Doula School Canada

Tag: doula canada

  • Recertification

    Recertification

    Recertification

    As professionals dedicated to excellence and impactful care, we understand that learning is a continuous journey and we’re so happy to invest heavily each month in newsletters, webinars, new courses, program updates and more to serve you as our alumni. This month’s blog shares an important reminder about staying relevant, effective, and confident in our roles: recertification.

    When Doula Canada became an approved vocational school years ago, we undertook that for students to be able to use RESPs to pay for their education. One of the requirements of that program and of many other provincial and state doula associations was a requirement for recertification to be part of the organization’s standards. This requirement has been in place since 2017 when this was first introduced. See FAQ item posted here. This requirement however has not been enforced administratively and was up to individual doulas to submit their Continuing Education Units (CEUs). 

    We’re now introducing a more formal way for us to track and support alumni with this process. 

    What does recertification entail?

    Trust us when we say we want this to be EASY. No one wants a complicated and convoluted recertification process. We will require only 2 things for recertification: 15 CEUs and an up-to-date CPR/First Aid.

    THERE WILL BE NO FEE FOR RECERTIFICATION AT THIS TIME. The earliest date we will require recertification is December 2025, one year from now.

    Why is Recertification Important?

    There has long been debate about many aspects of our profession, credentialing in general and of course the professional aspects of being a “profession” at all! As leaders who’ve been working in the field for over 20 years we’ve seen a LOT of change. Similar to modern midwifery, the doula profession has experienced a conflicting balance between wanting the work to be accessible for families but also wanting to maintain independence from the colonial and capitalistic aspects that formal regulation brings. Ultimately it always calls for a trade-off or balance of priorities, needs and desires. As we look to the United States and see more and more states covering doula services through Medicaid, the future is pretty clear: our profession is trending in the direction of expansion. This means more doulas and more coverage, and more structure.

    How Can I Get CEUs?

    Have you noticed that Doula School offers our alumni FREE monthly webinars? Each webinar is worth 1 CEU and they are hosted almost every month of the year! This is a cost effective way to get your CEUs. We also launch new courses each year, giving you the chance to learn a new skill AND gain valuable CEUs. And of course you’re always welcome to take courses from other organizations that offer something you’re wanting to learn about. We will also have other simple ways to get CEUs at no cost. We will be launching a recertification guide in the coming weeks and it will give you lots of information about how to get everything done. Please note that if you unsubscribe from our newsletters  you won’t receive important information about webinars or recertification notices. You can resubscribe here on the website.

    When do I need to recertify by?

    We are giving all students one year to complete these steps. You are welcome to submit earlier if you prefer (and are due for recertification) but it will not be REQUIRED until December, 2025 for those who certified before December 2022. 

    If you certified after December 2022 then count 3 years from the time you certified for your due date. See more info in the FAQ about how to calculate your recertification period. 

     

    FAQs

    Why does Recertification Matter?

    Staying Current with Industry Standards

    The field we work in is dynamic and continually evolving. Recertification ensures you are up-to-date with the latest research, best practices, and trends. This not only elevates your own practice but also upholds the standards doula clients expect and deserve.

    Strengthening Your Professional Skills

    Recertification often involves engaging in advanced education, workshops, and reflective practice. These opportunities allow you to deepen your knowledge and refine your skills, ultimately making you a more effective and informed practitioner.

    Building Credibility and Trust

    Clients, peers, and employers value those who demonstrate a commitment to excellence and continued education. Recertification reflects your dedication and passion for ongoing improvement, reinforcing your credibility within the community.

    Networking and Community Growth

    Recertification often provides an avenue to reconnect with peers, share insights, and grow as part of a collective. This network is invaluable for support, growth, and even collaborating on new initiatives.

    Adapting to Emerging Needs

    As professionals, we serve a diverse range of needs that may evolve over time. Recertification helps us stay informed and prepared to meet these needs with competence and empathy.

    Renewing Your Commitment to Excellence

    Recertification is more than fulfilling a requirement; it is a reaffirmation of our shared commitment to providing the highest quality care and expertise to clients. We are here to support you every step of the way, with resources, guidance, and opportunities to make this process enriching and rewarding.

    What is recertification?

