Doulas of the Roundtable

Doula availability is a topic that can cause some anxiety. Being on-call 24/7 is a significant challenge, and adapting to this lifestyle requires careful planning and boundary-setting. Your phone is an essential lifeline to both your family and your clients. Feeling overwhelmed by the need to be available at a moment's notice is common, but there are effective ways to leverage technology to help y...

Managing money is an essential skill for doulas, yet many need time, patience, and effort to develop this skill. Doulas must practice setting aside money for taxes to avoid being caught off guard during tax season. When that tax bill hits, it can hit hard. The unpredictable nature of birth work also requires budgeting your income. Without a budget and knowing where your money goes, it's hard to ma...

Navigating the challenges of working with independent contractors as an agency owner is no small feat. Your agency's reputation, especially your own, hinges on contractors doing their jobs well. Many owners feel compelled to control contractor performance to ensure the work meets their high standards. However, regulations for independent contractors clearly state that contractors must have control...

In this episode, we discuss recent events that have come to our attention and give our thoughts and feedback. A recent case that has gained national traction involves the passing of a mother and baby. What can we do as doulas if we are in a situation where we don't see a provider meeting the standards of care? Speaking up can be difficult, yet helping clients advocate for themselves is an essentia...

As a doula, navigating unexpected situations will become a part of our work. Perhaps a client who has a premature baby. Or those whose labors begin and progress too quickly to get to their chosen birth location. Thinking on our feet and embracing the unexpected will inevitably become a part of our work. When navigating these unexpected situations, judgment calls need to be made. However, it is imp...

For many birth workers, where they enter this work is not the same place where they wind up. For example, some may enter this work providing labor support. Yet they may find once they have their own children, that postpartum work is a better fit. Others may enter into the field via postpartum support. Then, life leads them into childbirth or newborn care education.  Unlike many other professions,...

As doulas, it's not uncommon to encounter individuals with a fear of birth. This fear can be rooted in many sources. First, the way in which TV represents birth. Second, the stories our friends and family share; and third, an individual's lived experiences. The media often portrays birth as a dramatic process. The water breaks and the camera cuts to immediate transition-style contractions. Birth i...

Doula mistakes come in all shapes and sizes. We're human, so it's understandable that mistakes will happen. Some mistakes will be unavoidable and only discovered through trial and error. Others can be avoided. Common mistakes include a lack of effective communication, such as being slow or failing to follow up on inquiries or client communications. For labor doulas, there can be a sharp learning c...

One of the most common questions we hear is, "How do we navigate the question of how many clients we have supported when we first start out?"  The question "How many births have you attended?" Or "How many families have you supported postpartum?" is not uncommon. Certain personality types are more inclined to ask these types of questions. For them, the answer will be part of their decision-making...

Supporting single parents through pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period looks different than supporting those who are partnered. How we approach labor or postpartum support with an unpartnered parent will look different.  Many factors will be different when planning for labor. For example, will they get to their birth location? Or who will make medical decisions about the laboring person's c...

As birth professionals, providing evidence-based information to our clients is essential. However, it's not uncommon to wonder where to find quality research. Knowing how to read and interpret the evidence is also a skill that takes time and discernment. The first step is understanding the types of studies that exist. From randomized controlled trials to cohort studies to cross-sectional studies,...

According to the American Cancer Society, vulvar cancer accounts for 6% of all cancers of the female reproductive organs. Over 1600 individuals will die from vulvar cancer per year. Cancers of the uterus, cervix, and ovaries are far more well-known, identified, and diagnosed. Yet, cancer of the vulva is a diagnosis that is often hard to obtain. Often, the symptoms can be mistakenly attributed to o...

Advanced maternal age is defined as a pregnant individual who is 35 years of age or older at the estimated due date or date of delivery. Pregnancy at or beyond this age is considered a risk factor for adverse outcomes in the birthing person and baby. When one is considered "advanced" in age, it is common for closer monitoring to be recommended during pregnancy. Induction of labor or elective cesar...

Combination feeding is one of many approaches families choose when feeding their baby. It may be the plan from the start. Or, clients may find themselves settling into combination feeding due to postpartum challenges. Some parents may feel that taking on 100% of the responsibility for infant feeding is an overwhelming task. For these individuals, sharing the task of infant feeding can help them sh...

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders impact 15-21% of pregnant and postpartum individuals, according to the National Institute of Health. As birth professionals, it is likely that you will encounter a client who experiences a mood or anxiety disorder during pregnancy or after birth. We must be able to identify the signs and symptoms of those who may be struggling.  For many, their labor or postpar...

It's been a busy, amazing year of growth, learning, and success. Here we are again at the end of another amazing season. Looking back over the past year, it's always fun to see our most popular episodes and share our favorites.  As always, your love and passion for the topics we talk about are seen, heard, and felt so very much. We appreciate the interaction and feedback you have been giving us on...

Choosing between virtual or in-person training is one of the first choices often made when considering the many pathways to becoming a doula. Both formats offer pros and cons to learners. Which format may work best for you will depend on many factors. Do you thrive in more independent learning? Or do you thrive in a classroom setting? Do you learn best by listening or by doing? There are many othe...

The methods of support provided during the third stage of labor are many. How the third stage progresses will determine the type of support appropriate for each client. Assistance with bonding, the initiation of breastfeeding, and supporting a client through a perineal tear are all ways in which a client may need the support of their doula. It is also essential for the doula to be aware of complic...

Understanding birth-related trauma is an essential skill for all individuals who work in the perinatal field. The fundamental definition of trauma is: a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. When working with birthing or newly postpartum families, we may encounter clients who will identify their experience as traumatic. It is never our role to define or redefine the language a client uses w...

The expectations vs the realities of doula work can be vast. Many people consider entering this work, thinking it will be sunshine and rainbows. Experiencing birth and cuddling babies is often high on these lists. One of the very first stark realities that most doulas face is the fact that they are starting a business. It's easy to focus on just working with families who want or need your help. Wh...

Childbirth education is a way for pregnant individuals to learn about the process of birth and what options may exist. It does this through expelling fear and increasing knowledge. In addition, it teaches pregnant people how to advocate for their wishes. However, the role of the doula and the role of the childbirth educator seem very similar but the approach to providing information is actually qu...

For many, the pushing phase of labor is an exciting yet scary part of the labor process. Many individuals have concerns or fears surrounding the pushing phase of labor. From tearing to their infant's safety, a doula is needed for emotional and physical support. Supporting a client through this phase begins during pregnancy. Here, we can help clients explore how they would like to push and what pos...

We often see questions among doulas about agency interviews. There are a lot of specific questions about what to expect and what questions to ask the agency. Each agency will have specific questions that they feel are important to ask. So, what you may encounter will vary from agency to agency. However, some questions will overlap between businesses. It is common for agencies to want to know what...

There are many benefits to adding placenta services as a part of the services you offer. While there is a benefit to the clients who utilize this service, there are also benefits to those who offer it. Processing the placenta for encapsulation in the client's home brings a wealth of benefits to the client in addition to safety. It also allows the encapsulator to sit down with the client and check...

Learning how to initiate and lead conversations between prospective clients and clients is an essential skill in doula work. Yet at times, doulas often feel unsure about what to ask or how to keep the client conversations going. Beyond the core questions of due date, location of delivery, and basic contact information, what other information a doula feels is important to learn will vary from indiv...