Tag: education

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Anti-Oppression Anti-racism work Equity Health Care intersectionality lactation LGBTQ2S+ surrogacy understanding bias

Reflections on Trans Inclusion in Birth & Lactation Support

Response re Inclusive Language

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

Her objections to trans inclusivity include:

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

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

The Confusion About Main’s Objections

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

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

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

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

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

Men Will Make LLL Meetings Unsafe

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

Damage to the Mother-Baby Dyad

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

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

It Might be Dangerous for “Men” to Feed Babies

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 ~

The REAL issue

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

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

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

 

About the Author

Keira Grant

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

Keira brings a wealth of experience to the Online Community Moderator role. She is a Queer, Black woman with a twenty-year track record in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) education, projects, and community building initiatives.

14 Week Holistic Doula – April 17th Start

This 14 week program allows DTC members to hold space with an experienced team of instructors and learn about the relational and holistic aspects of becoming a modern birth worker.

When you register for the 14-module Holistic Doula program you are registering to receive training in trauma-focused work, fertility, pregnancy, loss, labour support, postpartum support, infant feeding, and sex and body-positive frameworks that include the consideration of anatomical, physiologic, social, environmental, and diverse relationships.  All of which form the essence and experience of being a modern birth worker with DTC.

This course includes:

– 10 scheduled LIVE webinars with experienced mentors and experts in their field (please see below)
– 12 core modules
– ongoing mentoring
– an invitation to additional program events and ongoing DTC member discussions
– a lifetime membership to DTC
– review and feedback on experiential and assignment components, as well as the inclusion of your final test fee

Meetings and modules will cover, but are not limited to:

  •  Community commitment, practice guidelines, jurisprudence, and ethical considerations
  • Conception, pre-conception, fertility, family planning, and diverse family relationships
  • Sex-positive and body-positive anatomy and physiology, which sex is a part of birth
  • Pregnancy, preparing clients for labour, self-care and safety-planning
  • Virtual versus in-person support considerations, and rural versus urban birth work experiences
  • Trauma-informed principles for care and trauma-focused support + counselling skills for our own trauma reflections
  • Comfort measures for birth, a top to bottom approach to adaptive response options for minimizing flight/fight/freeze/fawn and the sensation of pain
  • The variations of informed consent and what it means in the space of communication and advocacy
  • Anti-oppression, discrimination and decolonization of reproductive and sexual experiences
  • Medical procedures, interventions & reproductive bias across systems of medical care
  • Loss, grief & mourning: the multi-dimensional aspects of trauma and loss
  • Compassion fatigue, burn out, and vicarious trauma:  self care planning and personal reflection by birth support themselves
  • Counselling skills, community of care models, & working with clients to support their needs, traditions, and cultural practices
  • Business and non-business models of support

Materials and modules will become available on Sunday April 17th, 2023

Webinars will be held each Wednesday’s at 7:30pm EST via Zoom (90 minute sessions) on the following dates:

  • April 26th
  • May 3rd
  • May 10th
  • May 17th
  • May24th
  • May 31 – Break Week – no session
  • June 7th
  • June 14th
  • June 21st
  • June 28th
  • July 5th

Students must attend a minimum of 6 out of 10 live webinars to be recognized as having completed this program.  Webinars will be recorded for playback purposes and sent to only registered members who have been provided the access to this course.

This course is for new registrants only.  Those who have previously registered with DTC in either the Self Study (virtual) training or the in-person workshop option should continue in their studies under that format.

Students will have are offered 20 weeks to continue the full module expectations and to book their final exam.  Students will be offered an additional 365 to complete their practicum and submit 3 client evaluations on their behalf.  There are no required readings to purchase, as all course materials are provided through the online module system.  Those who register recognize that to maintain membership with DTC all members are asked to submit a form and proof of continuing education every three (3) years following graduation.  There is no fee to maintain membership with DTC, simply a form and documents supporting your EU experience.

Applications and registration open with LIMITED SPACE at this time.