    Recertification is a way to ensure that our doulas and educators are maintaining their high level of knowledge and skills by showing proof of continuing education, even after their program is complete.

    Why do we ask you to recertify?

    We want to ensure that our doulas and educators are viewed as leaders in their field, and having organization-wide policies that show that our alumni are regularly continuing their education allows us to demonstrate our high standards. This policy also keeps us on par with other professions, such as Registered Nurses, Massage Therapists, Paramedics and Social Workers, which will allow us to keep moving the profession forward in recognition of the value of our work.

    How often do I need to recertify?

    We ask that you recertify every 3 years. You will receive notification when you are approaching your recertification deadline. If you graduated between January 1st and June 30th, your deadline will be June 30th of your recertification year. If your graduation date was between July 1st and December 31st, your deadline will be December 31st of your recertification year.

    What if I don’t want to recertify?

    If you don’t want to recertify then don’t! Quite simply there is nothing more ‘doula-y’ than doing what you want (after all, isn’t that what we help all our clients to do?). If you no longer feel value in certification or recertification then ignore our reminder emails and carry on!

  • 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]

  • Women’s History Month

    Women’s History Month

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1696691842834{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]For much of human history and in a myriad of cultures, the ability to create life was revered and seen as a source of power. When Rachel from friends, overdue with Emma famously says “No uterus, no opinion” – she’s describing an attitude that used to be a given. Things started to change in the mid-19th century as the then-exclusively male profession of medicine and the burgeoning specialty of gynecology gained legitimacy and brought reproductive health under its control.

    When you control the uterus, you quite literally control the social order. You assume control of the means of producing the next generation, who gets to have a “legitimate” family, and who does not. 

    For as long as patriarchy has sought to control women and people with uteri by controlling reproduction, we have resisted and fought relentlessly to bring reproduction back under our control and keep it there. 

    October is Women’s History Month and this year’s theme is “Through Her Lens: Celebrating the Diversity of Women”. 

    The diverse, heroic people who have fought for reproductive justice, access to choice, and humanized birth are countless, spanning time, place, age, race, gender, sexuality, ability, class, religion, and the full array of human experiences. By sharing a few of their stories, we begin to tell the story of our ongoing struggle for reproductive freedom through their lens. 

    The work of these pioneers and modern-day heroes is part of the fabric of all we do as doulas, childbirth educators, and birth keepers to ensure that pregnancy, birth, mothering, and parenthood are empowered, affirming choices and experiences.

    The featured figures in women’s history offer a lens through which can explore the movements that have shaped the context of birth work in the 21st century.

    Dr. Elizabeth Bagshaw & Nurse Dorothea Palmer

    Elizabeth Bagshaw started her medical studies at the University of Toronto in 1901 at the age of 19 and began practicing medicine in Hamilton, Ontario in 1905. The medical profession was overwhelmingly dominated by men at the time. The limited number of women in the profession were excluded from specialties such as surgery and steered toward obstetrics or pediatrics. As a result, maternal health quickly became the primary focus of Dr. Bagshaw’s practice. In 1932 she was asked to become the medical director of Canada first birth control clinic, which was illegal at the time. Despite the legal risks, Dr. Bagshaw accepted the role because she “understood that neglecting health care that only women need contributes to their subordination.” Bradshaw’s practice at the clinic consisted largely of fitting women for diaphragms and conducting follow-ups. The clinic served 400 women in its first year of operation.

    At the time that she assumed the role, the Great Depression was ravaging society. Men were out of work, children were hungry, and maternal mortality was high. Women were dying from botched abortions. Family planning options were urgently needed. Despite these conditions, sharing birth control information was illegal and considered immoral by many. Bagshaw and her collaborators were called “devils” and “heretics”. 

    The controversy came to a head in 1936 with the trial of Ottawa-based reproductive health nurse Dorothea Palmer. Palmer was charged with advertising birth control during home visits to discuss family planning. Palmer’s defence successfully argued that she had acted in the public good and she was acquitted. This defense was successful again on appeal, making things easier for Bagshaw’s clinic and other early family planning pioneers, although the law making advertising birth control illegal was not reppealed until 1969..

