pals pages - PALS Doulas

PALS PAGES
A quarterly publication of
May
2008
Doula Spotlight: Jane Silver
CNA, CD, nursing student
By Brenda Sutherland-Field
Inside this issue:
Doula Spotlight
1&3
President‟s Message 4
Lines of Respect
8 & 10
ADT info & Registra- 5-6
tion
Calendar of Events
2
Announcements
7
• What inspired you to become a
doula?
The first birth I witnessed, I knew
immediately that I wanted to become a midwife. I was moved beyond words by the incredible position in our culture to be a part of
this most exquisite of human experiences. I straight away signed
up for the next doula training and
applied to nursing schools around
the country.
• How long have you practiced as a
doula and how many clients did/do
you take per month?
I have been practicing as a moderately full-time doula since I finished
my training at SMS in the fall of
2005. Since then I have attended
an average of 3 births per month
with the exception of my first two
quarters of nursing school... my
last birth was August 4th 2007! I'm
having significant withdrawal episodes.
What is your favorite part of supporting women/families in labor?
The body, mind and soul's transformation from the individual to the
family, from literally one human
being to two is one of the most
remarkable and inherently powerful
aspects of our universal human
nature. It is a very humbling and
equally empowering experience for me as
the witness to this transformation. I love
that I am in a position to have something
of myself to offer to a woman or a family
in this moment, in any way that I can. I
consider myself a very privileged person
to be a part of a birth.
• How long had you been a doula or how
many births had you attended when you
realized you were interested in pursuing
a medical career?
I became a doula because I knew I was
seeking to eventually become a midwife,
without having given birth myself; I
thought I would explore the birthing
world through my work as a doula to seal
the deal so-to-speak. Of course, my doula
work took on a very powerful role in my
life in and of itself, let alone confirming
my ambitions for a career in midwifery. I
know now that I will always be a doula,
and perhaps one day I will retire from my
life as a midwife, into the life solely as a
doula once again
Was there a specific event or moment in
your doula work that inspired you to
change paths?
My work with underserved, underrepresented or marginalized communities has
truly validated my aspirations to join the
nurse-midwifery world so as to bring
some semblance of justice to the many
moments of unjust attitudes and behaviors that so many women and families
face in this often volatile, harsh and oppressive, racist, political institution we
call our health care system in the United
States.
PALS PAPERS, PAGE 2
Calendar of Events
MAY:
5/21 Open Arms Meet the Director Event 5:30-7:00pm Northwest African American Museum
5/31 PALS Doulas ADT Doulas, MWs, RNs, in Adoption
June:
6/2 Diagnosis and Treatment of Postpartum Mood Disorders- Seattle Midwifery School
6/4 NAPS Board of Directors Meeting
6/7 Touch Techniques for Pregnant and Birthing Women– Seattle Midwifery School
6/10 PALS Doulas Board of Directors Meeting
6/23-25 & 27-29 Professional Education in Breastfeeding and Lactation– Seattle Midwifery School
6/21 PALS Doulas Mentored Pathway Orientation & Open Arms Birth Doula Services Orientation– PALS Doulas/
OA offices
July:
7/8 PALS Doulas Board of Directors Meeting
7/2 NAPS Board of Directors Meeting
7/17-20 DONA International Conference Vancouver, BC
August:
8/15-16 & 22-23 Postpartum Doula Training– Seattle Midwifery School
Name Change
Pacific Association for Labor Support is now PALS Doulas, as of the annual member meeting which took place in January. Members voted to change the name to PALS
Doulas to better reflect the purpose of the organization .
Keeping the word PALS reflects the history of the organization. Dropping the acronym and adding “Doulas” makes more apparent what the organization is, PALS Doulas
board members said.
“We found that some people were confusing us with labor unions, and nowhere in
our name or logo did the word „doula‟ appear,” said PALS Doulas Board of Director Carrie Kenner.
“Changing our name to reflect who we are is a big part of building a stronger
identity as an organization, and creating a bigger presence in the communities we
serve.”
Central to creating a stronger presence and identity, PALS Doulas is working on
strengthening and expanding current services such as the referral line, and developing
new services such as a childcare network for the children of doulas.
