Maximizing the Power of your Breath in Labor

By Meredith Ashton Cohen I approached my first birth excited and engaged in the process and largely “muscled” my way through labor. I said to myself, “I am doing this!” and while my body progressed naturally (without intervention), I forced it along with gumption and energy to “make it happen.” My breathing was a series…

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World Doula Week

By Dezarae Weyburn The term “doula” is a relatively new one. Although the Greeks used the term “doula” to mean a female slave, or handmaid, it wasn’t until 1969 that the term was first applied to birth work. In the half-century that followed, doulas went from completely unknown to a household name. With the formation…

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The UDA’s New Program to Fulfill Its Mission

By: Angie Rosier, UDA President As the doula profession grows and more doulas are trained, the public becomes increasingly aware of what doulas are and what they do. The position of a doula is now often recognized as an important and integral part of a birth team. Through the professional services offered by many outstanding…

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