While it is not true, many people think doulas only support those desiring an unmedicated birth. However, doulas and epidurals are not mutually exclusive. In fact, doulas can be immensely beneficial during medicated births. A professional doula trains to support all types of births. From unmedicated water birth at home to a scheduled induction, and […]
Epidural Catheter Shortage – What You Need to Know
As doulas, pain management and comfort measures is typically the number one client concern. Birth can be intense, naturally, many people are interested in pain management options. You may have seen articles floating around about an epidural catheter shortage. Is this something doulas and expectant parents need to worry about? At IDI, we want to […]
Doula Recertification, Is It Important?
As a certified doula, you might be wondering if doula recertification is necessary. Afterall, birth itself is always the same, right? Well, while physiological birth does not change, our birthing environments, evidenced based care, etc., can change frequently. As a professional doula, it can be extremely important and to maintain your certification via recertification. It […]
Monkeypox and Pregnancy – What Doulas Need to Know
It seems we are just now getting through the Covid-19 pandemic and now we have another concern. If you watch the news or scroll social media, it is likely you have heard of monkeypox. As a doula, what do you need to know about monkeypox and pregnancy? As doulas, we are obviously non-medical and do […]
How Do I Get My First Doula Client?
Many of us jump into doula training with a passion for supporting families. We know the benefit of doula support and we expect others do too. However, many of us end up wondering, “How do I get my first doula client?” We talk to our family and friends about our training. We put up our […]
Evidenced Based Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring
Half a century ago, continuous fetal heart rate monitoring became the norm with the hope it would improve neonatal outcomes. At the time, we were not sure of the causes behind many cases of cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, and more. Professionals believed hypoxia, or lack of oxygen, during birth caused poor neonatal outcomes. Making continuous […]