PALS Doulas also plans to focus more on community outreach, attending events
and job fairs to educate the public on what doulas do, as well as increase it‟s marketing
to recruit more members.
PALS Doulas, founded as the Pacific Association for Labor Support in 1988, is the
oldest doula support group in the United States.
PALS PAPERS

• Which aspects of your doula career do you feel helped prepare you for medical/nursing school?
My foundation as a doula has completely prepared me for nursing school and being immersed in the health care system in a
very poignant way. I feel that is very easy to become lost in the medicalized world and to even lose touch with the human
aspects of health management and care. Without my doula life to constantly remind me that my patients are actually people
who have rights and knowledge, and above all expertise about their experiences as a person and their body experiences especially, I feel that I could easily become the provider who I despise, the one who does not, in fact, see her or his patient
population in this empowering way, and therefore, in my opinion provides only a disservice to us as a person negating our
experiences with our health and our bodies.

• Were there any aspects of your doula work that have challenged you as you work toward becoming a medical professional?
Now in the real world of nursing practice, I find that I often do not have the time or ability to give the patients that I work
with the attention that they deserve. My responsibility lies largely in documentation of care and timely delivery of medications or procedures. This challenges my ideals of providing for the holistic health care experience for each patient. But in my
experiences as a nursing student this past year, I have made the time and the efforts to be the supportive healthcare professional that I hold in high regard, the one who does listen and hears the experiences and needs of the patient. This is the only
way to provide comprehensive and adequate care. And even still, I am faced with situations where there is still nothing I can
do to ease comforts and resolve complaints of the people I have cared for. I attribute this mainly to my limited role as the
nursing student, nearly the bottom of the ladder. But I know that I am an assertive, knowledgeable and professional person
who will learn to advocate more for those in my care. And this, I learned a great deal from my work and research as a doula.
• How have your colleagues and professors responded to your doula work? or What do you feel their perceptions and understanding of doulas may be?
I have been pleasantly surprised by my professors understanding—in particular—of my doula life. I have had clinical instructors suggest a beeper while we are working in the lab as cell phones do not tend to work in that area. I have had one professor allow me to take an exam early as I had an unexpected call to a labor. Most recently I applied for an amazing fellowship
opportunity and the recruiter referred to herself as the "doula for international research programs" and when I asked her if
she was indeed a doula, she said, "no, but I just really love the idea of a doula" (I should note that I was in fact selected to
receive the fellowship to work as a doula in Southeast Asia for two months this summer!) For the most part my colleagues,
my fellow nursing students, have less knowledge about what doulas are and what they do (other than the handful of students who happen to be doulas as well of course!) This has served to be a wonderful opportunity to educate and spread the
word about doulas. I absolutely love my fellow nursing student doulas; there are four of us out of 120 or so (including our
very own former PALS Doulas president, Shari Luchino!) On my first day of school last summer, in fact, one male student was
wearing a t-shirt that had a catchy phrase about doulas!
• Do you think doula work is a natural stepping off point into a medical career?
No, I feel that being a doula means already having a career. I do sincerely wish everyone in the healthcare field began as a
doula though! Being a doula brings clarity, light and invaluable perspective to anyone who chooses to follow another path to
support women and families in our birthing culture.
• Do you feel that doula work has or is becoming a viable career option for women and if so, do you think the medical world
will or does recognize doulas as non-medical professionals?
Absolutely in our local birthing culture in the Seattle area, but the doula movement has a ways to go nationwide. Perhaps
someday this will spread as our careers and our families take us to new places and new communities. As for doula work as a
viable profession, there is no reason why it shouldn't be, and of course for a few very constantly hard working doulas out
there I think it very much is a viable career. But again, we are currently in a privileged culture here in Seattle where our work
is respected and often expected, let alone simply accepted.
Jane Silver
PAGE 3
PALS PAPERS /PAGE 4
President’sMessage
Greetings doula sisters! And welcome to Spring. I think. The weather has been unusual and unpredictable,
hardly feeling like Spring most of the time. But we know, we expect, that a few things will happen. The sun
will return. The days will get longer. Warmth will fill our windows. As Spring unfolds, we watch the bulbs
swell and the buds emerge. We can see plants breaking through the ground. We expect to see growth, great
colors, full flowers soon.
