Meet the Doulas Q&A
Curious about what to expect in labor and delivery?
Interested to know how a doula can support you in birth or postpartum in-person or remotely?
On Thursday evenings, members of the MDDC community hold live Q&A sessions to answer these questions and more.
RSVP to join us on Zoom from 7-8pm
Birth & Postpartum Doulas
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Board President Teri Nava-Anderson, PhD, CD/PCD, ICCE, CLE |
| Teri is a certified Birth and Postpartum Doula, Doula Trainer and Mentor, VBAC Specialist, Childbirth and Lactation Educator, certified Professional Aromatherapist, and Placenta Encapsulation Specialist. She is an experienced practitioner and teaches on subjects such as acupressure and rebozo use from labor, mindfulness, self-hypnosis, guided meditation, aromatherapy safety, and helping doulas to assist trauma survivors and LGBTQIA parents. She has been helping families achieve their best birth since 2008.
Births attended at: Home, Birth Center, Hospital, and Virtual Support Postpartum Hours (Days or Nights): Days |
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Membership Director Leah Giles |
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Leah is a Birth and Postpartum Doula. She is passionate about helping woman feel comforted, supported and safe. Offering compassionate care during delivery and/or easing into your new family life at home. Births attended at: Home, Birth Center, Hospital, and Virtual Support Postpartum Hours (Days or Nights): Days |
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Board Treasurer Kim Hunter, PCD(DONA), IBCLC |
Kim is a certified postpartum doula, and board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC). She is passionate about helping families easily and successfully navigate through their postpartum journeys and meet their lactation goals. Postpartum Hours (Days or Nights): Nights |
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Beth Hammond, CD, CPPD, BA |
| Specializing in overnight care for newborns. Beth has been nurturing new families for over 20 years. She helps families adjust to life with their new baby or babies and offers a wide range of education and support services, including breastfeeding education, fussy baby and sleep issues, newborn care and development education. Beth nurtures the entire family, allowing mom time to heal and bond helping all family members bond with their newest family member. Excellent references available. Trustline registered. Multiples a specialty. Postpartum Hours (Days or Nights): Nights |
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Susan Jessee, CD/PCD, CBE (AAHCC) |
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Susan is a certified Childbirth Educator, Birth and Postpartum Doula. She have been attending hospital and homebirths since 2002. Encouraging a mother and her partner to listen to and trust her own body as she gives birth is her passion. Postpartum Hours (Days or Nights): Nights |
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Andrea Berkey, CPD |
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Andrea has been supporting postpartum families since 2006, helping them to feel confident in their choices, empowering them through care, encouragement, and education. She is a postpartum mental and emotional health advocate, an infant sleep specialist, and is certified through Cornerstone. Postpartum Hours (Days or Nights): Days |
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Rebecca Duncan |
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Rebecca is a birth and postpartum doula who specializes in LGBT, lactation support, sleep support, baby signs, and babywearing. Postpartum Hours (Days or Nights): Days or Nights |
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Kat Bassa |
| Kat is certified as a Birth Doula (DONA International), a childbirth educator (ICEA), and Perinatal Mental Health (PSI) and has additional training in trauma-informed care and Evidence-Based Birth Practices. She is a strong advocate for the rights of birthing people, and firmly believes that each birthing person deserves to know and understand their options, and choose for themselves what is best for them and their baby. Kat believes that evidence-based childbirth education is the foundation of a positive birthing experience and envisions a world where everyone giving birth has access to the tools and information they need to choose what is best for them. She provides an optimistic and grounding presence in the birth room. Births attended at: Home, Birth Center, Hospital, and Virtual Support |
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Heather Morgan |
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Heather is a Cornerstone Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula with a background as a Certified Massage Therapist with The National Holistic Institute. She believes in the innate wisdom of all birthing people and is humbled to serve, support, and offer guidance to those on their journey through pregnancy and birth. Births attended at: Home, Birth Center, Hospital, and Virtual Support Postpartum Hours (Days or Nights): Days or Nights |
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Pamela Star, CBD |
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Star has been supporting birth since 2005 and is certified through Harmony Doula Mentoring. She wants to help birthing parents and their partners have more positive birth experiences. She's learned that parents usually look back on their birth positively when they feel supported (physically and emotionally), respected, and included in any decision-making after being well-informed (to their own standards). Births attended at: Home, Birth Center, and Hospital |
Our Mission Statement
The Mt. Diablo Doula Community (MDDC) is a business association, founded and funded by independent professional doulas. As an organization, the MDDC participates in advertising, community education, professional development opportunities, networking and charitable events. MDDC members endeavor to educate and serve individuals and families during the childbearing years. The MDDC encourages community service and involvement whenever possible.The MDDC member exemplifies integrity, honors the Doula profession, strives to build confidence in a complete and cooperative Birth Team, and perpetuates camaraderie within the Doula community. MDDC doulas treat their fellow Doulas, Clients and Care-Providers with respect and professionalism. They support their fellow Doulas with active listening, offering back-up support, and sharing resources.
What does a birth doula do?