    June Callwood 

    June Callwood was a Canadian activist, journalist and writer who co-founded the Canadian Abortion Rights Action League in 1973, along with Kay Macpherson, Lorna Grant, Eleanor Wright Pelrine, Esther Greenglass, and Henry Morgentaler. Over the course of the 1970s and 1980s the organization played a pivotal role in the journey to full decriminalization of inducing an abortion in 1988.  After this milestone, CARAL continued its work to ensure equitable and safe access to medical termination of pregnancy.

    June Callwood was also known for her journalism in support of social justice and women’s rights. Over the course of her journalistic career she wrote for the Globe & Mail, Chatelaine, McLeans, and other major Canadian publications.

    As an activist, she was involved in co-founding over 50 social service organizations, including Casey House a hospice for people with AIDS and Jessies: The June Callwood Centre for Young Women, which provides a range of social services to young women and trans people experiencing pregnancy.

    Dr. Galba Araujo

    The Humanizing Childbirth movement began in Fortaleza, Brazil in 1975 when Obstetrician Galba Araujo pioneered a program to train traditional midwives and partner them with hospitals. His project gained international recognition, and acted as a catalyst for the World Health Organization to host a conference on technology and childbirth in Brazil in 1985. 

    In 2000, the first annual conference on humanizing childbirth was held in Fortaleza Brazil, revitalizing interest in the Humanized Birth movement for the 21st century. This movement aims to de-medicalize birth and create a process wherein relationships and communication are centred and where personal and spiritual transformation are possible. 

    While Dr. Araujo’s contribution was undoubtedly central to this movement garnering international recognition in mainstream medicine, the principles of this movement are drawn from woman-led traditional Indigenous midwifery in Brazil and other part of the Americas. 

    Reverend Alma Faith Crawford

    Reverend Alma Faith Crawford is one of 12 Black women who coined the term “reproductive justice” in 1994 and founded an anti-racist feminist movement aimed at equipping women of all races, classes, and sexual and gender identities with the option to choose to have family, whether through accessing adequate support to childrear, or by accessing options to prevent or terminate pregnancy. The organizing framework they developed for Women of African Descent for Reproductive Justice recognizes that the rage of choices available to a person are impacted by a person’s social experience, with people experiencing injustice and marginalization having diminished access to choice. Maintaining each individuals human right to reproductive justice involves dismantling all forms of social injustice at the deepest level of the system. In addition to equitable abortion access, reproductive justice advocates call for access to social services that would make is possible for more people to raise families with well-being.

    Reverend Crawford also organizes with interfaith pro-choice advocacy organization Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. She continues her intersectional social justice work as a senior coach for Pastors Without Borders. As clergy in the United Church, she and her partner Karen Hutt create welcoming and loving spaces for members of the Black, LGBTQ+ community. 

    Nurse Courtney Penell

    Courtney Penell is an Indigenous labour and delivery nurse in Nova Scotia who performed the first smudge ceremony in a Halifax hospital in June 2023. Her ability to perform the ceremony in the hospital came at the end of 10 years of advocacy, that included collaboration with the hospital and the fire department to resolve safety concerns. The long-fought-for policy was implemented just days before her nephew’s birth, allowing her sister to become the first person to receive the ceremony in the hospital. Smudging is an important Indigenous ceremonial and medicinal practice that involves burning sacred herbs such as sage, cedar, sweetgrass, and tobacco. The specifics of the ceremony vary from Nation to Nation. Penell performed the ceremony according to her family’s Mi’kmaw traditions. 

    Courtney Penell’s advocacy is part of a Canada-wide Indigenous movement to decolonize birth by reclaiming traditional practices and ceremonies, bringing birth back onto ancestral lands, introducing traditional first foods, and other liberatory actions. 

     

    [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1696691935455{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_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”520907″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Bisexual Visibility Day

    Bisexual Visibility Day

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1695560834217{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]According to national data, bisexuals make up the lion’s share of the LGB population. Yet, we are also the most invisible. This is because sexual orientation is usually interpreted based on relationship status and household composition, rather than on how an individual experiences their sexuality.

    My wife and I have been together for 16 years, and co-parenting together for 11 years. We are both bisexual. Rarely is our family interpreted accurately by the outside world. I am Black, she is white, our kid is mixed race and presents as Black. We are also both femmes. As a result of these factors, we have been in countless interactions where my wife has been interpreted, and treated as “my friend who helps me out with my kid”. She has actually been a part of every moment of his life since he was an ultrasound image.

