Doula David: Birth, Foster and Adoption Doula Support

10/26/2018

This local family has brought light to a topic that has been so sadly hidden for too long. The first time I ever used an Ergo was with Ori's little sibling while babysitting. I remember the whole family addressing the gender of their children so beautifully when they were little despite significant pressure to do otherwise. Now that they are old enough to tell their own story, Ori is educating the world and loving it!

CW Trauma of surgery, especially unwanted surgery is discussed:

https://youtu.be/kRzbVxQVJWA

https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/you-can-t-undo-surgery-more-parents-intersex-babies-are-n923271?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_ma

https://m.mic.com/articles/192058/intersex-children-intersex-awareness-day-mic-dispatch #.eIKGmea6p

Ori Turner is ten years old and is Kristina Turner’s middle child. Ori has an intersex condition which has led them to transition genders. They are currently...

09/01/2015

Reducing the availability of quality healthcare and working against cultural competency for any healthcare workers seems directly counter to what I know of midwifery as a practice. The people who signed this letter made public that they resist better care for a group of people. I think if a midwife or any practitioner doesn't want to, can't or is uncomfortable offering care based on their beliefs and biases, it's great if they let folks know that. On the other hand, actively working against quality healthcare for any group of people is just plain hate in my book. If you don't want to provide care to someone, just let them know as they likely don't want your help. Why not just step out of the way and wish them and their family the best care FOR THEM?

http://womancenteredmidwifery.org/take-action/

Please email womancenteredmidwifery@gmail.com (Please include your name, identifyers or credentials if any, and City/State) to sign-on to this open letter: Open Letter to the Midwives Alliance of N...

06/26/2015

I'm happy to provide support whether you have no partner, one partner, or many; whether you are married or not and with respect for your gender identity as your family grows. That said, I'm thrilled that the legal protections of marriage are now available to a whole lot more folks today. Of course there is more work ahead but I'm loving the love today!

02/06/2015

Collecting and distributing baby carriers & wraps to low-income parents, families in crisis, teen moms, women in homeless & DV shelters and others in need.

01/23/2015

A Doula for Foster, Adoption and Blending Families? Of Course!

Bringing a new child into our families is, of course, always in some ways beautiful and challenging. During the time that I trained to be a birth doula and built my practice, I became a parent through several different avenues. Over the past five years I adopted through the foster system, became a parent through blending families and participated deeply in the pregnancy and birth of our baby. The lessons that I learned by supporting other families in childbirth felt relevant to each of my parenting experiences. As I helped families prepare for the births of their own children, I realized that all families could benefit from doula support!

The experience, planning and empathy offered by a doula is known to improve the outcomes of childbirth. We know that fostering, adopting and blending families is very challenging and I believe that having qualified doula support will show great results. Imagine having an experienced support person who was available through the entire process who could help you stay confident, augment your strengths and provide resources for your dynamic situation. An experienced doula would help identify the resources you might need such as meal trains, errands, family and friend support and more but would know how to navigate the unique circumstances of these other ways of creating and growing families. A doula could help facilitate the direct support and help hold the space to provide the needed privacy to nurture attachment.

With our house full of children and our small family farm growing well, I have had less time to attend births. I have though had new opportunities to reflect on a broadening practice that includes all families. I want to take what I have learned from birth support and apply it to the other various ways we grow our families. I plan to share those opportunities here as I learn. Your questions and suggestions are very welcome.

Trusting your body and your choices. Supporting you, your partner and your family according to your

12/02/2013

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/02/men-at-work-for-women-in-labor/?emc=eta1&_r=0

Doulas are trained to help new mothers cope with the rigors of childbirth, but very, very few of them are men.

11/02/2013

As I wait (in)patiently for the day when our baby will arrive I am feeling huge appreciation for those people who shared their birth experience with me and those who welcomed me into the 'birth world' over the past several years. While I parent five children already, this is my first birth child. My partner and I are welcoming the experience with eyes and hearts open. My partner is the most resilient person I know and have complete confidence and admiration. We have both supported many families while they welcomed their own babies. Having seen several smooth and seemingly easy births has helped me imagine what could be considered the ideal scenario. But birth, like parenting, is not usually exactly as imagined. The grace and love with which I've seen families welcome children in what is typically NOT considered ideal scenarios are allowing me to truly trust birth. We hope for the best and remain open and committed to bend with the winds. Our beautiful baby will arrive soon to join our family as we are. I am already in love with this person whose eyes I've never seen and whose head I haven't smelled. We have assembled a great team who will see us through anything. Please keep us in your thoughts as we ride these waves that are coming. Cheers!

07/05/2013

For the second year in a row, I attended a birth on my birthday. A beautiful way to spend it. Thanks birthday buddies for coming on this day

06/14/2013

Happy Father's Day! Writing this article helped to clarify some work that I need to do as a birth professional and as a Dad.

http://www.scienceandsensibility.org/?p=6859

Celebrate Fathers; Birth Professionals Play A Critical Role

03/09/2013

Eight years ago today I was laboring. It's likely I was working away on picking nettles for the winter, building a cabin, fixing a veggie-oil car, hauling water and/or cleaning a mess. Meanwhile in Everett, WA a momma with a huge beautiful smile that I had never seen was giving birth to a little cutey. That kiddo was starting his journey that would ultimately wind into my heart and home. My son was born today and I didn't know that until he was five and walking up to my door with a social worker. Never-the-less I am so thankful to the Momma and all of the other people who made it possible for him to be born and to find his way home. Happy birthday my beautiful child!