Welcome to the February newsletter here at Doula School! Sometimes we'll be scrolling Instagram and will come across one of the many prevalent doula myths. Recently it was the one that doulas don't “allow” a birthing person to use pain relief medication. This is an important myth to shatter. As doulas we do not make medical decisions, restrict options, or impose our own beliefs on anyone’s birth.
Our role is completely non-clinical and centered on support, not control. Whether a client's goal is to use an epidural, IV medications, nitrous oxide, comfort measures only, or a combination of options, we are there to stand with them every step of the way, ensuring they are supported and their voice is heard.
Any birthworker knows that birth plans can evolve, needs can change, and as doulas it's our role to adapt right alongside the client. Support doesn’t disappear when medication enters the picture. The goal for birthworkers is not one specific “right” kind of birth, but a supported one, where the client feels heard and empowered in their own experience.
We might need to start a doula myth busters podcast ;)
Webinar: Confronting the System and Caribbean Matriarchs
On February 10th we have a really important webinar hosted by Lisa Felecia Westerman, BSW, Full Spectrum Doula, Educator, and founder of Shades Doula Services. Over the course of 90 minutes she will take us on a journey into the ancestral heart of Caribbean birthwork.
Drawing inspiration from writers such as Dionne Brand, Sylvia Wynter, and Omise’eke Tinsley, this session explores how Caribbean matriarchs — midwives, aunties, healers, and community leaders — have long embodied resistance, compassion, and advocacy in the care of birthing people.
Through storytelling, discussion, and reflection, this workshop re-centers birthwork as a practice of remembrance, cultural continuity, and liberation. Click below to reserve your spot. It is FREE for Doula School students and alumni, and $35 for other participants.
BLOG: Top 5 Reasons to Leave Your Office Job Behind
It’s amazing how many of our students here at Doula School had an office job prior to starting birthwork. While some of us may thrive in an office setting, for others, the Monday to Friday routine in a small cubicle on the twenty-second floor can be a difficult way to make a living. Many movies (Office Space, In Good Company) and television shows (The Office, The IT Crowd) have depicted the monotony of corporate life.
With office work to birthwork being such a common path for many doulas, we thought it fitting to look at the top 5 reasons to leave your office job behind. Of course the decision to change careers is a BIG one and we always recommend speaking with other doulas and birthworkers in the field to understand the best way to make a switch.
2026 is shaping up to be our busiest training year EVER. With a mix of both in-person, virtual, and self-paced options to choose from. Take a look at the upcoming schedule below to see if anything fits your goals.
Full Spectrum Doula Training - Online - Begins Mar 6 - (Canada Register, International Register)
If you're in Canada, we are continuing our cross-country tour.
Vancouver, BC - Birth & Postpartum Doula Training - Feb 19-23 -
Toronto, ON - Birth & Postpartum Doula Training - Feb 27-Mar 3 -
Montreal, QC - Birth & Postpartum Doula Training - Mar 27-31 -
Social media can be one of the more fun parts of building your doula career, AND also super time draining. It feels like there is this never ending push for more and more content. Not only are you trying to compete for people's attention with others in the birth space, but you're also trying to make your content stand out against all the other serious, funny, and wild things happening online.
So how do you it? One tip we give new doulas is to take a look at what is trending online. Whether it's a meme, certain audio, a turn of phrase...etc Take that trend, and then add your own personal spin to it.
Below is an example of a popular viral image of a baby doing a fist pump and looking proud. It's often used with text overlayed. Here is a quick version that applies to birth.
And as much as we all love real humans, ChatGPT is your friend when it comes to content creation. Use it for ideas and if you have a paid version it can even get to know your brand and voice over time as you 'train' it.
Think of some creative social trends that could work for your online persona.
In this video Stef breaks down the various options for working as a doula (employee, contractor, or private practice). But better than just talking about it, we actually compared REAL numbers collected from 3 doulas to give an idea of what each could look like. Click below to watch the full video.
Words of wisdom from our amazing team at Doula School.
Shandelle
"Always have a hair tie in your doula bag! It's an easy way keep hair out of the way for clients during labour so the birthing person can focus fully on their body and breath"
Nadine
"If you're thinking of starting your doula career, DON'T try to do every social media platform. Pick one or two you're good at and focus on them"
Julia
"Making the switch to birthwork can feel daunting. You don't have to do it all at once. But start to map out a 12 month plan of little steps you can take"
This is one of our more tricky birth riddles, can you guess it? (answer at the bottom of this email)
I arrive at the peak after a long, steady climb,
A glimpse of what’s coming, perfectly timed.
Not fully here, yet clearly seen,
A sacred pause in the birthing scene.
What am I?
Full Spectrum Training March
Our Full-Spectrum Doula Training is the most comprehensive program here at Doula School. It combines Birth, Postpartum, and Fertility Doula certifications with Infant & Pregnancy Loss Support. Our next intake begins March 6th. Available LIVE and online. Click below to learn more and book soon as this course usually fills up.
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Dear Reader, thanks for taking the time to check in with us this month. Below is the December newsletter! A question we often get during the first days of Birth Doula training, is 'how do I support someone who is getting an epidural?' There can sometimes be a misconception that a doula's role is minimized when a client gets an epidural, but in reality it can actually be the opposite. While the medical team focuses on the clinical aspects of pain management, as doulas we continues to provide...
