The Virginia Doulas Association is forming!
The Virginia Doulas Association is something I have been contemplating for awhile now. It has occured to me that the Commonwealth has no professional organization for doulas. We have Birth Matters Virginia, which is a wonderful organization seeking to improve birth for mothers and babies. We also have the Commonwealth Midwives Alliance for the midwives of Virginia. My observation is that there are many politics surrounding birth everywhere, but especially in Virginia, with the recent licensure of CPMs in 2006. It is a sad reality that the birth community is divided. And it is mothers and babies that are affected most profoundly by this division and the inability to work together.
My vision is "working together for better birth." Working together with each other, working together with clients, working together with midwives, working together with doctors and nurses. Doulas are in a unique position to build bridges. As a nurse and a doula, this has been a hallmark of my practice.
I would like VDA to transcend politics and serve as a support system for doulas, raise awareness and the professional identity of doulas throughout the state, and build bridges with all maternity care providers without polarizing anyone or taking sides. An integrative model of working together for better birth with mothers and babies at the center.
All doulas are welcome. Certified, not certified, lay doulas, doulas in training, and every kind of doula in between. VDA is here to unite, not divide.
For those interested in learning more about who I am, please visit my website http://www.birthways.com/
This blog will serve as a place for Virginia doulas to connect and become involved in the beginning stages of this organization.
Friday, March 6, 2009
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