Doula School Canada

Tag: doula

  • Domestic Violence Awareness Month

    Domestic Violence Awareness Month

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1698759996931{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Let Clients Know You are a Safe Person to Disclose to about Intimate Partner Violence

    “For one-quarter of women who experience DFV [Domestic and family violence], the violence begins during pregnancy. Where violence was previously occurring, it escalates in frequency and severity during pregnancy and early motherhood.” (Baird et. al., 2021)

    Based on this disturbing truth, Baird and many other researchers recommend that all pregnant women be screened for intimate partner and domestic violence. There is a fair amount of controversy and debate within international healthcare systems and among individual providers regarding whether or not to implement this recommendation. 

    Unfortunately, vulnerable pregnant people and children are caught in the middle of that debate. In Sault. Ste. Marie on Oct 24, 2023, 5 people including 3 children were killed due to domestic violence, renewing calls for intimate partner violence to be declared an epidemic.

    We can avoid getting bogged down by debate and discomfort and put the well-being of birthers and families first by being a safe zone for clients to disclose IPV and other trauma. Here are some strategies I’ve used universally to let clients know they can tell me about domestic abuse. I can’t go into details for obvious reasons, but suffice it to say, these strategies work.

    I’d love to hear from you in the comments about what you’re doing to support clients to open up about abuse and violence.

    Create a Cone of Silence

    When couples retain my services, my welcome email explains how each individual can communicate with me confidentially. The email is clearly a template, so it’s obvious that I’m not putting that out there for personal reasons. 

    Then I initiate a chat with the birther via a communication channel that is obviously exclusive to them and me, usually a chat with a cell phone number that I know is theirs. This strategy isn’t perfect since many abusive partners closely monitor the victim’s communication channels. Still, including this in the welcome email normalizes situations where information should not be shared between partners.

    Ask Everyone About Stressors

    I ask clients to complete my intake questionnaire individually rather than as a team. The questionnaire invites the client to share about stressors in their home environment. I’m aware that not everyone might answer a question as blunt as “Are you being abused by your partner?” candidly, especially with someone they are still getting to know. Additionally, abuse can take many shapes and often goes unrecognized. Clients disclose a range of domestic issues in response to this question. Even if nothing is shared at that time, it sends a clear message that I am open to talking about practical, social, and emotional aspects of their pregnancy journey.

    Leverage One-on-One Moments

    Some things come out much more easily face-to-face than they do in other ways. Unfortunately, our work prenatally and postpartum often occurs while both members of a couple are present. I take advantage of times when the birther and I happen to be one-on-one to initiate conversations about the birth and postpartum life. I let all of my birthers know that while I’m here to support them as a team, the buck stops with them. If I have to make a choice, I’m ride or die for the birther. 

    Have Resources at the Ready if Someone Discloses Abuse 

    However the birther decides to handle the situation, I make sure I know about local resources that can support them in that choice. This encompasses therapists, organizations that support women to develop safety and escape plans, community legal clinics, and food security resources. 

     

    For folks in Ontario, contacting the Assaulted Women’s Help Line is a great way to start figuring out your options to address intimate partner violence. 1.866.863.0511

    [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1698759879666{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][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”520952″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

    International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1698093869318{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The rising cost of food and collective grocery store anxiety rest on a bed of other precarious conditions. The price of everything has gone up. We are still seeing empty shelves in stores “post” pandemic as we head to the mall in shorts on a 33-degree October day. There are numerous causes for feeling uncertainty.

    When society gets taken for a ride, children come right along with us. As someone who works with babies and families, on International Day for the Eradication of Poverty I’m reflecting on the fact that 50% of the world’s children are affected by poverty. 

    Most of these children are not where I am sitting, in a high-cost-of-living, high-standard-of-living urban centre in Canada. However, people where I am are still afraid of not having enough, and it’s making many people afraid to start a family.

    These fears are justified. Raising children is expensive, and we are facing a food crisis, a housing crisis, a climate crisis, and a healthcare crisis. People and families live in a lot of isolation which makes feeling secure challenging. Poverty has a significantly adverse impact on outcomes during pregnancy and childbirth, and on how all aspects of your life go from there.

    Support from a doula reduces the risk of many of the adverse outcomes that poverty increases the risk of. Sadly, individuals who can benefit the most from improved outcomes are those who are least able to pay the cost of hiring a doula. 

