    Birthworker Affirmations for 16 Days

    We use affirmations to buoy our clients, but what about using them to protect ourselves from burnout as we extend compassion to clients and act for systemic change? As part of our observance of 16 Days of Action Against Gender-Based Violence, we offer these 16 affirmations to support you on your birth work journey.

    1. My work humanizing birth humanizes communities. The merits of this work are limitless.
    2. My practice of self-compassion is integral to my ability to extend compassion to my clients.
    3. Changing one life changes everyone’s life. By supporting each person I honour our interconnectedness.
    4. My actions can make a difference.
    5. I will manifest the village I need to support me to continue manifesting change for birthers and families.
    6. By facilitating a non-judgemental space, I play an invaluable role in creating a safe space.
    7. By creating a sacred space for birth, I bring great joy to families, which increases my own joy.
    8. When I remember to take a deep breath, my client is reminded to breathe deeply.
    9. With collaboration and determination, we can realize humanized, empowering birth for all families. 
    10. My acts of service provide a blanket and a shield to families at their most vulnerable.
    11. My compassionate presence and loving words are a powerful antidote to suffering that can exist within birth, making space for more joy.
    12. By inspiring birthers and families to believe that physiological birth is possible, I play a tangible role in making physiological birth attainable.
    13. I will preserve my energy for the real struggle. 
    14. It is a blessing to walk alongside families during this intimate and transformative time, for which I am deeply grateful.
    15. With deeply rooted compassion, I can be a willow or an oak in service to my clients’ needs.
    16. With the birthwork community’s diligence, one day all births will be humanized births. I am honoured to be a part of this movement.

     

    Keira Grant (she/her) Inclusion and Engagement Lead – Racialized Communities

    Keira brings a wealth of experience to the Online Community Moderator 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.

     

    We invite you to practice with the ones that resonate with you. Please share any of your own affirmations that would support the birthwork community.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]