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!