    If she takes him to medical appointments she is asked to substantiate who she is in relation to him, or now that he is older, he has been asked to confirm her identity. This doesn’t happen when I take him to medical appointments. It is a good practice to confirm the relationship between adults and children at medical appointments. However, this seems to be happening based on race, sexual orientation, and gender-based assumptions about families, rather than as a universal safety precaution.

    We’ve come a long way in terms of normalizing same-sex households, but as recently as this past school year, our kid came home with a form that had spots for “mother” and “father”. It is so easy to create a form that has two spaces for “parent/guardian”. Outdated forms such as this one exclude a lot of families that aren’t “same-sex households”. 

    In general, we’re not very surprised by these microaggressions as we navigate a heterosexist world. What often lands more painfully are the microaggressions from within the LGBTQ community in relation to our bisexuality.

    Recently, we were at a comedy night that was heavily attended by queer and trans people. Despite the largely queer crowd, one of the comedians made a biphobic joke. We groaned and gave each other knowing eye-rolls. This reaction sparked a conversation with a lesbian couple that was seated at the same table. We got to chatting with them and when we revealed that we have been together for the better part of 2 decades and are raising a child together, they made a remark that we have heard in lesbian spaces before: “Oh, well it’s like you’re lesbians then”. 

    Like many microaggressions, the intention was clearly complimentary, but that’s definitely not how it landed. We are proud bisexual women. Our relationship with each other doesn’t change that. In these conversations, we find ourselves resisting the temptation to disclose being polyamorous and our relationships with men as a counterargument. No one should have to justify being Bi. That is just what some people are. We all understand that a person who’s been celibate for an extended amount of time isn’t necessarily asexual. It’s the same thing really. My sexual orientation is the one I was born with. Relationships are choices I make over time.

    Not all same-sex couples are gay and lesbian. Not all different-sex couples are straight. Many of us raise children using a variety of family and community structures. Being told we are not real or that our identity is a phase hurts. 

    A great way to make the world less painful for bisexuals and their families is to normalize and represent different family structures. Right now, there is a culture war over when it’s okay to start talking to kids about LGBTQ+ people. 

    Who among us can remember receiving an explanation about marriage and families? We take for granted that there is no need to explain these concepts. We learn about these and other institutions by observing the world around us. LGBTQ+ people are part of the world. Representing queer and trans folk in a child’s world from day one is how we present an accurate portrait of reality.

    There is content that affirms family diversity for all ages. Independent children’s publisher Flamingo Rampant offers an excellent selection of children’s books that show race, sexual, bodily, ability, and gender diversity with people and families doing all sorts of fun and magical things. Super Power Baby Shower by Toby Hill-Meyer and Fay Onyx tells the story of a queer, polyamorous family of superheroes preparing to have a baby! 

     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 experience 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]

  • National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

    National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1694354019009{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]September 30th marks National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, also known as Orange Shirt Day. The day is a national day of remembrance and reflection on the historic and current violence and oppression toward Indigenous Peoples. As a vocational school, we encourage our non-Indigenous students to participate in workshops, lectures, sharing circles, vigils, and more on September 30th.

    The “every child matters” slogan dawned on orange shirts resonates deeply with us as doulas and care workers. As doulas we work intimately with families, infants, and children. The tragedies of the residential school systems and 60’s scoop, as well as the current oppression and violence toward Indigenous families in the forms of child apprehension, incarceration, birth alerts, and more are horrific and unacceptable, and impacts the families and communities we belong to and work with.

    As doulas and allies, it is crucial to educate ourselves about the actions, policies, and systems that disproportionately impact Indigenous families, especially those that directly impact the work we do in terms of advocacy, intergenerational care, and reproductive justice. It is our duty to critically reflect on our identities, experiences, and our relationship to wider systems.

    We understand that National Day for Truth and Reconciliation can bring up difficult emotions and be potentially triggering for our Indigenous students. We will be hosting a Indigenous-only peer support sweetgrass circle on October 1 from 1-3 EST on Zoom to debrief together. Contact kayt@stefanie-techops.wisdmlabs.net to register. You can also check in 0n our progress here at Doula Canada by reviewing our NTRD Progress Report, which includes our goals between now and 2028.

