By Lori Mork

Some call it a mission statement, but I call it a way I want to act or BE as a Doula. 

It’s the ‘space’ in which I want to help protect and provide a true birth experience for my clients. Or my vision of what I think it should be. 

This blog will act as my reminder to create that bubble of preparation, support, and protection, and provide a truly authentic birthing experience for my clients. 

I have compiled this blog/mission statement with advice from the late Jessica Austin (possibly some of her wording from a past blog of hers, this isn’t plagiarism, I am giving credit!), my mentor Morag Hastings, some teachings of Gloria Lemay.

I have also carefully crafted this from my own gut and instinct, something I also tell my clients to always come back to when hiring a doula, and when birthing their baby. 

(Side note: I am using the term ‘her’ throughout the document. Please don’t send me hate mail for improper pronoun use. I use terms like her, she, woman, etc. and I’m sticking with that consistency). 

This is MY POWER OF 10 THINGS TO ALWAYS WANT TO ALWAYS HOLD TRUE AS A DOULA. 

PREPARATION – Ensure I give all of the wisdom and knowledge to clients. Pros, cons, benefits, risks, alternatives and the reality that they can sometimes do nothing at all. Allow them to use their power to learn, and make their own decisions every step of the way. When providing this info I will aim to do so in an unbiased, non-judgmental way. I will put aside my own experiences, my own feelings, and the other birth stories I have helped with. 

MAGIC – Ensure the room or space where the birth happens has an aura of magic and of awe. A space that glows and oozes positivity, love, and strength. In a time when birth seems to be all MEDICAL, I am aiming to help to make it more MAGICAL (as it should be!)

UNIQUENESS – Treat each and every birth as if it’s the first and also the last one I have attended. Remember you only get one first baby, and one first birth. 

TRUST – Bring a force of energy that allows the birthing person to have trust in their own superpowers. Trust they are fully capable to do this without external help or “fixing”.  Trust her body even when tempted to be medicated, probed, or “helped”. Remind her that babies are good at being born and the best way to allow this is to “trust yourself, your body, your biology.”   

PROTECTION AND SUPPORT– Ensure my client is undisturbed and able to use her body to birth this baby like it knows how. Create her BUBBLE to only be touched with her approval or allow people to enter without force. Protect her from constantly being reminded of “options” and instead of that “you can do this and that your body works, biology works.” Allow the space for her to bond with her baby after and receive that natural oxytocin. Remind everyone to have patience and give time to allow your baby to arrive and not be interfered with. Protect the space for the placenta to be delivered how my client wants it to be. Keep the bubble post-delivery to continue to be a safe and love filled environment. Bring all of my energy to her when she gets tired, I will continue to give mother and baby my strength.  

SILENCE – I will be quiet and silent, not staring at my clients. Speaking when they need me to.

ENCOURAGEMENT – Help my client to trust in the process and know they are the BOSS OF THEIR BIRTH, and they get to make choices and decisions. When anxiety creeps in, encourage her that this is normal. Not to run from the fear, not to try to subside it – “Your fears are just a sign of what you are committed to.” (Gloria Lemay) Encourages her to be in her body, focused on her breath, and her baby. 

PARTNER – Give all of the above also to the partner or support person. Help them to be fully present, without fear, and to bond with the birthing person and baby. 

RELEASE – Be present in each and every birth, but then allow myself to release the energy of it afterwards. Not my baby, not my birth, not my family. Protect my own self and be able to move on to the next birth with clear and focused energy…. As it is another FIRST BIRTH.

When I am tired, questioning the industry, and questioning my “why”, I will reread all of the above. 

Birth work can be exhausting (it has a very high burnout rate), but if we remember our WHY, our passion for this, it will be a force that allows us to continue to make a difference. If you are a fellow Doula, I invite you to write your why, your mission statement, or your reminder.  

Happy Birthing!

Lori