Certification Announcement - Sherel Burrows

Sherel Burrows, CD(BAI)

From Womb to Cradle Doula Services, Inc. is proud to announce that Sherel Burrows has completed her training through Birth Arts International and is now a certified birth doula!  Congratulations, Sherel!

Healthy Birth Preparation - Sowing the Seeds

Did you know that teaching your children about healthy birth starts at a young age?  How do your children perceive birth?  Is it a scary emergency event to them?  It is possible to explain the birthing process to young children in a way that is both positive and appropriate for their age level.  They do not need to know "how babies are made" to understand how babies are born.  Think of it as an investment in the health of your future grandchildren as well as your daughters or daughters-in-law.

If your son or daughter learns that birth is a normal part of life and something to look forward to, he or she will not be fearful of the process. This also helps to promote a healthy body image for your daughter.  She will learn to love her body for the amazing work it can do.

Remember, what you teach your children lasts for a lifetime.  Your son or daughter may be in the birthing room or laboring at home and remember something you said many years before about birth, his/her body,  or his/her capabilities.  Birth is a miracle.  Share the joy, starting now!

Certification Announcement - Michelle Maisonville

Michelle Maisonville, CD(CBI)

From Womb to Cradle Doula Services, Inc. is pleased to announce that Michelle Maisonville has successfully completed the course of instruction and met all requirements for birth doula certification through Childbirth International and is entitled to use the letters CD(CBI).

On Ethics - Part 2 ~ Our Business Practices & Values

Today we would like to discuss some of our business practices and why we've chosen to conduct things the way we do.  It is important to us that we remain open with you, our clients and community members, and that you feel you can trust us.

1. All of our doulas are trained.  Michelle is certified. Sherel and Kaitlin are actively pursuing certification.  This means they are not yet certified, but are working toward that goal through continuous study and practical experience.
• Each of us has attended training workshops and/or received education through a recognized certifying body.  
• Michelle received her initial training through DONA International in 2008 at a workshop held by a certified doula and doula trainer.  Michelle continued her education through Childbirth International and has certified as a birth doula through the organization. (2012)
• Michelle has also attended a variety of professional workshops and participated in conferences for birth professionals.  Documentation is available for reference.
• Sherel has completed her first year of midwifery education through Midwives College of Utah.  This qualifies her to serve as a midwife's assistant.  She is also a birth doula student through Birth Arts International and will also be certified this year. 
• Sherel has also attended professional workshops in addition to academics.  Documentation is available.
• Kaitlin attended a DONA International training workshop in Spring 2011 and is actively pursuing certification through DONA and Birth Arts International.  
2. Certification takes time.
• We are all mothers.  Our families must come first.  Caring for our children takes up much of our time and we are proud of that fact.  We also maintain households and need to nurture family relationships.  
• No one training program is exactly the same.
• Training may consist of: a 3-day workshop, followed by required reading, a minimum number of births to attend, compilation of a resource list, audit of childbirth classes, and essay writing. (See DONA or CAPPA)
• Training may consist of: intensive academic coursework consisting of psychology, communication skills, anatomy and physiology, business practices, ethics, etc. as well as all of the above.   This may or may not include a 3-day workshop. (See Childbirth International  or Birth Arts International.)
3. We charge for our services.
• During our training as doulas, we were taught to charge for our services even before we were certified for a variety of reasons.
• We incur expenses such as childcare, transportation, food, supplies, etc.
• We spend a lot of time with our clients, meeting once a month during pregnancy and at least 2-4 times during the postpartum period.  
• We are providing a valuable service.
• We provide service as volunteers, but we also are a registered business.
4. We are a registered business in the Province of Alberta, as well as in Medicine Hat and surrounding area.  We maintain a business license for Medicine Hat as well as one for businesses with offices or practice areas outside of Medicine Hat.  This documentation is available for reference.
5. We refer to other doulas in our area and related professionals and maintain a listing of qualified professionals without prejudice.
6. We believe every family has the right to choose a support person who is right for their family and we respect their decisions.  Education, qualifications, personality, comfort level, and values are all very important aspects of that decision.  We strive to be forthright in all of our interactions with potential clients.
7. Education is important to us.  We surround ourselves with the resources necessary to stay up-to-date on evidence-based practices in birth care. 
8. We are not medical professionals and do not portray ourselves as such nor shall we ever act in that capacity as birth doulas.
9. Our practice believes every family deserves the support of a doula that they are comfortable with and are able to cultivate a relationship of trust with.  If we are not a good fit, we gladly refer to our fellow doulas in the community.  
10. We strive to maintain open, professional relationships with our colleagues.  It is our wish and our hope that families in our community feel well supported, informed and cared for by all members of the birthing team.

On Ethics and Beliefs

Hello, Readers!  I realize it has been some time since we've posted to the blog.  We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are now enjoying spending joyful winter days with your family.  The following post is based upon recent concerns I have had in practice as well as in the birth profession overall.  Enjoy!

On Ethics

In September 2011, we authored a post pertaining to the distribution of product samples and coupons to our clients.  Mothers-to-be are often given samples of baby lotions, diapers, coupons for private ultrasound companies, etc. from a variety of sources including doctors offices, formula companies, and maternity stores.  We, too, have provided certain sample products to mothers in our client packages which we hand out at our initial consultations.  Our primary sources had been from companies such as Lansinoh, Medela and Seventh Generation.  We are revamping our policy on samples for the following reasons:

1. Medela is no longer compliant with the WHO/UNICEF Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes; therefore, we cannot in good conscience distribute their product(s).
2. While we support companies that are WHO Code Compliant, we will no longer distribute samples of their products unless requested by our clients.
3. We feel that we have a responsibility to families to provide them with excellent care, support, and evidence-based information that is not coloured by commercial sources.