    Doulas and birth workers are a compassionate bunch. No one in this profession is here to get rich, and we want to provide our services to people who can benefit from them the most. However, we also have ourselves and our families to care for, and doing this work well takes time. Far too many kind-hearted people who have trained long and hard and love this work leave after a few years, turning to less rewarding work that pays the bills. When this happens, the doula’s skills go to waste and their community loses out on the transformative care they could have received.

    Advocates within the doula sphere are exploring options to improve community access to doula support while making a long-term career in this field more sustainable. At Doula Canada, we are doing our part by developing a briefing note that will elucidate opportunities and challenges in the current perinatal care landscape, the potential for doulas and childbirth educators to leverage these opportunities and solve these challenges, and models whereby doula care could be cost-effectively funded by a mix of social partners including different levels of government, insurance companies, and foundations. This initiative is directed by the Advocacy Working Group, comprised of Doula Canada members and staff. The Advocacy Working Group is part of our commitment to manifest a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) action within our school. Stay tuned for more on the Doula Access Initiative in the coming months.

    To connect with the Advocacy Working Group at Doula Canada, email Keira Grant, EDI Co-Lead at keira@stefanie-techops.wisdmlabs.net.

     

    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]

  • A Practical Guide to Navigating PCOS

    A Practical Guide to Navigating PCOS

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1694731059747{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

    With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Awareness Month upon us, we felt it imperative to discuss the medical condition considered to be one of the leading causes of infertility and a condition most commonly undiagnosed. PCOS is not a lifestyle illness – it is a diagnosed medical condition that can be debilitating. A person does not get PCOS because of their lifestyle. PCOS is a common chronic hormonal condition that causes hormone imbalances, irregular cycles, cysts in the ovaries, lack of ovulation, among other long-term health problems that affect physical and emotional wellbeing. According to the World Health Organization, PCOS affects an estimated 13-18% of individuals with uteruses who are of reproductive age. This is an alarming number. What’s even more unsettling is that there is no cure for PCOS and up to 70% of affected people will go undiagnosed worldwide. Due to a lack of awareness, education, and taboo around fertility conversations many people do not discuss their reproductive health and menstrual cycles with their families and friends. If you speak to someone of reproductive age you are likely to find out that they probably know someone affected by PCOS, they may have been diagnosed with PCOS, or they might think that they have PCOS but be undiagnosed.

    Individuals who are not diagnosed and go untreated may be at higher risk for developing conditions that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, obesity, gestational diabetes, and high cholesterol. The condition also puts people at risk of developing increased thickness of the uterine lining, uterine cancer, having a preterm delivery and preeclampsia, and a greater chance of having a miscarriage. Research indicates that early testing, diagnosis, and intervention of PCOS improves fertility preservation and prevents complications such as obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, infertility, and cardiovascular issues later in life, especially in at-risk cases.

    I might have PCOS

    If you suspect that you may have PCOS meet with a medical doctor who specializes in hormonal disorders to discuss your concerns. They will check for symptoms, discuss your medical history, and discuss the regularity of menstrual cycle. Some of the common tests for PCOS might include a physical exam – such as blood pressure and a pelvic exam etc…, blood tests, and a pelvic ultrasound.

    I’ve been Diagnosed with PCOS

    It’s important to talk about this misunderstood condition and its challenges because it presents differently for everyone in ‘real life’ and is considered a lifelong condition.

    If you or someone you know have received an early diagnosis of PCOS, this information may be helpful in navigating where to start and getting the support you need:

    • Get a second opinion
    • Determine and understand your condition and presenting symptoms
    • Connect with a medical doctor who specializes in Gynecology and/or PCOS itself
    • Find a supportive medical team who validate your concerns and align with your long-term goals
    • Connect with a Fertility Doula who can support you throughout your journey
    • Find out if the diagnosis was prompted because of Hyperandrogenism, Anovulation/Oligoovulation, or Polycystic Ovaries on an ultrasound so that an appropriate customized treatment and support plan can be created
    • Get familiar with the concept of insulin resistance because there are a number of factors that contribute to high insulin in PCOS, and insulin resistance has been found to be one of the central factors of the condition
    • Determine the major component of insulin resistance in your condition
    • Get familiar with the long-term health considerations in PCOS
    • Learn about other holistic health modalities such as a Naturopathic Doctor for example who can support your condition
    • Explore which treatments will improve your individual symptoms
    • Adjust your lifestyle to reduce the PCOS symptoms

    What else can I  do?