It’s kind of like that with PALS Doulas. You hear about activity within the organization and expect to see
something great come of it. You may be eager to see a new program implemented, or have your pet peeve
addressed. The difference between the emergence of Spring and the emergence of programs at PALS is that
Spring has the energy of the universe behind it. And PALS Doulas has, well, the energy of some amazing,
but overworked, women behind it. I’d like to take this opportunity to let you know how much I appreciate
these women and ask you to join me in thanking them and acknowledging their hard work and dedication.
Andrea Nesheim is our Vice President, and is also our Business Workshop Program Lead. Andrea has been
a doula for over 10 years, and is a mom and a nursing student. Alissa Wehrman is our Certification Program Lead. She has been a doula for over 6 years, and is also a postpartum doula, breastfeeding educator
and specialist, and a mom. Jane Bush has been our Pathways to Births Team Coordinator but will be leaving the board next month to get married and attend medical school (go Jane!). Sharon Muza is our Communication Team Coordinator and Website Lead. Sharon has been a doula for over 5 years, is a mom, childbirth educator, and DONA approved doula trainer. Katie Bachand is our Mentored Pathway Coordinator,
has been involved in birth for over 20 years, and is a mom and henna artist. Debra Shelden is our Precepted
Pathway Coordinator. She has been a doula for 6 years, is a Happiest Baby on the Block educator, postpartum doula, and a mom. Rebecca Francis is our Community Outreach Program Lead. She was previously
the PALS Office Manager, has a young daughter, and is involved in community activism. Marcia Fischer is a
Board member at large, is a doula consumer, mom, and environmental specialist. Last but certainly not
least, is our new Treasurer, Shannon Harris. Shannon is a doula, mom, student, and angel of mercy for taking over our books. Leaving her role on the board to run our office is Brenda Sutherland-Field. Brenda is a
tremendous asset to us. She is a massage therapist, childbirth educator, mom (and new mom), and unofficial historian of PALS.
I ask you to appreciate these women for all they do to help PALS Doulas grow. Without them, nothing would
get done. Just as we are grateful for the sun returning each Spring, I am grateful for these women returning
each month. Please thank them when you get a chance, and put a Spring in their step!
In the doula spirit,
A NATURAL APOTHECARY
5424 Ballard Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 545-8892
www.dandelionbotanical.com
A friendly resource for you and your client.
sitz baths, tinctures, nursing teas,
essential oils, books, gifts and more.
Carrie Kenner, President PALS Doulas
PAGE 5
Doulas, Midwives, and Nurses in
Adoption:
How birth professionals can successfully support
birth mothers and adoptive parents
May 31, 2008
9:00am to 5:00pm
Seattle Midwifery School, Seattle, WA
$75 advance registration; $85 at the door (PALS
Doulas member price; non-members add $10)
Presentation Description:
In this training, you will learn and discuss the unique opportunities
that birth professionals have in working with adoption
professionals, birth moms, and adopting couples or individuals.
Participants will learn the current and accepted adoption
language, as well as current practices in adopting. Complicated
ethical, legal, and psycho-social issues will be explored as well.
You will be provided with resources to gain more knowledge about
adoption and how your gifts, skills, and talents can be a positive
contribution.
Through discussion and instruction, participants will leave with
suggested ways in which they can gain access, earn credibility,
and build relationships in the field of adoption.
Recommendations for further learning will be provided.
Instructor:
Yolanda Comparan has worked with families and professionals for
over 20 years. She is recognized as a local expert on domestic
and international adoption. She is trained as a clinician and
manager with a Master’s of Social Welfare, Master’s of
Organizational Management, and Certificate in Foster Care and
Adoption Therapy. She is the owner and operator of Adoption
Referral & Information Service www.adoptionreferralservice.com
Yolanda is a mom through adoption with a pre-teen and a teen,
both of which she can say she likes today.