On Beliefs

Please note: The following are my personal beliefs and are not necessarily the opinions of my colleagues.

As I grow and continue to learn in my role as a doula, and through my personal life experiences, my beliefs regarding pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and parenting continue to evolve and become more clarified.  Therefore, I wanted to share with you what is in my heart.

1. I believe that woman were created to birth without unnecessary interventions.
2. I believe that women are strong.
3. I believe that pain is subjective, yet also that fear and tension exacerbate pain.  See The Fear Tension Pain Cycle - based on the research of Dr. Grantly Dick-Read.
4. I believe that families deserve complete evidence-based information on all potential interventions in pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding in order to make truly informed decisions.  I believe I would be remiss if I did not assist them with finding this accurate information.
5. I believe that birth is safer and healthier for mothers and babies when medications are not used.
6. I believe that babies are active participants in their own births.
7. I believe that babies are born wired to be breastfed.
8. I believe in the WHO Hierarchy of Infant Feeding Choices.
9. I believe breastfeeding is possible for the majority of mothers and infants with knowledgeable and compassionate support.
10. I believe birth belongs to mothers and babies, not to any caregiver or system.
11. I believe mothers will birth in their own time.
12. I believe babies will be born when they are ready.
13. I respect technology and medical interventions, as they have their place in emergency situations.
14. I believe birth is a natural process, not a medical event.
15. I believe that I do not empower women, rather they empower themselves with strength, trust in their bodies and the process of birth, and knowledge of the benefits and risks of all of their options.
16. I trust women!

I believe this list is not finished and that I will be continuously learning and evolving.  I am so thankful to all of the families I work with as it is they who truly teach me.

Midwifery Changes the World

This evening, December 11, 2011, Robin Lim of the Bumi Sehat Foundation was announced as CNN's 2011 Hero of the Year.  Midwifery truly changes the world.  Learn more about Ibu Robin and her work below.

Inspired: An interview with Birth Source, Inc's Tracey Stolarchuk

In 2008, Michelle took a trip to Edmonton, where she had lived for three years and had given birth to both of her children.  She had been a longtime reader of Birth Issues magazine, a publication of the Association for Safe Alternatives in Childbirth (ASAC), and was excited to visit one of the advertised stores, Birth Source, Inc.  It was on that occasion that she had the great fortune to meet Tracey Stolarchuk who has been a friend, a mentor, and a great inspiration to the From Womb to Cradle family.  We are happy to share the following conversation with you, our readers, between Michelle and our friend, Tracey, who recently retired from professional doula work.

FWTC: Tell us about yourself (work, family, interests)

Tracey: I have had four children. My first son Paul was born 23 years ago, followed by Michael who is 17, Sean who is 11 and a daughter Megan who is 9. The best part of what I do as a Mom is sharing my love of Birth Source with my children. All of them are very proud of the work I do and value families and babies as much as I do. I homeschool my youngest two so they are at work with me each day as well.

FWTC: When and why did you decide to become a doula?

Tracey: I had attened several births long before learning about doulas and found that experience both very profound and rewarding. I met a woman many years later who was a postpartum doula and I was facinated with the philosophy and the opportunity to serve women and share my own experiences as a mother. She told me about the birth doula workshop that I attended and after finishing that with an amazing instructor I was hooked.

FWTC: How long did you practice? Did you work primarily in hospital or at home births? 

Tracey: My doula practice in all has spanned almost 15 years and I recently retired from professional work. Most of my clients were having their babies in the hospital but I was also very fortunate to be invited to homebirths as well.

FWTC: What motivated you to open Birth Source, Inc.?

Tracey: My professional work as a Birth Doula and Childbirth Educator meant sourcing out products for both myself and my clients. This began my quest for high quality items that would enhance the lives of birthing women and parents. I received more and more requests from customers along the way which lead to a larger retail undertaking ultimately launching the Birth Source online store. After a brief period of working from home I missed the face to face interaction with my customers and felt I could provide better service in person. My need to combine the retail and service portion of my business meant a space that accommodated both so the store front for Birth Source was born in September 2007.

FWTC: What are your favorite products?

Tracey: Hands down the most helpful product has been a baby carrier. As with many products, they have changed a lot over the years, but it ranks very high on my list of must-have products.

FWTC: What are your hopes and dreams for the future of Birth Source, Inc. and your work with families?

Tracey: Birth Source was never meant to be a single-faceted business. In fact, it was always meant to be a community resource, combining education, retail, support and community building to make the vision work. The most inspiring thing on my journey to create Birth Source has been the many, many people I have met and networked with that tell me, “Yes, this is what is missing in our community.” We need places like Birth Source to bring women back together on a mother-to-mother basis, sharing wisdom and joys and sorrows on a basic level with one another.

FWTC: Thank you so much, Tracey!  We're excited to share your business with many more families.

If you are in the Edmonton, AB area, you can visit Birth Source, Inc.'s retail location (click here for a virtual tour) at 5024 - 106 Avenue and/or call them for information on their upcoming workshops and community activities at (780) 758-2525.  Shop online at http://www.birthsource.ca


Tracey is also generously donating a Family Tree Glass "Birth Partner" Pendant to our 900th Facebook Fan Giveaway!  Thank you, Tracey!  Click here to enter the giveaway!