Have you ever considered becoming a Postpartum Doula? AJ Hadfield, our friend, Postpartum Doula and Doula Trainer has written a guest blog post explaining her love for her job. We have a Postpartum Doula Training happening here at Mothering Touch with AJ in June.
My name is AJ Hadfield and I am a postpartum doula. I have been fortunate enough to do this work for the past 13 years. When I first started, I had a vague idea of helping mothers and snuggling babies. I didn’t understand how much my clients would teach me and how being a postpartum doula would shape and define the second half of my life. Why do I doula?
- Because I understand now that good support at the right time can make all the difference for a new family
- Because helping couples adjust to parenthood is important, valuable work
- Because being around new babies all the time is the best!
- Because watching people become parents is about the best thing in the world
- Because I am constantly humbled by the power and strength of new mothers
- Because I recognize the value in giving a parent permission to take a breather
- Because I get to watch a big brother meet his baby sister for the first time
- Because I recognize that guiding a new mother on her breastfeeding journey is never the same experience twice
- Because being part of a family’s postpartum journey is a privilege
- Because sometimes a mother needs someone by her side to say it’s OK when she’s making the hard choices
- Because sometimes a new dad needs someone he can cry with, who won’t be sitting across from him at Thanksgiving.
- Because sometimes, in my small way, I know I have made a difference
- Because it always makes me smile to get a text with a picture of a poopy diaper and the question ‘is this normal’?
- Because I know helping to normalize what is overwhelming to new families is important and,
- Because I know that celebrating what is trivial to most people is also important
- Because watching a baby latch on and suckle for the first time never gets old
- Because I know that sometimes, my training and observant eye can help a mama get the support she needs when she needs it most
- Because helping a parent figure out the intricacies of their baby wrap is always fun
- Because even on the hard days, when I question whether I’ve supported in the best way I can, I still can’t wait for tomorrow and the chance to do it all over again, and
- Because I love getting the email two years later, asking what I’m doing in 9 months and knowing I get to be with this family all over again
I am a postpartum doula – I love what I do.
If you have questions or are interested in registering for the Postpartum Doula Training happening June 1st to June 4th, 2018 go here or give us a call!
This workshop is intended for: Doulas, midwives, doctors working with childbearing women, nurses working with childbearing women, psychologists and other mental health professionals, perinatal social workers, anyone who works with trauma, sexual assault, and domestic violence shelters, any other professional servicing childbearing women. It is the prerequisite for the Advanced Counselling Skills Workshop which takes place on the next day.
