Dear Doulas,

I finally figured out that if you're out there stirring things up in the world, you're going to be vulnerable.  As a researcher and perinatal professional I've been pushing myself to have conversations that aren't easy.  About race and disparities, about birth rape and violence, and about how doulas are treating each other.  I also have a feeling that our differences as birth doulas are actually deeper than we might have acknowledged.  This isn't a bad thing, we're always evolving as individuals as well as a movement. 

I had a wonderful time at the ProDoula conference giving my session about fathers. "Why Are We Trying To Turn Men Into Women?: Meeting the REAL Needs of Men In Childbirth" has been presented at DONA, CAPPA, Lamaze and ProDoula as well as regional and local events! I've begun interviewing doulas again for the next wave of my research and did eight interviews while there. Doulas are doulas at heart, that hasn't changed at all! 

But the differences we've had since the beginnings of our movement in the 1980's (I was there) have resurged. As a scientist I've been approaching the problem critically and am looking forward to publishing on my ideas in 2018.  However, my next blogs will be about the dearth of doula research and why we don't have it.  I'm kind of angry, which brings me back to vulnerability.  

At the DONA Trainer's Retreat I spoke up about many current issues critical to our profession. By the time I got home from ProDoula, research interviews, and the DONA event, I was toast!!!  I really put myself out there in a number of ways and felt raw and needing rest. So that's what I'm doing next week: resting!!  

But I'll have the satisfaction of knowing I'm moving us ALL forward - keep up the good work in your own life - listening and listening and talking and then listening some more!!!  People tell you interesting stuff when they know you'll listen..trust me on that.