Instalment plans are available via Sezzle or by discussing options with DTC staff at info@doulatraining.ca.  If this is not an available option to you please contact info@doulatraining.ca to discuss other payment plan options with DTC.  Our registration staff is happy to work with you to discuss Etransfer, PayPal, or Square payment preferences that we can support you with.

Perinatal Educator | VIRTUAL | February 18, 2023

Join our experienced Doula Canada instructors for your online educator training!

Client-centered and trauma-informed this workshop will go over the materials covered in our typical one-day “in-person” workshop and creates the opportunity for DTC members to sit and hold space with our experienced team of instructors.

The workshop will be held via Zoom from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm EST.  Login details will be sent one week prior to the Virtual Workshop date.
All sessions are closed-captioned.
Sessions are recorded for DTC internal purposes only.

Regular certification rates apply and members can request to join a physical in-person workshop when we are next in their area (no additional cost applies).

*Those who register for the Triple Stream (Labour Doula, Postpartum Doula, and Educator OR Fertility Doula) will take part in 3 separate trainings for each of their registered streams. *Please specify whether you wish to take Educator OR Fertility in the comments section of your registration.

Those who are already registered with DTC can email info@doulatraining.ca to be added to this session (fee included in original registration).

$250 fee applies if a student does not attend a workshop that they have registered for.  No exceptions will apply.  If you cannot attend please email two (2) weeks prior to the scheduled event.  All students must participate in an online or in-person to qualify as a component towards their certification under DTC.

By registering for this training, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

Your presence at the live webinar in its totality, agreement to be recorded, and present during the session with your camera on.  No partial credit can be awarded.

Training Information & Eligibility:
You have read through the Resources & Policies at www.doulatraining.ca, including but not limited to our Cancellation Policy, Equity & Inclusion Policy, Harassment & Discrimination Policy, and Complaint Policies & Procedures prior to registering.  You acknowledge that all materials are taught in an online format and that the online training is a part of the full course, including modules, quizzes, practicum, and exam.

There are no age or educational pre requisites for taking this program and DTC works with providers across many countries, with only limited exceptions.  If you are a provider outside of Canada or the United States we recommend that you contact any local doula associations to ensure that our programs can be used for any required authorization.

Professionalism:
You will show up on time and be fully present for each live session that you attend, acting in a professional manner.  You will reach out to our faculty or any staff if any unexpected issues arise.  You agree to take full responsibility for addressing your needs in the area of accessible learning, self-care, and compassionate treatment of peers and DTC staff.  The faculty and staff reserve the right to remove trainees at any time if the trainee creates an unsafe or unprofessional environment for you or other trainees, or for any reason that does not represent the policies of DTC.

Accommodation:
Doula Training Canada follows the Accessible Canada Act (ACA).  We ask that if you are in need of any special accommodations that will allow you to take your training with us online, please email us with special requests at least fourteen days before the scheduled training.  If, during the training, a need for an accommodation arises, you are expected to contact your instructor and/or DTC staff immediately and we will work with you to discuss the best possible solution.

Confidentiality:
You are asked to respect the confidentiality of other trainees and our staff during your time with DTC.  Confidentiality with clients will be discussed by your trainer/s.  Trainees who observe a problem with another trainee are asked to bring the problem to the lead trainer for the specific session or DTC administration, as per the set policies and guidelines.   Similarly, if a staff member acts unprofessionally we ask that you email DTC administration as soon as possible.

Preparedness for doing your own work:
Throughout your training you will be expected to participate in working through the online training activities as representative in the role of doula support or perinatal support.  You are responsible for your own scheduling, discipline, and follow through on projects and module expectations outside of this training session.  In registering you recognize the set amount of time that you have access to the program and agree to work towards completion in the timeframe set forth by DTC and its vocational expectations.  Mentoring can be accessed by emailing our staff at info@doulatraining.ca and we are always prepared to assist you if you communicate your questions or needs.  Each program at DTC may have a slightly different timeframe and we encourage you to review these details prior to registering.

