When Your Postpartum Clients Need to Talk About Politics

Divya Kumar (she/her) shares about providing support to a group of new parents in the lead up to the 2016 presidential election. After noticing that the group shared fears around raising children during a tumultuous political climate, Divya created a space where the families could support each other with those concerns alongside asking for advice about bottles and naps. While holding space for those conversations, though, Divya felt her own vulnerabilities arise, and learned how to show up...

When You Start as the Photographer and End up as the Doula

When Cherie's birth photography client asked if Cherie would be the third layer of backup doula support, she agreed--how likely is it that the third backup doula needs to be called in, really? Sure enough, though, Cherie ended up unexpectedly supporting her client as both doula and photographer, facing questions that are all too familiar for doulas: how much longer can I keep going? Am I doing enough to support this family? How can I take care of myself at the same time?If you want to...

When Your Client Considers Switching to a Home Birth at 41 Weeks

Hana Grace Lehmann (she/they) was going to support her close friend Annalise (she/her) through her pregnancy and birth. Annalise was set to have an unmedicated birth at the hospital, but when she reached forty weeks, COVID-19 hit, and shelter-in-place began. With Annalise now looking at different birthing options, Hana faced the possibility of providing virtual support for the first time, or hosting her friend’s birth in her own house.If you’d like to connect with Hana, you can...

When COVID Hits, and You Can Only Support Your Client Through the Phone

Sam (they/them) had been a full-time doula for years. Then COVID hit, and they now faced having to provide virtual support for the first time in their career to a client with a long history of trauma. What originally was going to be in-person support for a birth at a birth center quickly became an exercise in adapting to rapidly changing circumstances, and continuously meeting their client where they were at.If you want to find out and name the indigenous folk whose land you...

When Your Client Is a Doula and Plans a Home Birth

Amadoma Bediako had been a birthworker in New York City since the 70's, but she still felt a little intimidated when another doula asked her to be the doula at their home birth.If you'd like to connect with Amadoma, or if you're interested in attending any of Amadoma's trainings, you can learn more by emailing her at doulatraining@gmail.comSevonna (the birthing parent) put together a version of the multi-page birth plan Amadoma...

When Your Client’s Doctor and Family Are Unsupportive

Hana Grace Lehmann (she/they) shares her story about supporting Lily (she/her) through the birth of her firstborn. The deck seemed stacked against Lily from the start. Even though Lily wanted an unmedicated birth, everyone in her family had given birth by cesarean, and Hana knew that Lily’s doctor had a very high cesarean rate.When Hana got the call that Lily’s water had broken and that she was heading into the hospital for an induction, Hana tried not to jump to conclusions about...

Who Are We, and Why Doula Stories?

Ajira and Keelia introduce themselves, and explain why this podcast is needed.They also introduce storytelling as a tool in our continued education as doulas, and its value in sustaining and supporting birthworkers.The book mentioned in the episode is The Doulas: Radical Care for Pregnant People by Mary Mahoney and Lauren Mitchell. You can follow the Doula Stories podcast on Facebook, Instagram @doulastories or learn more on their website, doulastories.com

Teaser

Braxton and Hicks walk into a bar. Nothing happens. Ajira and Keelia are here with funny-ish jokes and stories from doulas to share with you. Subscribe to hear about what happens in the birth room from the doula’s perspective, and to hear helpful tips along the way. Follow Doula Stories on Instagram @doulastories, or check out their website: doulastories.com