    Don’t know where to get started? Here are some ideas:

    • Follow Indigenous creators on Tiktok, Instagram, and other platforms
    • Take the University of Alberta’s free Indigenous Canada Course
    • https://www.ualberta.ca/admissions-programs/online-courses/indigenous-canada/index.html
    • Search up Kairos Blanket Exercises near you
    • Read up on the 94 Calls to Action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
    • Register for Doula Canada’s Doulas for Reconcili-ACTION Orange Shirt Day workshop
    • “Who Am I: Locating Oneself in Settler-Colonialism, A Conversation on Oppression Privilege, and Allyship” on September 30th from 1-3 PM EST on Zoom. $30, with all proceeds going to Aunties on the Road
    • Apply for our Truth and Reconciliation Action Plan Committee to contribute to our TRAP Five Year Plan
    • Assist in knowledge mobilization. Tag @doulacanada with the hashtag #doulasforreconciliaction on social media to share what you learned on September 30th that you think would benefit your fellow allies.

    We understand that not everyone will have the same time, resources, finances, etc. to participate in some of the activities for the day. If you’re reflecting internally, please consider the following prompts (designed for non-Indigenous students).

    • What preconceived biases have been instilled in me about Indigenous Peoples? Where did I learn them from?
    • Whose land do I reside on? What is the story of the land here? (If applicable) How have I benefited from white/settler privilege?
    • Does the word “settler” make me uncomfortable? Why or why not?

    Wishing you all a meaningful and educational National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

    Miigwetch,

    Kayt Ward, EDI Co-Lead, BSW[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Getting to know our Members: 6 Questions

    Getting to know our Members: 6 Questions

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1590763418165{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Meet Sarah Alicia Elder. Owner of ElderFlower Doula Serving families in New Westminster B.C Canada, This mother of three, can’t stay still and her love for learning has opened up many different career paths. Her sense of community has led her to different fields within human services. Now, Sarah is putting it all together to help families in New Westminster. She is a full-service doula-in-training offering support and resources for pre-pregnancy to post-partum and everything in-between.

    We had a chat with Sarah Alicia about what brought her to this work and got to know her a little better!

    Why did you decide to become a Birth Professional ?

    I have always been drawn to working with babies and young children. When I was in high school, I wanted to become a midwife but never felt like I could do the education. I didn’t learn about doula work until I was pregnant with my first and had a friend’s sister offer doula services. I did some research and after having my second baby, I noticed that for much of the birthing experience, a doula is very much needed. I liked my nurses but having someone helping me or just keeping space for me before going to the hospital as well as having a familiar face throughout the experience would have been a blessing. After talking with other mothers, I realized so many of us do not have extra help and/or have partners who are unsure how to help. Doulas make sure all the questions running around in our head are answered. 

    What is the most surprising thing you have learned so far as a birth worker/ educator?

    The most surprising thing I have learned is that doulas play such an important role and complement other birth workers. Doulas, however, I feel are often forgotten. I still have people ask me what a doula is when I tell others what I do for work. After explaining the role I play during pregnancy, labour and birth, many say they wished they had a doula working with them at their own births. More people are choosing to have a doula present for many different reasons; not having a reliable person to help, choosing to give birth as a single parent, and birthing at home are just a few. Slowly, as more and more companies see the value of doula support and realize that not every family is in a financial situation to afford doula services, extended medical plans are starting to cover the costs of doula support. Studies show that continuous support from a doula lowers intervention rates, including cesarean. As a society, it is imperative that we demand better support to drive change. Nothing happens if we don’t ask!

    Why did you choose Doula Canada?

    I chose Doula Canada mainly because it is Canadian and has an online option. Having very young children and being a stay-at-home mom makes going to an in-person class a lot harder. The flexibility of making my own learning schedule was a must. I also love that the organization has international ties and offer so many different classes to help me further my career. The instructors and directors care about their work and are so hands-on. I don’t feel like just a number but as an important part of the doula community.

