by Amy Chen Doulas are birth support workers who provide social, emotional, and physical support for pregnant, postpartum, or post-pregnancy clients. Research demonstrates that doula support leads to improved health outcomes for maternal and infant health. In particular, doulas – especially doulas trained from an anti-racist, inclusive context like BADT – can help reduce the impacts of racism and racial bias in health care for pregnant people of color by providing individually tailored, culturally appropriate, and client-centered care and advocacy.  It is for these reasons that in recent ..read more

As a doula training organization, we care deeply about doulas’ access to high-quality, relevant training. This starts with foundational trainings, such as our Full Spectrum Doula Training, which we offer two times per year, but it does not stop there. BADT is honored to have held a range of continuing education courses that allow doulas to expand their toolboxes and tend to their communities in responsive ways. While we don’t currently require certified doulas to take a certain number of continuing education (CE) hours, we do highly encourage ongoing learning, whether it is through BADT or wi ..read more

by Whitney Buckendorf Note: This ^ signs in this article indicate footnotes, which can be found at the end of the piece. In my years as a doula, the biggest lesson I have learned is that the potent magic of doula work is born when we are in deep community and relationship with our clients. Research shows that the continuous presence of a doula, even if absent of any care or comfort measures, drives down cesarean rates, improves memories of birth, and ends with improved outcomes.^1 Think about that again: the sheer presence of an informed human in space with you, loyal to you, your preferences ..read more

by Whit Williams-Black I had not thought much about who I wanted around me as we began dreaming of our family. I knew enough to know that boundaries with in-laws had to be drawn; privacy was important. That said, I didn’t know that I would feel awkward telling my friends that I wasn’t drinking anymore. I had not thought about how I would tell them, what I would say, or how it would feel. Of all people, as a fertility doula, I wasn’t ashamed or nervous, but, at the same time, it didn’t feel natural to spark that conversation. As a matter of fact, when I was at a conference of Black Queer paren ..read more

Today, we’d like to zoom in on abortion topics, in particular. In light of the upcoming November elections, and in anticipation of our next cohort of our US-based Abortion Doula Course, we are staying engaged in abortion-related news ..read more

by Davina Williams Preface: Print your free HD chart and have it with you as you read along (not required but you may find it useful!). You can print your free chart a few places online, but here are some options to start: a) Jovian Archives, b) My Human Design. What is Human Design? Human Design, or HD, became widely known in 1987, so it is still a “young child”, but it combines components of ancient systems such as the Hindi Chakra System (HD centers), the Tree of Life (HD channels) from the Kabbalah, astrology (planetary alignments), and the Chinese I’Ching Wheel (HD 64 gates), and pieces ..read more

by Court Harris There are lots of different ways to practice birth work, from solo practice to collectives to partnerships and then some. In my four and a half years of being a full-spectrum companion, I have primarily taken birth clients as a solo companion. However, this year, I have shifted to codoula support, and I’m excited to share why I’m opting for this model and how it works for me and my community.  Why I Use the Codoula Model Birth work requires dynamic, expansive care, and the truth is, this takes a lot of time, energy, and resources. I care deeply about doing this work in wa ..read more

by Mel Graham When most people begin their journey into birth work, often a moment in their lives radicalizes them. Whether it be their own birthing and/or parenting journey, a family member’s journey, or a story of someone that they heard on the news or through word of mouth. Activism is the effort to promote, impede, direct, or intervene in social, political, economic, or environmental reform to make changes in society toward a perceived greater good. Birth workers, whatever the event was to spark your interest and desire for this work, it was likely through the lens of activism. The Realit ..read more

At Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings we are committed to offering full spectrum education. We believe it is imperative for doulas to have a wide range of skills and, moreover, a broad, anti-oppression-focused knowledge base. In order words, we want doulas to know a lot about a lot of topics. Now, before you get ahead of yourself, this doesn’t mean you have to be an expert on every reproductive health topic. But it does mean that you take an intersectional approach to your work and that you remain open to learning and unlearning as you deepen your practice. But What if I am Only Going to Be a ..read more

As an organization dedicated to justice and liberation, we follow news and policy related to Reproductive Justice. This is essential to the ways we adapt, respond, and create. BADT aims to be in emergent processes. That said, these are some of the updates we’ve been tracking: Abortion Pills: Per our post in March, so far nothing has changed. That said, there are continued attacks on access to medication abortion pills. Anti-abortion advocates, The Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine are challenging the FDA's approval of Mifepristone, one of the two medications that are most commonly used for ..read more