Honoring Our Doulas
Posted on Monday, December 14th, 2009 · Permanent link to the post
Doulas are some of the most thoughtful and caring people to be found. They provide an atmosphere in which couples can flourish and learn about pregnancy health, childbirth options, postpartum recovery care, and newborn care and breastfeeding. They support women during high-risk pregnancies, provide assistance during childbirth, and help new parents adjust to parenthood, all while helping mom to care for herself. Often they receive a “thank-you” from their clients, or “I couldn’t have done it without you”. But how often do we, within the profession, acknowledge the dedication of our sister (and even brother) doulas?
The Doula Association of Southern California, or DASC, has been recognizing the valuable contributions of their more than 200 members. This year on November 1st, 2009, during their Annual Awards Banquet (now in its sixth year), three particular doulas that we know were honored for their extraordinary doula work within the field. Rena’ Koerner Ward received the 2009 Labor Doula of the Year award, Darla Burns received the 2009 Mentor of the Year award, and Ana Markel received Most Inspiring Doula (2009). For more than ten years, DASC has been bringing doulas together through networking and support programs. Quoting their website, “DASC is a non-profit professional community of doulas which recognizes the profundity of birth on the human experience and society at large, while respecting the individual needs of childbearing families. We provide a supportive forum for maintaining professional standards, continuing the education of birth and postpartum doulas, and informing the public of the benefits of doula care.”
In addition to being doulas, these women provide an array of services. Rena’ is both a childbirth and lactation educator. She has almost nine years experience as a labor doula. Rena’ is also a certified Happiest Baby on the Block educator, and Reiki practitioner. She provides breastfeeding support, adoption support, and birth photography. She is a CAPPA faculty member, providing labor doula training in California, and in other states without a labor doula trainer. For seven years, Rena’ has served as the DASC Secretary. Now she will be serving a two-year term as DASC President for 2010-2012.
With more than nineteen years experience, Darla provides labor and postpartum doula services, and childbirth and lactation education. She is a CAPPA faculty member, conducting postpartum doula trainings within California, and in states that are without a CAPPA postpartum doula trainer. Darla is the CAPPA Executive Director of the Postpartum Doula Program, and the DASC member and co-circle Leader for the Santa Clarita Valley.
Ana Paula Markel, ICCE, CD (DONA), is an international speaker on prenatal education, doulas, and mainstreaming birth options. With nine years experience, she is a labor doula, childbirth educator, DONA approved birth doula trainer, and the DASC Director of Public Relations. She is also the owner of Bini Birth. Ana has been an expert featured on CBS, on other television, and in film. Her clients view her as an essential investment, and among her endorsements are many local OB/GYNs. Her childbirth education classes help women to maintain a healthy pregnancy, and prepare them and their spouses for childbirth. Ana’s warm, caring, and calming demeanor helps parents through the challenges of labor, and also helps to create an environment in which they feel safe and secure.
- Michelle Schnaars