     

    Interesting Fact about yourself ( hobby, quirk)

    As well as being a doula, I am a certified cosmetologist and sewer. I love making and creating new outfits by using old clothing from when I was little. 

     

    If you could give advice to someone just starting out what would you say..

    The advice I would love to give to someone just starting out is to be true to yourself. Take your special skills and incorporate them into your doula work. For me, using my background as a cosmetologist and my love for being hands-on and creative, I offer self-care and keepsake art projects to my clients. The things I learned in previous jobs have helped make my doula business unique to me! [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1590764107834{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]   You can learn more about Sarah Alicia here

    Website: https://elderflowerdoula.wordpress.com/

    Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/elderflowerdoula/[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Working Through Shame – an important doula lesson

    Working Through Shame – an important doula lesson

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”73471″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1551307504674{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Guest Blogger Jillian Hand from Hand to Heart Doula Services in St.John’s NL shares with us the importance of working through shame in doula work. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1551308858438{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]When I first read Daring Greatly by Brene Brown it rocked my world. What a HUGE game changer. So, imagine my excitement when it was added to the Doula Canada required reading list. If you haven’t already had the pleasure of reading Brene Brown’s work, here’s a quick bio – Brene Brown is a researcher with a Masters and PhD in Social Work. She lives in Houston and teaches as a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College in Social Work. She has spent over a decade studying vulnerability, courage, worthiness, and shame.

    Pretty heavy topics, right? How do these pertain to doula work, you ask? Well, think about it. What is more vulnerable than being in the position of giving birth? How often do we hear our clients express sentiments like “I feel like a failure”; “I’m just not strong enough”; “I felt invisible and worthless” – these are all statements involving shame.

    So, let’s dig a bit deeper into shame. Brown defines shame as “the intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging” (pg 69). She goes on to explain that shame is the fear of disconnection – “it’s the fear that something we’ve done or failed to do, an ideal that we’ve not lived up to, or a goal that we’ve not accomplished makes us unworthy of connection” (pg 68). We all experience shame. It is a universal emotion and unless you lack the capacity for empathy (sociopath anyone?), you have experienced it. Brown also distinguishes between guilt and shame. The difference is best understood with the following example – Guilt = I did something bad; shame = I AM bad. See the difference?

    Let’s use an example we can relate to. As a doula, I’m sure we have all experienced moments of shame. If you haven’t yet, you will. Trust me. You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t. My first bout of shame as a doula was with my third client. We had discussed her wishes prior to the birth and I knew she wanted to avoid an episiotomy if at all possible. I supported her to the best of my abilities throughout her labor and when it came time to push. Then, this happened – As she was lying supine, pushing with all her might, I watched the OB pull out a pair of scissors. In my head, I knew I should say something because it was obvious at this point that he didn’t plan to. But I froze – maybe out of fear of confrontation or perhaps I was just too intimidated at that point to question the decisions of a doctor. I’m still not sure why I didn’t speak up for her. But I didn’t; and he cut her without a word.

    I had so much guilt for such a long time. I did something bad. I didn’t speak up for her. I didn’t protect her in the way I was meant to. I didn’t give her the chance to say no. I watched him violate her informed consent and did nothing. The guilt was overwhelming… But the shame.. well, the shame was excruciating.  Because you see, I didn’t only think I DID something bad, I also thought I WAS bad. What a horrible doula I was! I felt unfit and unworthy of supporting women during this precious, vulnerable time. Not only did I harbor guilt about my lack of action, but I internalized it and made it about who I was as a person, as a doula. Now THAT is shame.

    I didn’t talk about that experience for a long time. I never admitted that I saw those scissors. I found it hard to look my client in the eye while she explained after the fact how painful her recovery was. I avoided the second postpartum visit because I couldn’t face the shame I was experiencing… and of course, that just reinforced my shame, deepening it until I felt like I was drowning.  That’s what shame does – it spirals and makes us pull away, disconnect, avoid. The more it silences us, the larger it looms. I almost gave up being a doula after that.

    I didn’t quit though. I came to learn that I was actually a very good doula. I just wasn’t perfect. I learned to cut myself some slack when it comes to mistakes. I found empathy in my heart for that newbie doula who still hadn’t found her voice to speak up against obstetric violence, and who lacked the confidence to take a stand. She did the best she could in that moment. I truly believe that now.