    Alongside the goals of PCOS Awareness Month we can:

    • increase awareness and education
    • lobby for improved diagnosis and treatment of the disorder
    • disseminate information on diagnosis and treatment
    • hold agencies responsible for the improved quality of life and outcomes of those affected
    • promote the need for research to advance understanding of PCOS: improved diagnosis, treatment and care options, and for a cure for PCOS
    • acknowledge the struggles of those affected
    • make PCOS a public health priority

    To lean more, visit:

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

  • Where Can My Doula Career Take Me?

    Where Can My Doula Career Take Me?

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1694438520551{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]As unregulated health care professionals, a doula’s role involves advocacy, education, counselling, collaboration and negotiation to provide physical, emotional and informational support to individuals and families across the full spectrum of their reproductive choices. This role relies on a comprehensive set of skills and knowledge. With the foundation of your doula experience and education you can choose to grow your career path in many different directions. 

    So let’s talk about some career options that complement each other. 

    Lactation Consultant or IBCLC 

    These are two different avenues of support. 

    A Lactation Consultant/ Educator works with families from preconception through the stage of weaning offering education, encouragement, counseling, an experienced point of view, and fostering confidence, and a commitment to body feeding. Lactation Educators can be found working in a variety of settings to offer their services to families. Families can find them working as public health educators, WIC peer counselors, hospital/community educators, pediatric support professionals, and in private practice as educators. You can find certifications online for these programs. 

    An International board-certified lactation consultants (IBCLC) is an allied healthcare professional who specializes in caring for bodyfeeding parents. They’re qualified to treat common nursing problems along with more serious conditions such as mastitis and clogged milk ducts. Lactation consultants most often support parents in how to increase milk supply, find the best nursing position, and manage breastfeeding pain. IBCLCs are held to strict standards. To be accredited, they must complete 90 hours of training, 300 to 1,000 hours of clinical experience, and extensive health sciences coursework. An accredited lactation consultant must also recertify every five years and continue their education.

    Prenatal Fitness Instructor

    As a Prenatal & Postnatal Fitness Instructor, you can help educate and train clients in all stages of pregnancy – before, during, and after – about what is safe for them and, conversely, what should be avoided to help protect the health of both the gestational parent and baby. Furthermore, fitness training is a fun way to meet new clients and get to know them in a positive environment. Prenatal fitness certifications are available both online and in-person. Take a look in your area to see what works best.

    Perinatal Counsellor

    Perinatal counselling provides emotional support and treatment for individuals (and couples) who are having a difficult time adjusting to pregnancy and parenthood, who are experiencing a perinatal mood or anxiety problem, or who are experiencing both. Some of this work can naturally overlap with a client’s pregnancy and birth journey. If you really enjoy the counseling and support side of birth work you may want to become a psychotherapist or mental health professional. You can find certification courses through college or university or through private vocational training schools. 

    Birth Photographer

    If you have a creative eye, you can capture the moments of birth for clients on camera. A few of our alumni have combined their creativity with a love of birth. You can either work solely as a Birth Photographer, documenting the pregnancy journey and birth. Or you can have photography as an additional service available through your doula work. It depends what you’re comfortable with and how you’d like to structure your business. Each client is different and you’ll want to work with them to understand what their goals are and what kind of pictures they’re looking for. The great thing about this career path is a relatively low barrier to entry. If you already have a love of photography and a camera you can get started. Alternatively, there are a variety of photography courses available both online and in person.

    Midwife

    A healthcare professional that assists with the labour and delivery of a new baby. Midwifes are experts in low risk pregnancy and birth, providing care to patients and delivering the baby. In the case where there are concerns or complications, a midwife can transfer care to a physician if needed. A midwife is different from a doula, in that they are a trained medical professional who can deliver a baby. A doula is trained to provide physical, emotional, and informational support to clients. However, a doula is not a medical professional. A question we see a lot at Doula School is does a client benefit from having a midwife AND a doula – the answer is yes! They both provide very important services to clients, and many people find it helpful to have both. Training to be a midwife typically takes between 3 and 4 years, depending on the program and its requirements.

