 I recently read a fascinating article in Romper called, "My Husband said no to a Doula & I'm still pissed." Writer Kelly Green openly discusses her frustration about her partner's decision "quasi-unilaterally" that they did not need to hire a doula for the birth of their child, a choice that Green writes should have been hers to make. I know hiring a doula can be a tricky thing, but they are beneficial for dads too.
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 Good communication with your care team during pregnancy is an important start to building the foundation for your birthing goals, but you may be blindsided by a comment you don’t know how to handle. Maybe it’s not an extremely negative comment, but it still hurts none the less. Language matters. Words are strong. If your provider says any of these, it may be a red flag:
 So I heard a story recently that has my brain reeling.
During a birth, comments from a care provider about the baby "blowing out" mom's vagina to then give her the option of forceps or cesarean after only 30 mins of pushing and baby doing well.  As a doula, one of the very first questions I ask my clients is what is their belief system around birth? What are their birth experiences? What do they know about their own birth? I want to understand their perception of birth in their birth culture.
What the majority of families describe is a hands-off, family-centered, low intervention, natural feeling of care. They talk about wanting to be seen as a normal person who’s having a baby and not a medical condition.  I’ve been a Doula in Alabama for many years, working, serving my community, and watching the birth climate change. That’s what we refer to as an Anchor Doula. As an Anchor in my community, I receive messages and emails on a weekly basis asking the same question: "How can I become a Doula?" The first thing you need to know is that Doulas are not nationally regulated in any state. A person wanting to serve or help birthing families does NOT have to obtain certification to do so. While it’s not mandatory, I highly encourage a formal education process that will give you a solid foundation of knowledge before deciding if the Doula profession is right for you. Ask Yourself These Questions Whenever I’m asked how to become a Doula, I tend to answer the question with a series of questions:  When planning a birth, it is important that the information you receive is evidence based. Reading the evidence can help you make unbiased decisions about your upcoming birth. So many women are pressured into procedures or other assertive birth techniques that either do nothing to help the baby or can actively cause harm. That's why I believe in evidence.
by Traci Weafer Back when I first begin doula work, I heard a lot of buzz about empowering women in labor. I read books, articles, and blogs. I went to conferences about birth, training's about how doulas work, and bought other doula things that hopefully shed some like on how to empower women in labor.
 by Traci Weafer In the world of Douladom, there are many schools of thought surrounding birth. Birth philosophy is formed through one’s experiences, past birthing knowledge, obtaining certification, and diving into doula work in one’s community and birth culture. Birth: What does it look like to you?
by Traci Weafer 2017 has been a fantastic year, but I couldn't have done it without my amazing parents. Here are some of the highlights of my year!
 by Traci Weafer I’ve been active in doula work for 20 years and presently doing more mentoring. I find it very important to pass down the knowledge to keep this work alive. Two very interesting topics have continuously come up in talking with Doulas.
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Maternal Instincts Doula is owned by Traci Weafer, a certified labor doula, Evidence Based Birth® Instructor and Spinning Babies® parents educator. She and her team are passionate about serving families by offering labor doula services , childbirth education classes, and resources for advocacy. Nothing on the Maternal Instincts page is meant to be medical or legal advice. Maternal Instincts will always refer birthing families to consult with their individual healthcare providers for their medical care.
Additionally, Traci serves fellow birth workers by offering workshops and advanced training.
Though she is based in and has been serving in Montgomery, Prattville, and Millbrook, AL for more than 20 years, Traci is also available as a travel doula and as an educator. Her advanced doula services are geared toward high risk pregnancies including VBAC, multiples, and trauma survivors.
Additionally, Traci serves fellow birth workers by offering workshops and advanced training.
Though she is based in and has been serving in Montgomery, Prattville, and Millbrook, AL for more than 20 years, Traci is also available as a travel doula and as an educator. Her advanced doula services are geared toward high risk pregnancies including VBAC, multiples, and trauma survivors.
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©2019 by Maternal Instincts or respective clients.
©2019 by Maternal Instincts or respective clients.