Benefits for attendees:
• Become recognized as knowledgeable about adoption
• Value added when providing services to birth moms and adoptive
parents
• Learn how to maneuver the delicate relationships as an advocate
for birth mom within the intimacy of adoption
• Lean how to maneuver the delicate relationships when working
with adoptive parents
• Learn which professional relationships can benefit you in your
work as an adoption doula
• Gain knowledge about managing the delicate balance of the roles
of all professionals in infant adoption, international adoption, and
foster to adopt
To register, call PALS Doulas at 206-329-7257 or visit
www/pals-doulas.org/pals-calendar.html
Registration Form on Page 6
ADT REGISTRATION FORM
Doulas, Midwives, and Nurses in Adoption:
How birth professionals can successfully support birth mothers and adoptive parents
MAY 31, 2008
9:00am – 5:00pm
Seattle, WA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------Your name:
Your mailing address:
Your email address:
Your phone numbers:
Home:
Work:
Cell:
Other:
Are you a current PALS Doulas member?
Yes
No
Payment Enclosed:
Finally…
a shop for all your
DOULA,
pregnancy, childbirth,
and parenting needs.
2610 E Madison St.,
Seattle, WA 98112
206-324-4831
Bras, Breastpumps,
Slings/Carriers
PALS PAPERS
PAGE 6
Announcements
Please join us in welcoming our new Executive Director
Sheila Capestany
Join the Celebration!
Meet the Director Reception
Wednesday May 21st, 2008
5:30pm to 7:00pm
There will be a short program at 6:00pm
Northwest African American Museum
2300 South Massachusetts Street
Seattle Wa 98144
R.S.V.P. great appreciated
info@openarms.org
206.723.6868
refreshments will be served
PALS Doulas announces a new format for quarterly newsletter
Greetings PALS Doulas members and welcome to the first addition of the digital version of PALS Papers. Quite a change from our old paper newsletter but
better for the environment and more cost effective. The newsletter will be
posted to the Yahoo Group in the files section as a PDF. If you are not on the
Yahoo Group. The newsletter will also be emailed directly to you.
If you have questions, comments, want to put announcements, photos, poetry,
recipes, tricks of the trade, editorials, birth stories or advertisements in the
newsletter, send them to me at brendamsa@gmail.com
In the Doula Spirit~~
PALS PAPERS
PAGE 7
Lines of Respect
It’s Spring and along with the burgeoning garden, birdsong returned, sunlight pushing through the chinks in the
blinds, comes the urgent need to shake out the carpets, suck up the dust bunnies, and take a deep breath of sweet
fresh air. Renewed, reborn and awakening.
So am I, renewed and reborn. Awakened from the deep indolent meditation of pregnancy and thrust again into the
pitch and heave of mothering a new person. In molt, I shake and shimmy out of my old skin and into the new. It’s
bright out here. Hello and Welcome!
I’m catching a moment in which to think, write, and reflect on these past three months. I hope these wanderings
bring something to you.
My third daughter joined us February 10th at 1:35pm in our home. The journey to birth her was one that took many
turns even I did not see coming. Not surprising really, being that I am often very short sighted. This journey was
intensely internal, private, and spiritually revealing. The birth itself was far more physically challenging than my previous two and the work leading to the birth was emotionally and spiritually challenging. Some parts you know already; the story of my doula traveling across country to be with us for two weeks. The many doses of castor oil, the
acupuncture, the 11 days post-dates craziness that culminated in my being on the verge of second stage when my
doula had to leave to catch a plane home….while our amazing and truly wonderful back-up doula was with us to see
the birth to the end. Underneath that story is the real story, the one I was surprised by, the one to which the universe demanded I listen.
What did it take for me to let go, to become filled with juicy birth energy. What it took, was for me to be true with
myself and for myself, as well as with those around me. Not the current popular reality TV version of truth, there
was no “telling off” scene, no cloakroom confessional. I simply listened to what my gut was telling me; “you want
quiet, peacefulness, be in your bedroom, no lights, no pictures, no video this time. Trust the people with you to keep
you safe, be open to being as wild as it takes.” In other words I set my boundaries. Hopefully in a loving and respectful manner, but I set them.