    Labour & Delivery Nurse

    They work as main points of support for OBGYNs, monitoring of patient vitals, administering medication, and establishing communication with expectant parents. Once a baby is born, the L&D Nurse acts as an informational resource to parents, to monitor neonatal vitals, to ensure the birthing person isn’t experiencing postpartum complications. Nursing degrees can vary depending on where you are located, however they typically take 3-4 years.

    Whatever path you decide to take, know you have a foundation of knowledge that will help carry you through. [/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]

  • World Suicide Prevention Day: Creating Hope Through Action

    World Suicide Prevention Day: Creating Hope Through Action

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1693608059856{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]This year’s theme for World Suicide Prevention Day is creating hope through action. 

    There is a lot we can do intentionally to decrease suicidality and enhance hope among the perinatal population. 

    According to this data analysis in Canadian Medical Association Journal, one in every 19 perinatal deaths is due to suicide, making suicide a leading cause of perinatal death. CMAJ notes that these findings speak to a need for stronger mental health support during and after pregnancy. Discussing perinatal health universally during prenatal support is a good starting point. Knowing what to watch out for, and raising awareness and discussion about is also essential. 

    This 2022 article by Ann-Marie Bright and colleagues presents a scoping review of almost 20 years of literature on perinatal suicidality. Their central finding is that “The minimization of women’s experiences may lead to detrimental consequences and there is a need for increased knowledge of mental health problems by those working with women in the perinatal period to ensure safety planning conversations occur with every woman meeting ‘at risk’ criteria.”

    Suicidal ideation is having thoughts of committing suicide. These thoughts occur on a spectrum ranging in frequency, intensity, and intentionality. While suicidal ideation does not always lead to a suicide attempt, suicide attempts and completed suicides are always preceded by suicidal ideation. Early identification and intervention regarding suicidal ideation as an important way of preventing suicide. 

    Bright et. al divide the risk factors for suicidal ideation during the perinatal period into 3 categories:

    1. Biological, which includes:
      1. Nicotine and alcohol use
      2. Poor or low sleep
      3. Chronic illness
      4. Pregnancy conditions
      5. Complicated Birth
    2. Psychological, which includes 
      1. Trauma history
      2. Prior history of mental illness
      3. Pregnancy and infant loss
      4. Suicide attempt history
      5. Feeling unprepared to parent
    3. Social, which includes
      1. Unemployed/low income
      2. Inadequate support system
      3. Intimate partner violence
      4. Refugee Status
      5. Unhealthy relationships

     

    There are two key takeaways for doulas in these findings. Firstly, this is a pretty lengthy list of risk factors and it’s not exhaustive. Suicidal ideation could affect anyone, from any walk of life. We need to talk to all clients about mental health and raise awareness regarding red flags for mental ill health, and share local treatment options.

    Secondly, some people are more likely to be at risk than others. People who are marginalized and who have survived abuse and violence may need some extra helping hands. 

    As birth workers, our role is in and of itself a powerful action against suicide. Support from a doula has been shown to significantly reduce postpartum depression and strengthen new parent relationships. Perhaps this is because having a doula can mitigate many of these risks identified by Bright et. al, such as complicated birth, feeling unprepared to parent, and an inadequate support system. We can’t underestimate the life-saving power and potential of this work. We need financial and infrastructural support to do this work and connect with the clients who need us the most. 

    To learn more about how you can support suicide awareness and prevention in your birthwork practice, check out resources at Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention. 

    This short video also provides excellent information on warning signs for postpartum depression. https://youtu.be/6kaCdrvNGZw?si=nBqLwhMLnFd–XK3

     

    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.