Categories
Anti-racism work birth Health Care intersectionality Labour Doula LGBTQ2S+ Postpartum Doula Trauma Uncategorised understanding bias vulnerabiliity

Advocacy at Doula Canada

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PERINATAL EDUCATOR I ONLINE I October 15, 2022

Join our experienced Doula Canada instructors for your online educator training!

Client-centred and trauma-informed this workshop will go over the materials covered in our typical one-day “in-person” workshop and creates the opportunity for DTC members to sit and hold space with our experienced team of instructors.

The workshop will be held via Zoom from 10:00am to 6:00pm EST.  Login details will be sent one week prior to the Virtual Workshop date.
All sessions are closed-captioned.
Sessions are recorded for DTC internal purposes only.

Regular certification rates apply and members can request to join a physical in-person workshop when we are next in their area (no additional cost applies).

*Those who register for the Triple Stream (Labour Doula, Postpartum Doula, and Educator OR Fertility Doula) will take part in 3 separate trainings for each of their registered streams. *Please specify whether you wish to take Educator OR Fertility in the comments section of your registration.

Those who are already registered with DTC can email info@doulatraining.ca to be added to this session (fee included in original registration).

$250 fee applies if a student does not attend a workshop that they have registered for.  No exceptions will apply.  If you cannot attend please email two (2) weeks prior to the scheduled event.  All students must participate in an online or in-person to qualify as a component towards their certification under DTC.

By registering for this training, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

Your presence at the live webinar in its totality, agreement to be recorded, and present during the session with your camera on.  No partial credit can be awarded.

Training Information & Eligibility:
You have read through the Resources & Policies at www.doulatraining.ca, including but not limited to our Cancellation Policy, Equity & Inclusion Policy, Harassment & Discrimination Policy, and Complaint Policies & Procedures prior to registering.  You acknowledge that all materials are taught in an online format and that the online training is a part of the full course, including modules, quizzes, practicum, and exam.

There are no age or educational pre requisites for taking this program and DTC works with providers across many countries, with only limited exceptions.  If you are a provider outside of Canada or the United States we recommend that you contact any local doula associations to ensure that our programs can be used for any required authorization.

Professionalism:
You will show up on time and be fully present for each live session that you attend, acting in a professional manner.  You will reach out to our faculty or any staff if any unexpected issues arise.  You agree to take full responsibility for addressing your needs in the area of accessible learning, self-care, and compassionate treatment of peers and DTC staff.  The faculty and staff reserve the right to remove trainees at any time if the trainee creates an unsafe or unprofessional environment for you or other trainees, or for any reason that does not represent the policies of DTC.

Accommodation: 
Doula Training Canada follows the Accessible Canada Act (ACA).  We ask that if you are in need of any special accommodations that will allow you to take your training with us online, please email us with special requests at least fourteen days before the scheduled training.  If, during the training, a need for an accommodation arises, you are expected to contact your instructor and/or DTC staff immediately and we will work with you to discuss the best possible solution.

Confidentiality:
You are asked to respect the confidentiality of other trainees and our staff during your time with DTC.  Confidentiality with clients will be discussed by your trainer/s.  Trainees who observe a problem with another trainee are asked to bring the problem to the lead trainer for the specific session or DTC administration, as per the set policies and guidelines.   Similarly, if a staff member acts unprofessionally we ask that you email DTC administration as soon as possible.

Preparedness for doing your own work:
Throughout your training you will be expected to participate in working through the online training activities as representative in the role of doula support or perinatal support.  You are responsible for your own scheduling, discipline, and follow through on projects and module expectations outside of this training session.  In registering you recognize the set amount of time that you have access to the program and agree to work towards completion in the timeframe set forth by DTC and its vocational expectations.  Mentoring can be accessed by emailing our staff at info@doulatraining.ca and we are always prepared to assist you if you communicate your questions or needs.  Each program at DTC may have a slightly different timeframe and we encourage you to review these details prior to registering.

Menopause Doula I ONLINE I April 3 course ACCESS date

Applicants recognize that this course material will not become available April 3rd, 2022.

