"No one sees what I do in the birth doula - the heightened brain activity, the sophisticated timing of their actions, the deliberate use of their words and movements. They are truly the most emotionally intelligent and wisest people in the labor room, probably
the whole hospital. Now I just have to prove what I know to be true."
Who said that? I said
that.
Ever since my first advisor set me on this path, I've been determined to show the world what we do and how it changes our bodies and our brains. First, DTD was founded to illustrate Standards of Practice that are grounded in what doulas actually do, not what a small group of people thinks they do (all
other SOPs). The DTD Certification Process is based on the type of support doulas who became successful had as new doulas that led them to be successful. Why offer anything less than success?
Second, is my research path: thesis, dissertation, and published articles. More on that in the near
future.
Third, is to see how the acts of doulaing (a brain and social activity) and the profession of doula work
connect to the other caregiving professions. Caregiving as a whole is denigrated in our society. It is invisible labor that takes place behind closed doors. It is often unpaid or underpaid. All of us need care to some extent - and some of us need permanent caregivers.
Like birthing, and doulaing, caregiving is also political. It is made up of a million little acts of love and sacrifice. It is often socially constructed as being the sole role of women - and for women to sacrifice their own hopes and dreams to do the unpaid work of caring for another.
How is it that doula work is connected to these professions? Many doulas have college degrees, most CNA's do not. Many doulas are white or native to the US., while most
caregivers are immigrants from a variety of countries. What is it about doulaing that makes us willing to wipe a strange woman's body excretions off our own shirts? Why do we feel called to care?
Many birth doulas go on to palliative care doulaing, social work, or other expressions of caregiving in their lives. It is part of who we are on the inside - that part is true for all caregivers.
Below are two resources to continue the dialogue. A NEW FREE documentary from PBS on Caregiving, and a recent book showing how America silently relies on the shoulders of women to keep caregiving going. This is not a point brought up in the documentary, although it is very true. I really enjoyed this article about the points brought up in the
book - it gets good about six paragraphs in.
Caregiving