    People exhibiting symptoms of perinatal mental illness should be encouraged to seek medical attention immediately.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Alumni Journey – Helena’s Doula Path

    Alumni Journey – Helena’s Doula Path

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1692469499559{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

    Alumni Journey – Helena’s Doula Path

    Where it all began –

    Back in 2011, being a stay at home mom for over 10 years, working only part time here and there to keep me home with the kids – it was time for change. BIG change. I was losing my sense of self, kids were getting older, my husband had just changed careers and I needed something for ME. I always had a passion for women’s health, nutrition, natural healing. I looked into a few options, but midwifery REALLY resonated with me. Before I could even apply, I needed to upgrade some high school courses to get my grade point average up (apparently my memory of what a great student I was back in high school wasn’t…so…accurate…). I began looking into other things that could help boost my application and that’s when a trusty google search popped the word “doula” in front of my face. I am a mother of three and had never heard of a doula before – but man did it sound like a perfect thing to learn about while trying to pursue my goal of becoming a Midwife. I sneakily went into my “secret stash” of money that I was saving for a new camera and booked myself into a doula training course just 10 minutes from my house. Literally decided to take doula training on a Tuesday, enrolled for that Friday and the rest is HISTORY.

    From the moment I attended my first birth as a doula, I knew I was meant to be on the emotional side of birth…NOT the medical. So I tucked my midwifery goals aside, dove head first into my Doula Career and became certified. My Trainer was none other than Stefanie Antunes and since that first weekend together, we have become lifelong friends and “soul sistas”. Stefanie is the real deal people, she’s been there, done that, always re-inventing herself and truly a driving force for better birth.

    Stefanie also had this little “project” called the Birth Doula Program she had just launched before I met her and she needed someone to take the reins and work alongside her for a bit. I applied for the position and her and I have been partners in crime to this day, nurturing what many have viewed as a lost cause (more on that in a bit).

    A few years later, I found myself wanting to do as much education as I was “doula-ing”, so looked into Prenatal Educator Programs. Once again, I was trained by Stefanie and this time the added bonus of an old high school friend and colleague Jen Rogers. By 2016 I achieved my Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator.

    I have been on the Board of Directors for the Association of Ontario Doulas. I have managed the Discover Birth Team. I have consulted with Health practitioners across Durham region helping them to expand the support they offer their expecting clients. I have facilitated seminars and info sessions for Doctors, Midwives, Nurses and colleagues. Give me a microphone people – the stage is my jam.

    First and foremost though, I have walked the walk. I have listened more than I have spoken to truly understand a family’s fears and intentions. I have driven the miles, put in the hours, lost the sleep, and cried the tears. Left my kids recitals and missed birthdays. I’ve laughed, hugged and done more hip squeezes than I care to count (in positions I can’t even describe). I may be 50lbs overweight but no one holds a candle to my arm and shoulder strength. I’ve doula’ed through the pandemic – when human rights were being violated, but technology kept the doula in the birth room. I’ve needed support after a long hard birth and I’ve given it right back – even at 2 am when I WASN’T on call. I’ve even had the honour of performing Henna Belly blessings and learning all about the different beautiful cultural traditions of birth.

    These past 10 years have been life changing. I’m a better mother, friend and wife because of this career and nothing beats the moment a birthing person looks you in the eye after the hardest and most impactful time of their life and no words even have to be spoken – you just feel the energy in the room – they did it and you helped that confidence bloom.

    Being a Doula is a privilege. It’s truly a gift, never to be taken for granted. I lost my mother very young (she passed away from cancer at 39 years), so I know how precious life is. I really feel I was meant to do this work – be there for families, for women, for people.

    Some of my favourite memories, so far:

    *Medical professionals remembering me from a previous birth and exclaiming to the room, we are in “good hands”.

    *Coming full circle as a colleague in the “birth world” when Stefanie and I were ready to change the previous model of the Birth Doula Program and expand it into more hospitals. We secured a meeting with The Director of the Alongside Midwifery unit at Markham Stouffville Hospital. She knew Stefanie professionally and she knew me from attending births together with clients under her care.  After hearing our “pitch” she said: “You are the ones mentoring these doulas and running this program, so I have every confidence they are getting the right support. If you’re teaching them, how I know you both are as doulas, then I see no problem in launching this program”

    Or at least I think that’s kinda what she said…cause I was having a surreal girl crush kinda moment being complimented by Ontario’s Midwife # 1 and head of Canada’s first Midwifery led hospital unit…

    *Those moments: when you don’t know you’re being watched, when you don’t know yet the ripple effect you’re causing. When the support you give rolls into 100’s of doulas lives – helping them launch their careers and in turn helps 100’s of families.  It weaves into a new parent’s confidence as they bring their baby home. Impresses knowledge so a family can make the best choice for themselves.

    As I approach a crossroads in my career, deciding whether or not to hang up my doula shoes, I look back on those moments and feel nothing but gratitude.