This is an online course with 10 modules of content, 4 live meetings, 6 core assignments, module quizzes, a final exam, and a minimum of 20 practicum hours. Students have 24 months to complete all course requirements for completion.

Live meetings are scheduled for 7:30pm EST on:
April 21
April 28
May 5
May 12
*June 2 – optional business discussion and Q & A session

Students are asked to attend 50%.  All meetings are recorded for playback

Categories
balance birth collaboration connection Labour Doula Postpartum Doula pregnancy

The Ultimate Dream Team: Doulas and Partners

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1642695988103{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t need a doula! I have a partner(s),” this post is for you! 

Your partner is (or partners are) pretty amazing and doulas are so happy to have them on board, however, doulas bring different qualities and backgrounds to birth and postpartum preparation and space than partners do. 

Let’s talk about how your partner(s) and doula complement one another and each fill a vital role.

The role of a doula and the role of your partner(s) during labor are vastly different but equally important.

Let me explain….


The Partner’s Role:

The role of your partner(s) (who is/are emotionally attached to you) in labor is a tremendous asset to you in many ways. Your partner(s) provide(s) comfort to you in a way that your doula (aka a new connection) is simply not capable of.

They know you intimately; your fears, your passions, your deep concerns, and your history. They can anticipate your reactions before you have even had them. They are the person/people you look to in life for support and they are likely the person/people you feel most comfortable being your real self with.

Your partner(s) can get your oxytocin flowing (it plays an important role in labour and chestfeeding). Your partner(s) can cuddle, kiss, or massage you in intimate ways that only you and your partner(s) can share.

This relationship in the birthing room and during postpartum is incredibly valuable, HOWEVER, it is not the doulas role.


The Doula’s Role:

The doula’s primary focus during your pregnancy and the postpartum period is education, followed by the support of the decisions you make. The doula is able to answer your questions and lead you to the resources you seek. Through learning about normal physiological birth and birth options, chestfeeding and postpartum concerns partners can feel confident in supporting their partners. But they also have the reassurance of knowing a perinatal professional will be there to guide them.

The doula can actually bring you closer to your partner. By making sure that your partner’s needs are met (food, drink, and reassurance), the birther and partner(s) can work more closely together. The doula allows for the partner(s) to participate at their own comfort level. The doula can fill in and allow the partner(s) to participate as they wish, without leaving the birther or postpartum person’s needs unmet.

The doula is trained to know what is “normal” and what is beyond the scope of normal. The doula’s experience (professional and sometimes personal) enables them to support you confidently. The doula creates a space where the birther and partner(s) are given the opportunity to ask questions and make informed choices.

When a doula attends a birth or supports you in the postpartum period, they bring with them the strength and wisdom of those they have served before you. Being the sole emotional and physical support for a labouring or postpartum person can be overwhelming for some partners. If we look at the birth and postpartum periods throughout history, we often see birthers surrounded by other experienced humans offering continuous support. Our shift in birth norms over the last century has made it uncommon to have multiple continuous support people. Partners provide an intimate and essential role that cannot be replaced, but a doula can come alongside to help and enhance the experience. 

The doula is great at talking about the huge transition that is new parenthood. Especially for first-time parents, it can be so important to have someone to talk to about the big life and identity changes that happen when you bring a new baby into your family. 

The Doula has a network and knows when offering resources and referrals are needed (from pelvic floor physical therapy, counselling support, or chestfeeding resources, to house cleaning services, or information on newborn jaundice, and so much more). 