As doulas we gently suggest to our clients that they find their boundaries and use them in their labor, birth, and babymoon period. But how many of us have sat down with ourselves and honestly, respectfully, lovingly, explored our
boundaries as doulas?
What are boundaries in doula work? Doesn’t my Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice define my boundaries? Yes,
they define one set but, what about the more ephemeral boundaries of personal, emotional, spiritual, even financial
involvement. We must set those ourselves. Perhaps you came into your doula work with a clear vision of exactly
what your doula/client relationships would look like and now it is getting muddy, or, maybe you’ve attended a few
births and realize you need a clearer picture. Boundaries will sharpen your focus, keep you safe, and can even help
maintain your business. The doula that has few boundaries is the doula that burns out quickly filled with unhappiness
and discontent.
The nature of doula work is giving. We give our physical strength to fully support our clients in the many positions of
labor and birth, we give our emotional strength to our clients when their own emotional well is drained, we give our
mental strength to our clients as the guardians of their hopes and as witness to that which comes to pass, we give
our spiritual/energetic strength as one who holds the space sacred for this rite of passage, and we even give our financial strength by paying for gas to drive to and from meetings and births, by making gifts of pictures taken, baby
clothes, writing the birth stories perhaps, even paying for childcare for our children. Doulas do amazing things for
their clients. But a doula who doesn’t clearly define her boundaries of time/energy/money is a doula that can quickly
become disillusioned and burnt out.
Because we are sharing in one of the most intimate of life experiences, it can be easy to blur the lines
between client and doula. While we learned the importance of setting boundaries in our Doula Training
we may not have fully understood how to identify and set them. You may need to explore where your
current boundaries are and adjust them if you feel drained and exhausted after just meeting with clients,
if you feel a longing to make your doula clients your personal friends, if you begin to feel resentful about
your time and efforts for your clients, feeling as though they don’t value or respect you enough, if you
find your doula work is causing strife in your home life, if your gut is telling you that something is a bit
off, perhaps the answer is to explore your boundaries.
PAGE 8
Enjoy belly painting and a photo shoot of the finished artwork. Your
photography is mailed to you on a disc within 2 business days.
PALS PAPERS
PAGE 9
Lines of Respect
(continued from page 8)
To begin to identify and create boundaries you will need to dive into yourself. Take some time and a deep breath of
springtime air and explore. You may want to write your thoughts in a journal, make art representing your boundaries,
or create a document that defines your specific style of practice.
Here are a few questions to help you think about boundaries and how to set them.
How many times should I call a client prenatally and postpartum to check in with them?When, why, and how often should my client contact me?
Give clients specific information about times of day to call with non-urgent needs vs. urgent needs. Remember to
be clear about just what urgent means as defined by your role as her birth doula. When you are clear in your
expectations of how your client/doula communication should look your clients may feel more at ease and
more confident about your role.
When I meet with my client, do I clearly state what my role, as I see it, will be prenatally, during the birth, and in
the early postpartum period?
Be clear with yourself first. If you are a doula who holds other licenses and certifications be sure you are clear
with yourself about what “hat” you are wearing and where you are speaking from in all aspects of client contact. It is easy to blur lines between being someone’s birth doula and their massage therapist, acupuncturist,
yoga instructor, childbirth educator…etc. Even if you only do birth doula work, lines can be easily blurred by
our desires and motivations. Be sure you understand that your values around birth, postpartum, and parenting should take a backseat to your client’s values. Make sure your client knows her values and desires are
important to you as your support her.
Do I listen to my client and understand what she expects my role to be in supporting her?
Be on the same page with your client. Ask the questions in your prenatal meeting so that you understand what
kind of birth experience your client desires. If you feel a disconnect between what you hear and what your
clients say, ask if you can explore that with your clients through conversation or even through art.
Am I using clients’ birth experiences to work through my own issues?
Perhaps you are in a doula slump and it seems as if many of your clients are having “bad” birth experiences. Take
some time to remember that you cannot control outcomes; you are not the reason someone does or does not
have a highly interventive birth or a straight forward birth. If you seem to be drawing clients to you who want
experiences that make your hackles rise, remember your desires are not what it is important. Let go and
breathe, be in the moment with your clients, experience events as they unfold and be open to helping your
clients navigate those experiences in a way that honors and respects them. It is their story.