    Two years ago I put my doula career on hold as we moved from the city to the country and I was a surrogate. Having supported many families with that dynamic of growing their family, it was an honour to have been able to do that for someone. My daughter was able to be there at the birth too – how serendipitous to have had her there experiencing a true miracle. A beautiful little girl was born right on her due date (Thanksgiving Day!) and since then I have only been taking a few clients and teaching online here and there.

    My husband’s renovation company is also thriving, so I’ve enjoyed jumping in and learning to manage things together with him.

    In the past year, I have stepped away from the Birth Doula Program to a more quiet role (but still help with training new Doulas). I don’t belong to any birth related Boards or Associations (except my son’s local Hockey Centre Board). I’ve also said I’m retiring from doing births and only want to teach part time.

    So don’t tell my husband that I bought new doula shoes, booked up my October with classes and may have booked a couple clients the month we are supposed to be taking a family vacation…this Doula isn’t going anywhere.

    Parting words?

    Listen more than you speak.

    Surrender to the moments in labour so you can grow your confidence and truly be present for the person trusting you with this experience.

    Don’t spread yourself thin – I have missed ONE birth out of 100’s in 10 years…I wanted to hit the ground running and DO everything when I started my career. Instead be truly MAGNIFICENT in one or two things you do, instead of OKAY in many.

    Check your bias at the door.

    Stay Hydrated…legit

     

    Helena McMann

    Doula School Graduate

    CD(DONA) Doula

    LCCE Lamaze Childbirth Educator

    Co-Director, The Birth Doula Program[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Let’s Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day.

    Let’s Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day.

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1687365796950{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Aaniin Doulas!

    This month is National Indigenous History Month, how have you been celebrating?
    The Indigenous excellence at DTC shines bright, and we are so grateful for the many contributions Indigenous birth helpers have brought to the community, historically and currently!
    We hope this Indigenous Peoples Day, Indigenous and Non-Indigenous folks can reflect on how to create more accessible care for Indigenous families, co-resist against systems, and use their doula roles to uphold Indigenous rights.
    Some ideas on how to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day:
    1. Learn whose land you reside on. www.native-land.ca
    2. Attend a local or virtual Indigenous Peoples Day event
    3.  Donate to Indigenous-led organizations upholding Indigenous rights today
    4. Pick a film to watch from the National Film Board of Canada’s catalogue of over 200 Indigenous-created films
    5. Follow and amplify the voices of Indigenous people through social media platforms
    6. Read through the Indigenous Ally Toolkit or How to Become an Indigenous Ally
    7. Find a CBC Reclaimed playlist and explore the many different worlds of Indigenous music, or start by watching the documentary Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World
    8. Understand the issues facing Indigenous reproductive health in Canada
    9. Join me June 29  from 12-3 pm EST,  for a Celebrating Indigenous Changemakers: NIHM Watch Party and discussion on Turtle Island Heros. This is open to Indigenous and Non-Indigenous members. We will be screening some Indigenous pieces, including clips of award-winning documentaries, spoken word pieces, and music to celebrate Indigenous culture and history. We will also be having an open circle discussion about the pieces being viewed, and how they relate to doula care in Canada. register here
    At Doula Canada we continue working toward our goals outlined in the DTC Truth and Reconciliation Action Plan for 2023, and we are so excited to announce the launch of our Indigenous History and Allyship module, compulsory in all doula streams, starting in July. This is a three-month pilot, where we will take feedback and then relaunch a final module based on surveys afterward.
    We are on Indigenous land, and we must know how to be good relations with one another.
    Happy Indigenous Peoples Day and Happy Summer Solstice!
    I look forward to seeing you all on June 29 from 12-3 pm EST.
    Kayt

    [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1687096542163{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Kayt (she/her) Inclusion and Engagement Lead, is an Anishnaabe kwe from Bonnechere Algonquin territory and the owner of Sweetgrass Solace Wholistic Support. Her post-secondary education includes a Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of the Arts in Indigenous Studies from Trent University (2021). She is also a certified hatha yoga teacher and a certifying birth and postpartum Doula.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Doula’s Toolbox: Why Birth Affirmations Matter!

    Doula’s Toolbox: Why Birth Affirmations Matter!