    As doulas, we will experience shame. We will also witness the shame of others – our clients, their partners, family members, our doula colleagues. Unfortunately, Brown’s research confirms that there really is no way of avoiding shame. Shame resistance is impossible. “As long as we care about connection, the fear of disconnection will always be a powerful force in our lives, and the pain caused by shame will always be real” (pg 74). What Brown did discover however is that we have the ability to build shame resilience. “Shame resilience is a strategy for protecting connection – out connection with ourselves and out connections with the people we care about” (pg 76). It’s about moving from shame to empathy, which is the real antidote for shame. It’s the “(pg 74).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column border_color=”#441f93″ blend_mode=”soft-light” css=”.vc_custom_1551308244095{background-color: #300032 !important;}”][mk_blockquote font_family=”none”]It’s the “ability to practice authenticity when we experience shame, to move through the experience without sacrificing out values, and to come out on the other side of the shame experience with more courage, compassion, and connection than we had going into it” (pg 74).[/mk_blockquote][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1551308385042{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]So, how do we build our shame resilience? Brown identifies four elements, and the steps don’t always have to happen in order. They are:

    Recognizing Shame and Understanding Its Triggers.

    I love the description “Shame is biology and biography”. To build shame resistance, we must first be able to detect shame in our bodies. That’s the biology. Do we flush? Feel nauseous? Get headaches? What is our physical reaction? I know mine inside and out. First, I feel queasy and I get clammy. Then, my mind starts to race, and my breath quickens and a headache starts, right behind my eyes. I flush and can feel the grip of anxiety.

    The biography piece refers to our ability to figure out what messages and expectations triggered it. What’s the story we are telling ourselves? Let’s take my shame story for example. The expectations I set for myself were that, as a doula, it was my sole responsibility to protect my client against unwanted interventions in any situation.

     Practicing Critical Awareness.

    This is where reality checking comes into play. How realistic or attainable are the messages and expectations driving your shame? Was it realistic for me to set the expectation that I alone was responsible for the actions of my client’s healthcare team? Was it attainable for me to assume that I had the power to stop unwanted intervention? I know now that I am only one person.

    Reaching out.

    Are you sharing your story? Empathy requires connection and if we aren’t reaching out, we aren’t connecting. WHO we choose to share our story with is vital. Are we choosing someone who has earned the right to witness our vulnerability? Are they going to hold space for us in a non-judgmental way? If not, we might want to choose someone else because those that judge us and do not have the ability to provide us with compassion and empathy will only feed our shame.

    When I first shared my story, it was with another doula who I trusted wholeheartedly. She listened and validated me, and was able to tell me about her own experience with shame. I didn’t feel alone anymore, and it made me realize that we all have moments of humanness where we make mistakes.

    Speaking Shame.

    Finally, are you identifying shame as SHAME? Are you saying the word, out loud? It’s important that we talk about shame and ask for what we need when we feel shame. By naming it, it loses its power.

    Now, when I feel shame coming on, I look it in the face. I say to myself “This is shame”. I know exactly what I need to do to work through it. I call that same friend you gets me and I say “I need help, I’m in a shame spiral”. She knows exactly what that means. We talk it out. I usually cry. I tell her I need to hear that I’m still a good doula. I need her to believe that I did the best I could. She always believes me. Always.

    Working through shame takes work, and self-compassion, and most of all, empathy. Remember, you need to go I.N.T.O it.

    Identify it.

    Name it.

    Talk about it.

    Own it.

    I promise you, you will make it to the other side.

    Brown, brene. (2012). Daring Greatly: How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way we Live, Love, and Parent. New York: Avery Publishing.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1551307936785{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

    Jillian is a certified birth and postpartum doula through both Doula Training Canada and DONA International . She is one of the original founders of the Doula Collective of Newfoundland and Labrador.She is also a Certified Birthing From Within® mentor and doula and  a Birthing From Within® Birth Story Listener. This training, along with a master’s degree in social work, has provided her with the necessary skills to facilitate the processing of difficult birth experiences in a way that leads to growth and wholeness. Finally, She is a birth doula trainer through Doula Training Canada, as well as the mother of two beautiful and creative children. 

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  • 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…)