World Doula Week 2021

World Doula Week has been productive!

*Porch meeting with new client to drop off my packet of information we’ll cover at our prenatal meetings. So nice to meet this couple in person as we’ll be conducting our prenatal visits virtually.

*Prenatal visit with client to review my childbirth education materials and begin to develop their birth plan.

*Driveway visit with past client who is moving out of state to bid farewell. I cherish the relationships I develop with clients and appreciate the honor of being welcomed into their lives at a sacred time.

*Attended a DONA International Mood Disorder workshop. Being aware and informed about postpartum depression and anxiety and knowing how I can better help clients is important to me.

*Met with the Milwaukee BOMB doulas to learn more about the valuable work they are doing to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in our city.

*Conducted two initial conversations with potential clients seeking virtual doula support.

*Supported a recent client to get them through some breastfeeding challenges of the early weeks. This is part of my standard birth doula service.

*Attended the DONA International Regional Meeting where I connected with other Wisconsin doulas and learned about what DONA is doing to shift to using inclusive language and lots more to lead the birth world in serving birthing families.

*Read Welcome To Fatherhood: The Modern Man’s Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Fatherhood by David Arrell.

*Awaiting call from client with expected due date of April 1st to support them through their labor and birth.

*Giving thanks for the opportunity to do the sacred work of supporting families during this special time of their lives. I love being a doula!!

*Celebrated an early Easter with my immediate family in person. The reason I adhere to the strictest protocols on safety with COVID-19 is so I can be with the people I love the most.

*Oh! and was filmed to be in a movie! Actually, my hand was filmed writing a paragraph in cursive Italian for a movie about Nuvolari, an Italian race car driver.

No two weeks are ever the same as a doula. That’s what I like about this work, there is always more to learn, more people to connect with, and more to do to make for better birth on earth. NOW THAT’S A PRETTY GOOD WEEK!