    [vc_row][vc_column][mk_padding_divider][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1679509016754{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]So let’s talk affirmations. The concept of self-affirmation isn’t by any means complex or far-fetched. Positive affirmations are statements or phrases that, when repeated daily, can help challenge negative thoughts and boost self-confidence.

    First, a little science. 

    To understand how positive affirmations work and how you can make the most of them, we have to familiarize you with neuroplasticity, which is the ability to rewire the brain. Despite being one of the most sophisticated and complex structures in the known universe, the human brain can get a little mixed up on the difference between reality and imagination. This very loophole serves as the basis of self-affirmation. To elaborate, when you repeat affirming statements daily, you’re helping your brain create a mental image of the goal you’re trying to achieve or the version of yourself you are aspiring to become.

    Affirmations require regular practice if you want to make lasting, long-term changes to the ways that you think and feel, even for birth. There is MRI evidence suggesting that certain neural pathways are increased when people practice self-affirmation tasks (Cascio et al., 2016). If you want to be super specific, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex—involved in positive valuation and self-related information processing—becomes more active when we consider our personal values (Falk et al., 2015; Cascio et al., 2016). There is also some reasearch asserting that affirmations can reduce the rate of medical interventions during childbirth.Empirical studies suggest positive affirmations can:

    • Decrease health-deteriorating stress (Sherman et al., 2009; Critcher & Dunning, 2015);
    • Help change the way we view “threatening” messages with less resistance and perception (Logel & Cohen, 2012);
    • Self-affirmation has been demonstrated to lower stress and rumination (Koole et al., 1999; Weisenfeld et al., 2001).

    Think of it this way. When you repeat the same thoughts in your head, positive or negative, you start to believe them and your brain forms a pathway of neurons. There is a popular saying: Your words become your world.

    Anyway most importantly the purpose of affirmations in labour is actually quite simple: Birth affirmations are sayings or statements designed to change your mindset and help you maintain a positive outlook or mood regarding the birth process.

    Preparing your mind for labour and birth is really important, and it is no different from eating well or working on specific exercises to prepare your body for labour.

    In order for birth affirmations to work, you need to keep a few things in mind:

    You  have to believe what you’re saying

    When you have a negative thought or fear, recognize it and deal with it first. This study found that participants with low self-esteem who repeated the phrase “I am lovable” actually had more negative emotions and still didn’t feel lovable because they didn’t really believe what they were saying.

    Try to get to the root of your fears or negativity around birth.  Talk to a counsellor, listen to or read positive birth stories and surround yourself with other positive influences.

    Keep in mind that sometimes we have to keep saying affirmations over and over again until we do believe it, which brings me to my next point.

    Repeat, repeat, repeat!

    Create a plan to practice your birth affirmations daily or a few times a week leading up to your birth. Find an affirmation meditation you enjoy, write them in a journal, and practice with your partner, doula or support person, you can even record your own voice memo practicing your affirmations to listen back. Practicing during your pregnancy will make using these affirmations during labour more effective.

    They are not just for vaginal birthing.

    There’s a common misconception that affirmations or hypnobirthing tracks are only helpful for people planning for an unmedicated birth experience. Plus affirmations are a great tool to complement other forms of pain management in your plan (think about that long drive to the hospital before you get an epidural).

    Make them visible: Once your contractions pick up, channelling your focus on affirmations will be more challenging. Print out a copy of your affirmations, save them to your phone, or pack affirmation cards (see the downloadable pdf)  in your bag will give you a visual point of reference to help keep your focus on your affirmations as you ride the waves of labour.

    Now that you’ve got a sense of how affirmations work, where can you find the right positive messages for you?  We have a downloadable PDF with a few ( ALSO for doulas this deck is customizable you can add your logo) you can google, or you can ask friends and family to help you out.

    What matters is that they are meaningful and believable for you![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][mk_padding_divider][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”Customizable CANVA affirmation deck ” color=”turquoise” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.canva.com%2Fdesign%2FDAFd8HHbv8Y%2F_hEn_HPs8cN6DuVZfUaADw%2Fview%3Futm_content%3DDAFd8HHbv8Y%26utm_campaign%3Ddesignshare%26utm_medium%3Dlink%26utm_source%3Dpublishsharelink%26mode%3Dpreview|target:_blank”][/vc_column][/vc_row]