Written by Katie Nyberg I remember attending my doula training as a brand-new doula eager to learn “all the things”. My instructor shared the names of her favorite birth books and I eagerly made a list of titles I wanted to purchase. My goal was to have a library full of books I could loan […]
Doulas and Education Ideas Continue reading »
Black History Month 2024 has the theme of African Americans and the Arts. Black artist Ashley January uses her art to bring attention to the black maternal disparity crisis in our country. “I address the Black maternal mortality and morbidity crisis in America through painting and multimedia. Influenced by my own traumatic pregnancy and survival,
Black History Month – Birth Artist Ashley January Continue reading »
Effective communication is a doula’s most meaningful tool when navigating client relationships. We must adjust to each family before us to attune to their needs. Attuning requires us to not only communicate effectively but also to listen. Attuned listening is different than the everyday conversation you might have with friends and family. It requires understanding
A Doula’s Best Tool: Effective Communication Continue reading »
After you complete your doula training you may be considering different business models and exploring options, such as: building your own doula practice, working in partnership with another doula, or joining an established doula collective. As you embark on this new journey, there are a few considerations to bear in mind. To begin, research the
Is a Doula Collective Right for You? Continue reading »
In our commitment to improving birth and postpartum outcomes for at-risk populations, we are now offering the labor doula training in Spanish. We are proud to educate community members and family support workers to provide labor support when language is a barrier to quality healthcare. With help from CAPPA Latinoamerica* (shoutout Jenny Bertha!) we have
CAPPA Introduces the Labor Doula Training in SPANISH! Continue reading »
Prenatal mental health can significantly affect the unborn child and its future development. According to research, women experiencing depression or anxiety before or during pregnancy may be at greater risk of having a baby with cognitive, social, and behavioural problems later in life. It highlights the importance of perinatal mental health support for both parents
Prenatal Psychological Support Can Positively Impact Baby’s Emotional Well-being Continue reading »
Labor induction is such a common maternal care practice that it is almost considered to be a normal way of giving birth in the United States. And of course, there are benefits to moms and babies when reasons for induction are medically indicated, such as low amniotic fluid, IUGR and concerning pre-eclampsia symptoms. But with
Labor Induction: Could it have any psychological effects on the baby? Continue reading »
CAPPA faculty and owner of Chicago Family Doulas, Annamarie Rodney has created materials for doulas and educators who are just starting out to use! For Labor Doulas Share this video with clients so they know what you can provide and offer! You can edit this on Canva and add your own logo! Edit the Labor/Birth
Videos for Members to Share with Clients! Continue reading »
1. Your presence in the early hours and days postpartum places you in a key position to support nursing. By learning all you can about lactation and infant feeding, you can help parents and babies get off to a good start. “Doulas should understand they can help clients reach their breastfeeding goals by ensuring babies
Six Things IBCLCs Wish All Doulas Knew About Lactation Support Continue reading »
Many clients hire doulas because they want to avoid unnecessary intervention, and we all know the best way to do this is to arrive at the hospital at the “right” time. A doula’s job is to balance the ever-evolving needs of the birthing family, their care provider, and our scope of practice. This includes taking
Timing Arrival to the Hospital During Labor Continue reading »
Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy and postpartum-related causes than white women. Multiple factors contribute to these disparities, such as quality of healthcare, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias. As CAPPA educators and doulas, we are committed to improving birth and postpartum for all people. Therefore, it is
Why is Anti-racism work important for doulas and educators? Continue reading »
The progression in this business has some very similar and familiar characteristics and you may find them in yourself as you travel through the journey of being a professional Doula. How will you change your business practices or your opinions on clients and the interactions with other professionals within the community? Will the things you
The Doula Evolution Continue reading »
I’m a doula and educator, not a social media coach; however, I did want to grow on IG and I wasn’t sure how. Posts, stories, reels…what was I doing? In the last few months, I have seen my account grow to 4 times its size, and I hope to share with my CAPPA friends what
3 Things I Have Learned About Instagram Continue reading »
As postpartum doulas, one of our major roles is that of communicator/coach/counselor. The skills we develop to successfully fill this role can greatly enhance our support as we become enmeshed in the family’s life. This role of communicator/coach/counselor enables us to be one of the best lines of defense against some of the emotional and
Helping Clients Process Emotions After Birth Continue reading »