You probably have, or will encounter situations in which your clients are treated in a way that is shocking and
hard to watch or hear. These are the most trying moments for doulas. Times when we may wish to scream in our
outrage. In those moments, you may find it hard to stay present and supportive. It can be helpful to notice how
you are feeling in your body, what is your breathing doing? Your heart rate? Does your stomach feel twisted or
fluttery? Are you hot or cold? Do you feel sad, angry, overwhelmed…etc. Just be with yourself, in your body. Be
in the moment. By staying grounded and centered you can then find they way to compassionately support your
clients through this trying moment.
Those techniques can be done even as you are physically supporting your clients as a quick self-check. Another
good way to help you create and maintain good boundaries is through support or even oversight by an experenced doula. PALS Doulas Member Support Meetings and the PALS Doulas Yahoo Group are great ways to meet
up with other doulas. Simply having another doula to debrief with after births can give you perspective, closure,
and much needed support. If you find yourself needing more, finding an experienced doula with whom you can
debrief can be a welcome source of comfort and guidance.
Doulas do amazing things, you are amazing. Give yourself the gift of time, space, and self-care, create your
boundaries. May is International Doula Month, CELEBRATE.
Although there is not currently a book that explores boundaries and ethics in doula work, there are
a few that were written for massage therapists and bodyworkers that I have found useful. They are
also good reads.
The Educated Heart: Professional Boundaries for Massage Therapists, Bodyworkers, and Movement
Teachers by Nina McIntosh
The Ethics of Touch: The Hands-on Practitioners Guide to Creating a Professional, Safe, and Enduring Practice by Cherie M. Sohnen-Moe and Ben E. Benjamin
PAGE 10
We still have many open positions on teams and the board. If
you are interested in helping bring health insurance to our
members, organized childcare, third-party reimbursement
(aka: insurance paying for doula services), marketing, implement our business workshops, community outreach and more…
Come sit in on our Board of Directors Meetings
Every Second Tuesday of the Month (except August we take
that month off). Meetings are open to anyone, informal, and
often raucous. Bring food to share or just for you and come
learn how to support the organization that supports you!
Our newest addition to the Sutherland-Field house:
Adeline Louise aka Addylou hanging out with her big
sisters, Maren and Sarah
Maternity
Acupuncture
Associates
9 years experience in
pregnancy, labor & post-partum care
Has your address, your email, your home or cell
phone changed? Call, email, or write to the PALS
Doulas office and let us know.
info@pals-doulas.org
206-329-7257
Nausea & Hyperemisis
Premature Contractions
Pregnancy Induced Hypertension
Breech
Labor Preparation/Stalled Labor
Stress, Anxiety, Depression
Lactation Difficulties
Digestive Concerns
Fatigue & Insomnia
Susan Moore,L.Ac.
206-789-8843
Ballard & Madison
Eva Pannabecker,L.Ac.
206-789-5448
Ballard
gentle compassionate care
non-needle techniques available
PALS PAPERS
PAGE 11
2524 16th Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98144
206-329-PALS
PALS Board of Directors 2007
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer & Bookkeeper
Continuing Education
Certification
Newsletter Editor
Website Team Lead
Mentored Pathway Lead
Precepted Pathway Lead
Office Staff/Membership Coord.
Referral Coordinators
King County
Carrie Kenner 206-725-7758
Andrea Neshiem 206-935-0395
Shannon Harris
Alissa Wehrman 206-328-9223
Brenda SutherlandField 206-439-2900
Sharon Muza 206-297-6950
Katie Bachand 253-630-5913
Debra Sheldon
Brenda SutherlandField 206-329-7257
The PALS Papers
needs your articles,
letters, poems,
birth stories, ads,
etc.
Send your contributions for
the newsletter to:
Brenda Sutherland-Field
sutherfield@msn.com
Molly Kirkpatrick 206-325-1419
The views expressed in the
PALS Papers are not
necessarily those of the
Pacific Association
for Labor Support.
Opinions belong to the
individual authors.