 

Your birth or postpartum team is not an either/or situation, and no doula would (or could!) ever take the place of your partner. Doulas and partners complement one another and come together to provide loving, compassionate, and judgment-free support along the journey to parenthood. It’s important to assemble your team carefully and think about the mix of personalities and support styles you want involved in your experience, making sure everyone is prepared to walk alongside you with their unique gifts and skills.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Categories
Anti-racism work Business Equity intersectionality LGBTQ2S+ Members understanding bias

Applying an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Lens to our Curricula

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1626172064269{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]In Fall 2020, Doula Canada circulated a survey that was looking to hear specifically from members self-identified as belonging to equity-seeking groups such as, but not limited to, Indigenous, Black, racialized, immigrants or newcomers, LGBTQ2S+, and/or disabled peoples. We really wanted to hear directly from members about their experiences, learn from them, and listen for ways that they felt that we could do better. Something that came up repeatedly was the gaps in our curriculum materials that resulted in members feeling excluded – things like gendered language, white dominant images, only heteronormative references, limited or inappropriate cultural references, and more. We were feeling this too and it was powerful to hear it echoed back at us!

We certainly see that, historically, the primary narrative in education and training in the perinatal field (especially in Canada) centers and reflects persons and experiences characterized in the following ways: white (including white/light skin tones and hair that tends towards long, blonde/brown and straight/wavy), in a heterosexual and racially homogenous couple, able-bodied, thin, 30-something, with pregnancy intentional and resulting from sexual intercourse between a cisgender woman and man. This narrative has been applied to both doula clients and doulas themselves. It is seen in images, language, resources and references, and focus of discussions. This narrative leaves so many valued people and groups OUT.

In late 2020, we took deeper action to change this narrative in our own house by initiating the development of a robust Curriculum Checklist that is built around an intentional integration of an equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) lens in curriculum materials (oral and written). Yes, a checklist sounds like it could be ugh when it comes to EDI work  – like a token action that gets people off the hook from doing any deeper, transformational work. We thought about that! Our Curriculum Checklist is for internal and external course developers and instructors who work with Doula Canada. It pushes them to reflect on how people who differ from the primary narrative are excluded and ignored, or, are mentioned and described in ways that present them as out of the ordinary. The Checklist means that dominant biases get reduced or removed from our curriculum through an intentional and guided change in language, images, references, and resources. The Checklist is also part of our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Action Plan (that we will officially launch soon). 

We have just started to test out the Checklist in practice. We will watch the results and take action as required. We see it as a living document that will be continuously refined and improved. Right now, it largely focuses on sexual orientation, gender identity, race, and culture as areas where the dominant narrative is exclusionary. We have started adding more on intentional inclusion of Indigenous Peoples and disabled people.

Wondering what it looks like? Here are a few snippets![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”377355″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Making Time for Your Business

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1620640152795{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Making time for your business or schooling while starting out can feel overwhelming. Everyone is given the same 24 hours in a day. Whether you’re a busy parent, full-time student, working two jobs, or generally just living life through these crazy times, how you choose to break up your day or prioritize your schedule can help make or break your business or learning. 

When you are beginning training in birth work it often feels safer to hide behind books and other learning materials instead of taking the plunge to start your side business. It’s always great to educate yourself, and important for your certification; however, sometimes you just have to put the book down and test things out for yourself. Reading or listening to audiobooks can take up a lot of time. They also don’t sink in as well as learning on the go. It’s okay to be afraid of failure, just don’t become paralyzed by the fear. No book will give you the magic business answer you’re looking for. Everything you need to succeed is already in you. Take a leap of faith and go for it. 

 

So how do you start? Here are some time management techniques that may help you get organized. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1620639964218{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The Pomodoro Technique

A time focused technique to help you find time to start a side business is the Pomodoro Technique. This technique requires you to first prioritize your daily tasks. Then, you can set a timer for 25 minutes and take a five minute break between sets. After completing four 25-minute sets you can take a 20 minute break. This allows you to have laser focus on a task for 25 minutes and allowing you to disconnect from your work for a five minute break. This is helpful for those who need to check their phones constantly as it works in time for quick breaks. You can use your phone’s timer or you can search ‘timer’ in Google and a timer will pop up[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][mk_image src=”https://stefanie-techops.wisdmlabs.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/pomodoro-tech.png” image_size=”full”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1620640473548{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]80/20 Rule

The 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, suggests that 80% of your results comes from 20% of your output. To find time to start a side business, you need to determine which things are producing the results to focus time on only those things. You can also use this principle to determine which part of your daily routine isn’t producing results for you. For example, if you spend your weekends marathoning shows on Netflix, sleeping in or going out, you may have better results cutting back to make time for your side business.

