First off, let me welcome you to my new site & business. If you knew me as the "Over the Moon Doula - YYC", thank you for continuing on with me to my new venture.
So what happened to Over the Moon Doula - YYC? Why the change?
Well, the short answer:
I'm not JUST a Doula, nor do I want to be.
The long answer...sorry, very long answer:
Being a Doula is wonderful. I've been supporting people through their journeys into parenthood as a trained Doula for 3 years and not as a trained Doula for 25 years. I never want to stop supporting so many across the spectrum from avoiding pregnancy or TTC all the way to becoming a family. BUT I've noticed there's a gap that can be filled by wonderful people and I want to be a part of that. And with that comes a multi-layered effect that needs to be addressed.
1) Our Health Care community is working tirelessly and doesn't feel they are well supported. While I know many Doula associations and organizations are trying to bring the Health Care and Doula communities closer together, abiding by a standard of practice and code of ethics without regulation, similar to those Doulas of British Columbia, I wondered what about those Doulas or support people that weren't affiliated with these associations and organizations. How will they benefit? How can Doulas that aren't "Birth" & "Postpartum" Doulas that aren't affiliated with certain training bodies, Doula associations or organizations get the same value? For example, an End of Life Doula entering into a Hospice care facility with a standard of practice and a code of ethics that both the medical professionals on staff and the Doulas (no matter their training organization, certification status, etc.) respect and honour for the betterment of the patient/client's care. With the additional outcome that both parties feel they are supporting each other and not stepping on toes.
2) There's a Doula for everyone and everyone's specific path. When I say the word "Doula", I usually hear 1 of 3 things:
"What is a Doula?"
"Are you a Birth, Postpartum, or both?"
"Are you certified?"
The answers most commonly hear/read are:
A non-medically trained woman supporting another woman in labour and motherhood.
I'm a Birth and/or Postpartum Doula.
Yes, I'm Certified! or I'm trained by XYZ!
Can you guess why I'm passionate about dispelling these statements? How insulting to the entire Doula communities and to the general population by using non-inclusive language & specific language to put one above another. Let me break it down a bit, as short & quickly as possible.
"A Doula is an individual providing non-medical support to another person or persons through a period of their life where the person(s) need additional guidance and care to achieve the best possible outcome."
*Notice* I didn't say the Doula was a woman. Why? Because a Doula isn't exclusive to a woman. There's a few men AND there's many from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community that are Doulas too. Using the word "woman" makes the word Doula exclusive by genderizing and excluding others.
*Notice* I didn't say "Birth", or "Postpartum". Why? Because there are many different types of Doulas: Fertility, End of Life, Perinatal Loss, Prison, Divorce, etc. By saying "Birth" and/or "Postpartum" and stating it's the ONLY type of Doulas belittles the rest of the Doula community.
*Notice* I didn't say "Mom", or "Dad". Why? Because Doula clients are from all walks of life. They are individuals....people and don't need to have further labels put upon them unless they choose.
*Notice* I didn't say "a Certified" or "a Trained" individual. Why? Because Doulas were never a profession, nor was the word "Doula" a thing, historically. A Woman's Servant, Witch, Midwife or simply a female friend or family member was what would be called a "Doula" today. In many cultures, this role was handed down from person to person over centuries and in many cultures, communities, and faiths today it's still handed down from their mothers, aunties, elders, etc. In some historical writings, being a "woman's servant" was forced upon another because of status, race, or gender, but that's for another day. It wasn't until the early 1960s-1980s that training to become a Doula started in Northern America. While I will concede that the world operates on "Certificates" & "Degrees" from reputable Institutions, I feel we are short-signed and miss the mark on where our role comes from and whom we need to honour by strongly associating Doula with "Certified", "XYZ Certified", "Trained", or "XYZ Trained".
Being a Doula or someone's support person is a huge responsibility and we should be proud of the work we do and honour where our role came from...the good, the bad, and the ugly. Being a person's chosen non-medical support/Doula shouldn't be frightened off by the use of "Certificates", "Certified", and such, and more so who is the right fit for that person seeking another to support them through their journey. It's wonderful if you're certified AND it's wonderful if you're not. It shouldn't be a requirement for doing amazing Doula work!
3) Being a part of many different communities, I've noticed there are tons of resources. Some good, some bad, and some really amazing! But what I've noticed also noticed is that this information, the good & great, is hard to find, sourced, or even accessed, which leaves many to ask the same question over and over again. Now, I'm sure there are local sites that have some of this information, but I'd like to help bring it all together for the comfort of my clients, family, & friends.
4) The many more reasons I've changed my business, but I'll leave with one last reason....it's simple...I want to stand out but not above the rest, and promote others. I want to stand alongside my Practitioners, Support People, Doulas, Companions, etc. and bring in some love and light, while supporting those who are a) avoiding conception, b) just starting out TTC, c) struggling to conceive with or without infertility issues, d) pregnant & preparing for birth, e) had a baby or adding another family member into the mix, and/or f) sleep deprived, anxious, stressed, worried, overwhelmed, through whatever path they're on. I want to promote local businesses and home businesses that are there with us, supporting you and your journey.
Yes, it's going to take me time. Yes, I want to take on the world, but I know (just as I tell my clients), one baby step at a time.... And while I work on this all behind the scenes, I hope as Embracing the Journey you know (just as before) I will be there for you, without judgement, in any path along your life's journey!
Love & Light
Kat
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