Reflections from Conference
Last week, I was in Minneapolis, MN for the 2023 DONA Summit. It was an incredible week, starting out with the DONA International Train the Trainer Seminar, beginning my training to be a DONA Approved Birth Doula Trainer, we had a board meeting, and then we had our 2023 conference, my second in-person, and my first as a member of the board. It was challenging splitting my focus between being the Director of Communications, and wanting to absorb all of the information as a conference attendee and doula! Here are some of my takeaways:
It is SO good to get a bunch of doulas into a room together! Seriously, there is magic in having so many caring people in one place at the same time.
Doulas are changing the world!
Doulas are a part of the solution, but we are not THE solution, to the maternal mortality and morbidity crisis in the US!
There are so many people working to better the world for birthing families!
Racism is the cause of race-based health disparities, not race!
I need to emphasize postpartum preparations SO MUCH MORE in my doula prenatal visits!
Doulas are an incredible, diverse group of human beings!
My brain has been overflowing this entire week, and I’m so excited to start implementing the things I’ve learned and inspired to change about my doula practice!