 

Now for the tips on how to keep going: 

Be aware of Time Wasters

Avoid spending time on things that don’t bring results. Some people spend an entire week designing a logo or crafting the perfect 20-page business plan. However, those tasks don’t generate money for your business. A business plan can start off as a one-pager and be modified along the way. If you lack design skills, you can outsource your logo, or use a tool such as an online logo maker which can be extremely simple to use, and will help you save a lot of time. Or If the task can be modified or changed along the way, there’s no need to overspend time on it. Create a list of priorities such as creating ads, partnering with influencers, producing unique content such as blog posts or social media posts or managing your finances. Then, focus your workload on the top priorities which yield the best results.

 

Set Firm Deadlines

Setting firm deadlines for projects forces you to make time to work on your business. By not allowing yourself to be flexible, you’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen such as waking up earlier or avoiding distractions. What goals do you want to achieve? When do you want to achieve each goal? Write down exact dates. You’ll find that more often than not, you’re able to achieve your goals by the deadline.

 

Don’t Waste Time on Social Media, Maximize It

Without a doubt, social media is a very powerful tool. It reaches out to hundreds upon thousands of people at once. Make sure your business is engaged in social media. This helps you stay relevant. Your content must provide some type of value to your audience. That value could be education, increased productivity, entertainment, or cost savings. It also needs to be in your voice. Share who you are and engage with your audience in an authentic way!

Social media can be addicting. Most of us have the tendency to check our news feed repeatedly throughout the day. You can download a tool like the Chrome extension News Feed Eradicator to help prevent you from getting distracted for hours on Facebook. The tool blocks your news feed without you having to delete or deactivate your Facebook account. If you know social media is slowing down your business’ progress this is a great quick fix solution. Stay focused on your goal, and don’t let yourself get distracted.

 

Learn to Say No

Richard Branson once said, “Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.” So while it might be tempting to say yes to every opportunity, saying no often may actually work in your favor. Saying no gives you time to work on things you say yes to. It can help improve your productivity while also creating boundaries. Avoid agreeing to every opportunity or trying every tactic at the same time. Having a laser-like focus can help you achieve your goals faster because you’ll learn how to master things quickly.

 

Hang onto your Enthusiasm

If you ponder over what differentiates an average person from one who has achieved stupendous success, you will realize that it may be the intensity of enthusiasm that has helped the highly successful person reach such great heights. Those who could accomplish great things in their chosen fields could not have done so without enthusiasm.

If you are enthusiastic about a particular goal, you will be so excited that you will do your best in order to achieve it. It will keep you motivated to go on and on with it. This does not mean you will work on it all the time, but even if you are not your mind will constantly be thinking about the goal you are enthusiastic about. It is exactly your subconscious mind that will be focusing on the things you are passionate & enthusiastic about. A lot of research has taken place about the power of the subconscious mind and these researches have revealed that it has enormous powers. When it constantly works on a thing you are enthusiastic about, you will get great ideas and this will fast-track your success.

 

Divide your Time: For Work, Family and Yourself 

Schedule in family time, downtime and work time. When it’s on the calendar, that means you’ve prioritized it and planned for it. Once it’s on the calendar, defend it at all costs. If you have work tasks to do, focus on them distraction-free. If you said you’d stop working at a specific time and relax with family, be sure to stick to that and completely unplug.

That means it’s more likely to happen. For example, if you want to plan a weekly date with your spouse, it’s much better to put it on your calendar set to a specific day and time instead of just saying you’ll get around to it when you can.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1620639940087{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]As much as investing in your business is important, investing in yourself will make the business thrive. 

Success doesn’t happen overnight- it takes time to build a successful business, and there certainly isn’t a secret formula to success. It takes passion, and a lot of determination and resilience, not to mention confidence, and an appetite to take risks. Invest in yourself, schedule and keep your enthusiasm high and you will achieve great things! [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]