maternal wisdom logo
Training, Education and Services
February 2007 - Vol 2, Issue 2
Becoming a Friend
Sign Up
Learn more about
Hello friends,
chana luba

Birth is a time when women are open. They open physically and also emotionally and spiritually. The more a doula can help a woman open all all three levels (and beyond) the better she will be doing her job. Who do you usually open up to the best? Your friends! Doulas should see them selves in a role beyond just another careprovider. Doulas should create friendships with their clients and have that relationship be something that helps carry a women through her pregnancy, labor and birth.

The Power of Friendship
hannah and mom and max
Friends trust, friends share, friends enjoy each other, friends confide, friends cry together, friends rejoice together...
These are all thing a doula should be able to do with her client. By nature some women are more closed than others, or you might have more in common with some women, but one of your goals in forming a relationship is to enable your clients to feel as if she has acquired a friend.
Cultivating Tools...
pp with avi
Having women call after weekly appointments is a good way to form a relationship. This is a time that you can learn about what is happening physically and also check in emotionally. Asking questions such as:
  • How does that make you feel?
  • Are you having any worries about xyz....
  • How has your partner been feeling about xyz...
  • Is there anything that you feel might help xyz...

Giving suggestions and sharing things about your own personal life will also help form a bond and friendship. Taking time to do as many prenatals as needed to reach a good comfort level in which women can open up and share is important.
Some times for women who are alone in a pregnancy or who work alot, a doula might become the only friend that she has to really share her pregnancy with.

Attending baby showers, blessing ways and religious ceremonies after the birth is a wonderful way to enhance the relationship between doula and client. Postpartum visit are also important, writing a card to the parents or baby reflecting on the special relationship that was formed or the unique birth is also an idea.
.
Winter Training 2007
role play fall 06 2
For any one who is still on the fence about the winter training there is still plenty of room but call me or register online ASAP if you want to join! The dates of my Winter Training are February 4, 11, 18, 25, 2007. I am looking forward to a great training and I hope that you will join me! All the information you need can be found on my new web site!

Thanks for taking the time to read this and feel free to forward it...

Finally some SNOW!
Chana Luba Ertel, CD (DONA), CLD, CCCE, CAPPA Labor Doula Trainer of MA
Maternal Wisdom

413-253-9618