Day 21: Your Friendly Certificaton Packet Reviewer

Some doulas strive to venture into the world of birth as no-frills and intervention-free as it can happen. Other doulas, like Julia, offer their experience and knowledge to help families considered "high-risk." Julia and I agree -- we need both kinds! Julia also is passionate about mentoring doulas through the certification process, so virtually and on the phone she is able to provide support, feedback, and heart to help grow new doulas. If this is something you are curious about, contact your certifying organization and ask how you can help as a volunteer, ultimately helping your fellow doulas. 

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Around a year ago, I was hit by a drunk driver.  While I recovered, I was unable to do what I loved most, parent.  But secondarily, unable to also do the work I loved, doulaing!  So, I decided there was one thing I could do, help doulas who were certifying.  So, from my bed, I sent out my resume and letter of intent to become a volunteer certification packet reviewer for DONA, and so began a journey that has taken me on a fantastic ride with a organization I’m proud to be a of.

When I certified, I felt overwhelmed by the process, it felt daunting, and the organization felt large, with seemingly nowhere to turn… and so as soon as I was approved to be a reviewer, my goal became clear, and the doulas spoke this to me… I needed to help make certifying accessible, smooth, straightforward and personable for every doula. So, I set my sights on doing just that.

This year, as a reviewer, I started the “Tips from your Friendly Certification Packet Reviewer,” a Monday post on the DONA Facebook Boards where I bring frequent “bump in the road” items I come up against in the packets I review.  Some of the tips I’ve covered include:
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• Fill out and Check every box!  Each one is important, and gives us reviewers more information as we read through your packet!  If we are reading an essay and a fact is missing, I go back to the progression sheet and can find it if you’ve checked the right box!  So, check them!
• Please take your time and make a complete and useful resource list!  This isn’t busy work!  Please make this something you can immediately hand out to clients.  It should include several contact methods per resource (an email/phone/website) and hopefully some details (Eg: XYZ midwife, city, phone #, website, births at xyz center and hospital, very experienced with Hypnobirthing Clients)
• Please consider the birth essay as a professional essay.  Writing the essay as a story to the baby isn’t really what we are looking for.  We like to see the facts in a straight-forward organized manner.  Remember, we are volunteers, keep the word count in mind, the total page count for the essays really should be around 1-2 pages TOTAL per birth.

The conversations that have emerged from the posts have been insightful, and I’ve started to see cleaner, more organized packets since these posts.  As a result of having cleaner packets, I’m able to really sit back and relish the best parts of the packets, the birth stories.  One of the best parts of packet reviewing is that I’m basically part of a doula birth story sharing circle every single day.  I get to read how doulas experience birth, their tips and tricks from all over the world, and glean their knowledge.  And let me tell you something, as someone who is “seasoned,” I’m learning from them every single day.   I’ve certified close to 200 doulas in the past year, and every birth story I learn something.  

Just today, I called a doula to let her know I had her packet to review.  She told me that she had an acting background and how it played into her doula career.  I couldn’t quite picture how, and she explained that if she had to meet a client for the first time in birth, she needed to improv into the role, and read the room immediately.  GENIUS.  In another birth story, a client was having a hard time focusing because of the people in the room, but still wanted them there. The doula pulled out an eye mask for the client to wear, and it worked like a charm.  GENIUS.  This is what I get to be a part of.  

I’m proud to play a small part in the big world that is DONA, and to hopefully continue to show that certification can be a straightforward, personable, welcoming experience.  If you are certifying, or mid-process, please feel free to reach out to me if you have questions that I can assist you with!  I would love to help you along the way!

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Julia has been a practicing Birth Doula since 2013.  Her passion is supporting families prenatally.  Her main goal is to make sure that each birthing client (and partner) feels that they are well prepared for birth. Julia specializes in high-risk births and families expecting twins or triplets. She is confident and knowledgeable when it comes to navigating the medical system and helping families feel informed and empowered to participate and lead their own birth story. She has written a twins-doula curriculum that she has subsequently taught to doulas around the country.

She is currently certifying as a Childbirth Educator as well in addition to her work as a birth, fertility, postpartum and bereavement doula.  In her free time, she volunteers on the Birth Doula Certification Committee for DONA International.  

You can learn more about Julia on her website at www.northwestbirthservices.com, on her Co-Op page, www.doitalldoulas.com/julia/ or by emailing her at [email protected]!

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