Labor Doula assists people and their birthing team before, during and after birth by providing emotional, physical, and informational support. It is within the Labor Doula's Scope of Practice to assist their client [and partner(s)] in preparing for birth by providing evidence-based information relating to pregnancy, labor and birth (including birth options and resources), and the early postpartum period. During labor and birth, the Labor Doula facilitates communications between the client, birthing team and the caregivers.
It is not within a doula's Scope of Practice to perform any medical or clinical procedures such as vaginal checks, listening to fetal heart tones, prescribing or administering herbs, or making medical diagnoses or recommendations.
MDDC Labor Doulas have received formal doula training. Those who are also health care professionals may provide services within the scope and standard of their professions but only after making it clear that they are not functioning as a Labor Doula. For needs beyond the scope of the Labor Doula's expertise, referrals are made to the appropriate resources.
During the postpartum period, Labor Doulas assist their clients in processing the birth experience, answering questions about newborn care, lactation and feeding support, and referring the family to appropriate resources as needed.
A Doula's Presence at Birth:
* Tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications* Reduces negative feelings about one's childbirth experience
* Reduces need for Pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction
* Significantly decreases likelihood of cesarean section
* Reduces requests for pain medication and/or epidurals
* Reduces feelings of loss of control during labor
What does a postpartum doula do?
Postpartum doulas help families adjust to life with your new baby, so they can best care for and enjoy this new family member. The postpartum doula's tasks can change from day to day, depending on the needs of the family. They share best practices about baby care with parents, as well as helping siblings and partners to learn their new role and provide caregiving to the parent who is recoverying physically and emotionally from pregnancy and labor. They assist with lactation and feeding education. The postpartum person is the primary client of the doula, who ensures they are fed, well-hydrated, and is comfortable.
A postpartum doula:
MDDC Postpartum Doulas have received formal doula training. It is within the Postpartum Doulas Scope of Practice to provide evidence-based information and educational resources. Referrals to appropriate studies, books, and care providers are within the Postpartum Doula's scope. The Postpartum Doula will determine ahead of time what duties they feel comfortable performing for the postpartum family and will share this information with the family prior to accepting a position with them.
It is not within the Scope of Practice of a Postpartum Doula to perform clinical/medical tasks, give diagnosis, or make medical recommendations. For needs beyond the scope of the Postpartum Doula's expertise, referrals are made to the appropriate resources. Postpartum Doulas are not childcare providers. Any primary childcare should be temporary in nature. If you are seeking childcare for your infant, you may be looking more for a nanny or a newborn care specialist.
Parents who receive support can:
* Feel more secure and cared for* Be more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
* Have greater success with breastfeeding
* Have greater self confidence
* Have less postpartum depression
* Have lower incidence of abuse
Standards of Practice
Advocacy
MDDC Members demonstrate integrity in their personal and professional conduct. MDDC Members provide evidence-based information so their clients can make well informed decisions. MDDC Members understand they don't speak or make decision for their clients. MDDC Members make every effort to encourage their clients to assume responsibility for their decisions. MDDC Members support their clients by advocating for the client's own choices and encouraging an open dialog with the client's caregiver regarding choices, risks, benefits, alternatives, and protocols. MDDC Members are responsible TO our clients but not FOR our clients.
Professional Conduct
MDDC Members treat colleagues in an ethical, professional and respectful manner. In addition, MDDC Members help one another honor commitments by providing back-up and resources whenever possible. Our members uphold and advance the values, ethics, knowledge and mission of the doula profession. MDDC is made up of several small business owners and sole-proprietors that create a friendly and warm environment led by a leadership board that meets monthly. MDDC Members pursue continuing education to further their knowledge in their profession. MDDC Members respect the privacy of clients and hold in confidence all information obtained/shared in the course of professional service. MDDC Members attend at least one MDDC meeting quarterly, uphold the Mission and Scope of Practice, and pay dues annually.
Labor (Birth) Doula
It is within the Labor Doula's standards of practice to provide resources relating to pregnancy, labor and birth, and the early postpartum period. It is not within a doula's standards of practice to perform any medical or clinical procedures such as vaginal checks, listening to fetal heart tones or making medical diagnoses. Referrals to appropriate studies and published books are within the Labor Doula's scope.
MDDC Labor Doulas who are also health care professionals may provide services within the scope and standard of their professions but only after making it clear that they are not functioning as a Labor Doula. For needs beyond the scope of the Labor Doula's expertise, referrals are made to the appropriate resources.
The Labor Doula's role is to assist their client [and partner(s)] in preparing for birth, and to provide information about birth options and resources, and to provide emotional support.
During labor and birth, the Labor Doula facilitates communications between the client, birthing team and the caregivers and provides physical, emotional and informational support.
During the postpartum period, the Labor Doula assists in processing the birth experience, answering questions about newborn care, lactation and newborn feeding, and referring the family to appropriate resources as needed.
Postpartum Doula
The Postpartum Doula provides informational and educational information and referrals to the family. Like a labor doula, the postpartum doula does not perform clinical/medical tasks. If there are tasks or chores beyond doula support that the Postpartum Doulas are comfortable providing, such as meal service or house cleaning, these will typically be outlined in their contract.