There are many doula pathways regarding the structure and type of doula business that one may wish to pursue.

Some individuals may begin with a solo business model, while others may jump into the world of doula agency owners right from the start. No one doula pathway will work best for everyone. 

Regardless of the pathway that one chooses, there is often a point at which one questions whether to continue with the current structure or consider pursuing one of the other options. One of the most common questions among doulas is, "Is it time?" Is it time to transition into something more? Is now the time to downsize and streamline so that you can focus on the work that fuels your passion?

Join us as we explore the doula pathways that doulas may consider as they launch and grow their businesses.

Creating meaningful connections with your prospective clients—is a vital skill for any successful doula.

Building trust and a personal connection is essential for securing clients and providing the best support throughout their journey. Many practical strategies can be utilized to connect on a deeper level, from the first consultation to ongoing care.

Communicating with empathy creates a welcoming atmosphere. It also allows you to establish yourself as a trusted partner in your clients' birth or postpartum experiences. When meeting in a client's home, you can use context clues to initiate conversations that build rapport and trust, allowing you to understand better and support their unique needs. Things such as décor, family photos, and personal items all open pathways to genuine connection.

Join us as we explore how to create genuine connections that enhance the client experience and leave them feeling well-supported.

Universal precautions are essential to maintaining a safe and hygienic environment for both your clients and yourself. It is important for labor and postpartum doulas to understand them and how to apply them to their work.

Universal precautions for doulas include proper hand hygiene. This involves handwashing before and after client interactions, especially when touching bodily fluids. We should also understand how to use personal protective equipment. This includes knowing when and how to use gloves and masks while providing labor support. We should also know how to safely navigate exposure to bodily fluids, including amniotic fluid, blood, and other secretions. Postpartum doulas also need to know safe practices for assisting with postpartum recovery, including handling lochia and other postpartum secretions.

Join us as we explore universal precautions and discuss how to apply them to our work as doulas.

Doula availability is a topic that can cause some anxiety. Being on-call 24/7 is a significant challenge, and adapting to this lifestyle requires careful planning and boundary-setting.

Your phone is an essential lifeline to both your family and your clients. Feeling overwhelmed by the need to be available at a moment's notice is common, but there are effective ways to leverage technology to help you manage this demand. From smart scheduling apps to automated responses, we'll discuss tools that can help you set and maintain healthy boundaries.

We also explore the availability needs of labor doulas versus postpartum doulas, recognizing that each role demands a unique approach. Whether you're navigating the intense on-call nature of labor support or finding a balance in postpartum care, this episode offers practical advice and strategies to help you thrive in your doula practice.

Tune in to gain insights, tips, and support to manage your availability effectively while maintaining your well-being and providing exceptional care to your clients.

Managing money is an essential skill for doulas, yet many need time, patience, and effort to develop this skill. Doulas must practice setting aside money for taxes to avoid being caught off guard during tax season. When that tax bill hits, it can hit hard.

The unpredictable nature of birth work also requires budgeting your income. Without a budget and knowing where your money goes, it's hard to make doula work sustainable.

Join us as we share our approach to keeping finances in check, aiming for peace of mind and financial stability. Whether you're just starting out or have been a doula for years, this episode offers valuable insights on managing your money more effectively.

Navigating the challenges of working with independent contractors as an agency owner is no small feat. Your agency's reputation, especially your own, hinges on contractors doing their jobs well. Many owners feel compelled to control contractor performance to ensure the work meets their high standards.

However, regulations for independent contractors clearly state that contractors must have control over how they perform their roles. If an agency owner restricts this, it can blur the lines into an employer/employee relationship. Misclassification, as determined by the state or IRS, can lead to fines, back taxes, and potential business loss.

Join us as we delve into the intricacies of utilizing contractors for agency work, exploring best practices, legal considerations, and strategies for success.

In this episode, we discuss recent events that have come to our attention and give our thoughts and feedback.

A recent case that has gained national traction involves the passing of a mother and baby. What can we do as doulas if we are in a situation where we don't see a provider meeting the standards of care? Speaking up can be difficult, yet helping clients advocate for themselves is an essential part of our role.

Some doulas have recently learned that their malpractice insurance will no longer cover homebirth. Coverage that was previously available has now been walked back. Doulas are understandably asking why and where to find coverage. On the heels of the recent homebirth tragedy in our extended community, we discuss some of the reasons why insurance companies are changing coverage.

Join us as we discuss these recent events and share our thoughts and feelings on these and other important topics in our work.

As a doula, navigating unexpected situations will become a part of our work. Perhaps a client who has a premature baby. Or those whose labors begin and progress too quickly to get to their chosen birth location. Thinking on our feet and embracing the unexpected will inevitably become a part of our work.

When navigating these unexpected situations, judgment calls need to be made. However, it is important always to consider safety. Yet, these situations don't often give the time to think through the situation completely. The location and the situation will play a big role in the resources available.

Join us as we discuss some unexpected situations and how we navigated them with our clients.

For many birth workers, where they enter this work is not the same place where they wind up. For example, some may enter this work providing labor support. Yet they may find once they have their own children, that postpartum work is a better fit. Others may enter into the field via postpartum support. Then, life leads them into childbirth or newborn care education. 

Unlike many other professions, birth work allows the individual to step deeper into the work by providing other related services. Or, it can allow one to step back from birth work entirely and re-enter at a later date. All with minimal barriers to the work.

Join us as we discuss the path we've taken and the many options that allow individuals to support growing families.

As doulas, it's not uncommon to encounter individuals with a fear of birth. This fear can be rooted in many sources. First, the way in which TV represents birth. Second, the stories our friends and family share; and third, an individual's lived experiences.

The media often portrays birth as a dramatic process. The water breaks and the camera cuts to immediate transition-style contractions. Birth in the media is often presented in an unrealistic and dramatic light. We rarely see a birth that has little to no drama and is a straightforward process. 

Well-meaning family and friends often share the traumatic aspects of their own personal experiences. Or they share the traumatic experiences of others that they know. It can often be difficult for the pregnant person to find examples of physiologic birth that goes well. 

As birth professionals, it is essential for us to become informed on the sources of fear surrounding the labor and birth process. Join us as we discuss these sources of fear and the support that we can offer our clients to help reduce fear and instill strength.