Doulas in the news

About once a week, some hometown newpaper interviews local doulas and does a (usually) nice story about them. This one out of Ft. Wayne, Indiana had this interesting tidbit:

While Indiana does not require doulas to be certified, the Starks say it is something they will look for in any doula they might hire for a subsequent birth. Fort Wayne area doulas charge $350-$500, depending on the extent of their role. In New York, the going rate is about $1,800, said Saalfrank, whose sister is also a doula and childbirth educator.

Wow, $1800 is the going rate for a midwife in many places.

Blog Roundup

I've come across a number of baby/birth/breastfeeding blogs today, some new discoveries and some great posts from old friends...

Injennuous (a mom/doula named Jenn) writes about Going Overdue and Prodromal Labor. Also check out her Views on Birth blog.

Millner's Dream makes the case for Doula certification.

Cooler*doula is a doula-in-training.

From The Lactivist (who's planning a waterbirth, or at least a water labor) , I found Mama Knows Breast, the blog of Andi Silverman, a non-practicing* lawyer , former journalist, and soon-to-be author.

While you're at it, check out The Lactivist's great BF advocacy products.


* In the Mommy Blawger's world, you can't be a "former lawyer". You can stop practicing, but you can't un-lawyer yourself. It's not what we do, it's what we are.

Mom Solicits Doula Services On Ebay

Hmm... Might be a good marketing technique for a Doula wanting to make a name for herself?

eBay: I'm pregnant! Would You Like To Be My Labor Coach?

Operation Special Delivery

A really nice article on Doulas and Operation Special Delivery: Age-old practice reborn as doula

Doulas and Nurses

A new study published in The Journal of Perinatal Education shows that Nurses Who Show Negative Attitudes Toward Doula Support Diminish Patients' Birth Experience.

Some More Great Blogs

While working on my Blogger profile yesterday, I found some great blogs. First up is the Human Lactation Information blog. It is written by Ali Crehan Feeney, who is a breastfeeding counselor, and is filled with all kinds of wonderful and useful information about breastfeeding. She links to La Leche League's Emergency Breastfeeding Resources and recent press release When an Emergency Strikes Breastfeeding Can Save Lives. It seems all too obvious to say that some of those babies stranded in New Orleans last week without formula would still be alive had their mothers been breastfeeding.

Next are three blogs by doulas: Aspiring Midwife, Andi Stracner's Doula Blog, and Milliner's Dream. Check them out when you get a chance.

'Mothering the mother'

CNN.com has a nice article about Doulas today.

Doula Liability

I have a post up over on The Mommy Blawg about Doula liability - namely, should doulas carry emergency childbirth kits when providing home labor support?