Doula Activism & PoliticsThis forum is for activism efforts, networking and discussing political and social issues, such as circumcision, that impact doulas and their work.
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THANK YOU for allowing us to pick more than one! I'm mostly the second and third one. Now...I am VERY political, but not extremely politically active about birth in itself.
Active- network, collectively support & educate the community when necessary
person, but it is hard with an 18mo old and a baby on the way. But I am trying! I have started a birth network here, I just haven't had a lot of time to devote to it yet!
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Ashley Motzenbecker, CD (CBI), RP, PED
Certified Labor Doula, Certified Perinatal Educator, Level II Reiki Certified
Regional Coordinator and Volunteer Doula for Operation Special Delivery www.wiregrassdoulaservices.com
As I am for "active," (with plans for a networking group in the making), I also feel as thought I don't know where to start! Also, with a 1 mo old (I cannot believe he's that old! /) I cannot do births right now, though I am interviewing, and with my 2 yr old and 4 yr old who keep me WAY busy, it's really hard to find the time and the *freedom* to take everythingon that I have plans for. Right now I am trying to get the word out about doulas by having a booth at a consignment fair next month () and sending introductory letters to drs, as well as working on a new website for everything pregnancy, baby, birth, and breastfeeding related....we'll see how long it takes before it's live!
__________________ Looking forward to better protection of my privacy so that I can once again post and forge personal and lasting relationships with the amazing doulas here
I am so NOT a radical activist. i hate all things political. So i just plug along helping on woman at time, and talking about my work to anyone who is interested. just trying to make a doulas a normal everyday word.
Active- network, collectively support & educate the community when necessary
That's me! Any chance I get. Lately I am more...
Radical- strong beliefs, rally, attend political events, write a lot to papers and politicians
As I have been setting up a VBACtivist group for my country and talking with OB's and medical aids about birth doulas and VBAC's
so I'd say I'm somewhere in between. The first 2.
I'm the third option,but wished I was the second -Active
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Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain,because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world. John 16:21
I am at "one-woman-at-a-time", and I would like also to be "active" once I have a little more time on my hands. I would only become "radical" if I left the birthing profession or became a midwife. I feel that I would lose credibility if I went "radical" while still trying to work as a doula side-by-side with OB's in hospitals and help women have good births in hospitals... and trying to get childbirth ed clients from local OB's would be a joke (at least if the OB's and hospital-birthing mamas got wind of my efforts). My first priority is helping individual women, though I would like to do more to gently nudge the system in the right direction. Megan
This Member Says "Thanks!" to megananna22 For This Post:
person, but it is hard with an 18mo old and a baby on the way. But I am trying! I have started a birth network here, I just haven't had a lot of time to devote to it yet!
I too am trying, a Birth network was started here. I was there in the beginning and now it seems like it is falling apart. I am trying to hold it together.
Good luck on your birth network. Find great women who will build it with you and keep you motivated when the going gets tough. There are some great ladies here who are really dedicated and want to see a very active Birth Network here in our town.
Keep us posted.
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Jennifer Kapheim,CLD
Expectant Grace
Labor Doula Services
Columbus, Ga[color=Purple]
I am at "one-woman-at-a-time", and I would like also to be "active" once I have a little more time on my hands. I would only become "radical" if I left the birthing profession or became a midwife. I feel that I would lose credibility if I went "radical" while still trying to work as a doula side-by-side with OB's in hospitals and help women have good births in hospitals... and trying to get childbirth ed clients from local OB's would be a joke (at least if the OB's and hospital-birthing mamas got wind of my efforts). My first priority is helping individual women, though I would like to do more to gently nudge the system in the right direction. Megan
Hear Hear! I second that. I will also admit that i don't know enough about birth yet to have strong opinions, other than the way I want mine to go...
I am starting a birth network in my area as well. Those of you who did something similar, I'm curious what inspired you to take on that project. And those of you who are just members of a local birth network, is it mostly a professional referral sort of network? or something more of a volunteer doula network for women/families in need in your community?
If you have time, I'm hosting a chat on Sunday morning from 8 to 9 AM (Pacific Time) and the topic is on your personal mission as a doula, your personal principles that help shape your doula work. I think it would be interesting to chat about how our guiding principles expand our doula work to serve not just moms and families, but our communities as well.
I'm personally an active/one-woman at a time type. By actively networking and promoting doula work, I hope to be able to help more than one woman at a time, just by raising some awareness.
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Join me for Earthy Birthy Chat
Sunday, September 16, 8 to 9 AM PST
Topic: Your Guiding Principles and Your Doula Work
I picked active, I'm in between that and one woman at a time but after opening the center in the face of opposition I think I can safely fall under the active category
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~ LeAnne Marrs ~
AKA: MamaBellies or Lanny
Birth & Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator & Lactation Educator
Owner of Matrescence Pregnancy & Early Parenting Services in Marion, NC
How do you see yourself?
I'm mostly the second and third one. Now...I am VERY political, but not extremely politically active about birth in itself. 
Quote:
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) I cannot do births right now, though I am interviewing, and with my 2 yr old and 4 yr old who keep me WAY busy, it's really hard to find the time and the *freedom* to take everythingon that I have plans for. Right now I am trying to get the word out about doulas by having a booth at a consignment fair next month (
) and sending introductory letters to drs, as well as working on a new website for everything pregnancy, baby, birth, and breastfeeding related....we'll see how long it takes before it's live! 
