This week is world doula week and I am thrilled to celebrate all those who take on this calling to provide support to women around the time of childbirth. Being a part of this community, I’ve gotten to know many doulas – we all share many things in common, but also bring our own unique perspectives to the work. I thought it would be fun to collect the voices of several doulas in response to the question, “what does it mean to be a doula?” Special thanks to all who contributed.
“There are strength in numbers. Being a doula, to me, means to empower the mom with added strength by being beside her in the defining moment of her life – Childbirth.” – Lynette Kendall
“Empowering families to be a part of their birth and the decisions that sometimes need to be made. Reassuring them they have a voice and they will be heard. Helping families have the births they chose, no matter how I feel about it.” Jennifer Wayne Penick
“I see my role as two sided: 1) offer steady emotional support so they can have a safe space to do what they need to do when they need to do it and 2) Knowledge is power — I seek to educate, not opinionate.” -Naomi Thomas
“Prenatally – educating and empowering families so they are prepared in body, mind, heart, and soul to give birth in whatever way they envision for themselves. Perinatally – being fully present and providing whatever kind of support is needed for labor to progress to the next moment and the next moment and the next – for me, as a doula, birth is a breakthrough meditation with a miracle at the end. Postnatally – providing education, resources, and encouragement to a new family as they grow and land into themselves.” -Ann Lipofsky
“Empowering, educating and enlightening birthing women by being invited to share one of the most sacred times in their lives is indescribable. It is an honour, a privilege and a blessing to me as a Doula to witness miracles as they are born, and to bask in the glow of new life as he or she is seeing, and being seen, for the first time!” -Pamela Hyde Soltesz
“For me, being a doula means being able to awaken the mother inside of a single teenager and to see how that translates into a peaceful, content baby who KNOWS his mother!” -Jacqueline Brock Julie
“For me, being a doula means being there for someone (a family) so that they don’t feel alone. It means being a part of the science and magic behind birth and love. It means I get to help encourage people in their abilities and to be in more control/ aware of their health care.” -Priscilla Fairall
“Being a doula to me means empowering, educating, and supporting a woman in the most beautiful moments of her life. It is about reminding her that she CAN and WILL, and then later, reminding her that she DID!” -MaryBeth Slabbert
photo by Sujin Jetkasettakorn
