Research and resources for perinatal professionals.
March 22, 2023 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
Many perinatal professionals work as birth and/or postpartum doulas as well as teach classes either independently or as part of a hospital or community program. Each role is professionally fulfilling in different ways and also helps generate several income streams.
While being both a doula and a childbirth educator can peacefully “co-exist,” there are definitely challenges to make it work well. The on-call life of a birth doula often creates a major conflict with the planned and scheduled-in-advance responsibilities of a childbirth educator.
Here are some suggestions for successfully managing both roles.
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March 28, 2022 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
Discussions about the role of birth and postpartum doulas happen early on in my childbirth classes, when we talk about what makes for a satisfying birth experience. There is often confusion about what a doula does compared to a midwife. People also worry about the role of the partner or other family member when a doula is present. Some parents who are planning to have an epidural or even a planned cesarean question the need for professional doula support. This CBE activity helps clarify the unique role of the doula.
March 23, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
The world just passed the one year anniversary of the declaration of the COVID-19 global pandemic, and vaccinations are being rolled out in many countries with varying degrees of access and participation. In the meantime, birthing parents continue to welcome their babies, and many families have done so with a doula by the side. This week is also World Doula Week. Birth doulas support the family with emotional, physical and informational support during labor and birth, with prenatal and postpartum visits on either side. There are also postpartum doulas who support families after the baby is born.
I wanted to share my experiences as a birth doula throughout this pandemic, and how this pandemic has impacted birth doula support. I want to acknowledge that I live in Seattle, WA, USA and this part of the country is very “doula friendly” and we have many, many doulas here. Doulas practicing elsewhere in the world, may have different experiences than mine.
March 28, 2019 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Many of our Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educators (LCCEs) and Lamaze International members are also birth and/or postpartum doulas. I reached out to our members to learn more about how they find filling both these roles works for them.
March 23, 2017 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
March 22nd through March 28th, 2017 is World Doula Week and Lamaze International along with Science & Sensibility recognize the benefits and contributions that birth and postpartum doulas provide in support of families around the world every day.
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