One of the most popular questions in my Postpartum Doula trainings and on social media is “what should I pack in my postpartum doula bag?”. When discussing this with my students or other new doulas, I often rattle off a list of common items, and then throw a few other ideas at them that they
What’s In Your Postpartum Doula’s Bag? Continue reading »
The American Psychological Association defines trauma as an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape, or natural disaster. However, a person may experience trauma as a response to any event they find physically or emotionally threatening or harmful. Our minds are so powerful, powerful enough to work, study, engage, and manage the
Vicarious Trauma and Birth Work Continue reading »
What is trauma-informed? Be trauma-informed is to recognize that trauma is very common in people’s lives. Simply put, “There’s a story behind every person. There’s a reason why they are the way they are. They aren’t just like that because they want to be. Something in the past created them, and sometimes it is impossible
Trauma-informed Approach Continue reading »
I began my Labor Doula career when my sister-in-law found out she was expecting twins. She was getting frustrated with her doctors sharing various opinions about how she should birth these babies. Some doctors said the safest option was to schedule a Cesarean at 36 weeks. Other doctors in the same practice said she could
Supporting Labor Doula Clients Expecting Twins Continue reading »
It’s a question that comes up at every doula training – “What do you carry with you to a birth?” On message boards and doula support forums, there are so many options and ideas and lists of suggestions for things that doulas may want to purchase or may need to carry to support someone in
What’s in the Bag? Continue reading »
Many pregnant persons say it’s hard to sleep because they can’t get comfortable, need to run to the bathroom constantly, have leg cramps, and are excited and anxious about their baby’s arrival. They often joke that it is to prepare them for things to come…the arrival of their newborn and more sleepless nights and sleep
After teaching childbirth preparation classes and working as a doula for many years, I often ponder the question what do parents really need to know before birth? I’ve had so many clients come through my classes; some with notebooks and pens, some with stories from friends and family and some with such fear and anxiety
How to Teach Meditation for Childbirth Preparation Continue reading »
If there is one thing we have learned since early 2020, it’s that things are ever changing with this pandemic. One thing that has remained the same: people are still going to have babies. At the beginning of 2020, there were so many unknowns with the virus, how it affects a pregnant person and newborn,
5 Reasons to Still Hire a Labor Doula – Especially During the Pandemic Continue reading »
If you become a postpartum doula, you will have the opportunity to provide emotional, informational and physical support to a new family during one of the most important, memorable periods of change. Have you ever wondered if becoming a Postpartum Doula might be right for you? If so, then you’ve also wondered how to become
How To Become A Postpartum Doula And Why It Might Be Right For You Continue reading »
If you feel a call to help families during pregnancy, labor and birth, you’ve probably also wondered what it takes to become a labor doula. Alternately, perhaps you’ve wanted to be a birth doula for years, but weren’t quite sure how. At CAPPA, we refer to a birth doula as a “Labor Doula” and offer
How To Become A Labor Doula And Why It Might Be Right For You Continue reading »
Have you heard the old saying “We are Better Together?” There is so much truth in this statement when it comes to connecting with other doulas and educators in our arena. After working as a doula for nine years, I truly believe “Building Connections” is the single best thing you can do to set yourself
The Importance of Building Connections for Success Continue reading »
Laura Nance – CPD, CLD, CLE®, CCCE, CPFE, Faculty, Senior Program Advisor CAPPA recently made changes to the Postpartum Doula Scope of Practice. These changes reflect the needs of postpartum doulas and the work they do with families. First, let’s talk about why a Scope of Practice is even necessary. It comes down to two
Updates to Our Postpartum Doula Scope of Practice Continue reading »
As labor doulas and childbirth educators, we prepare our clients with information about routine interventions. We go over the benefits, risks and alternatives to these interventions, equipping parents to make the best decisions for themselves and their babies. But no one has to place a needle in an arm to alter the course of a
The Subtle Impact of Interference Continue reading »
It’s a common occurrence that, after Doula training, the energy of the last few days is excitedly stirring. Your mind is racing a mile a minute and all of the tasks you want to achieve are running circles through your thoughts. You set a plan of action and tell yourself, this week I am going to
The Defeated Doula: 3 Things You Can Do to Conquer Self-Doubt Continue reading »
Mindfulness meditation is one of the fastest-growing health trends in the United States, according to the CDC. But what is mindfulness, and why might it be helpful for your work as a professional doula? Mindfulness is “The awareness that arises from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally” (Kabat-Zinn, in Purser, 2015).
Applying the Foundational Attitudes of Mindfulness to Your Doula Practice Continue reading »