Blog
We know doulas. As a leader in the doula field for over 25 years, DONA International is your trusted authority for evidence-based information and resources for the doula profession.
From families considering hiring a doula to the thousands of doulas worldwide who support them, so many people want to learn more about doulas. Here on the blog, we provide evidence-based information specifically for professional doulas and the families we serve. Doulas play a unique role in the lives of the families we support and need specialized resources to grow and thrive as professionals. Stay up to date and informed with the organization that put doulas on the map!
Parting Gift to Your Clients? Yay or Nay?
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE Many doulas have a practice of gifting their clients something as they end their time together. Others don't do this at all. Over the years as a practicing doula, I have oscillated from providing a little...
read more
What Is Natural Birth Anyway?
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE It has become clear to me in the past few years that there has been a shift in the meaning of some birth terminology that consumers use to talk about their births. Personally, I cannot pinpoint when the shift...
read more
The Doula and the Thank You Note
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE I recently read a great article in The New York Times: "You Should Actually Send That Thank You Note You've Been Meaning to Write" and immediately thought about how this information is relevant to doulas and...
read more
Five Things You Can Be Doing Now for Business Success in 2019
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE The end of the year and the start of a fresh one is a great time to assess what has worked for your business and what services and products need to be tweaked, changed or discontinued for 2019. Here are some...
read more
Great News! Preventing Maternal Deaths Act Signed into Law!
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE In the United States, there is some very good news with lots of reasons to celebrate as 2018 comes to a close. After an incredible effort by many maternal-infant health organizations in the USA, including...
read more
Seven Things I Learned While Serving as President of DONA International 2018
By Ana Paula Markel, CD/BDT(DONA), ICCE, IAT As the year comes to an end and my term as DONA International President comes to a close, I find myself reflecting, as one normally does this time of the year. I am reflecting on all that has been accomplished, and my...
read more
Lights, Camera, Action – Doulas Doulaing!
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE Where have I been the past two years? Under a rock? How did I just discover Romper's The Doula Diaries video series? Somehow, these short (typically less than ten minutes) vignettes profiling a doula as they...
read more
There’s an App for That! – Creative Solutions for Running Your Doula Business: Full Term Contraction Timer
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE It is time for another post in the occasional series called "There's an App for That!" This series allows me to share an app that helps us run our birth and postpartum businesses and make our lives easier....
read more
The Sweet Relief of Being Off Call
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE I have been a birth doula for 15 years. Like many of you, I jumped right in after training and soon found myself fairly busy. At my prime, I would regularly attend as many as 45 plus births a year for my own...
read more
DONA International Certifies Their 13,000th Doula!
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE There are many reasons that I am proud to be a DONA certified doula. DONA's history, the vision of the five founders, our organization's mission and vision, and the longevity and adaptability of the...
read more
Did Your Client Birth Prematurely? Nine Tips to Help You Help Them!
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE November is Prematurity Awareness Month. November 17 will be recognized around the globe as the fourth annual World Prematurity Day. More information on this day is available here. According to the March of...
read more
There’s an App for That! – Creative Solutions for Running Your Doula Business: MileIQ
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE Today I start a new occasional series called "There's an App for That!" From time to time, I will share an app that helps us to run our birth and postpartum businesses and make our lives easier. Today I tackle...
read more
Meet DONA International’s Newest Board Members & an Invitation for YOU!
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE Today is election day in the United States, where citizens go to the polls to vote on local and state level candidates and initiatives. This is a midterm election so there are no presidential elections this...
read more
A Pregnant Belly Makes the Best Halloween Costume!
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE Halloween is observed in the United States and other places around the world today. Now that my children are young adults, we seem to have lost the Halloween spirit and all the rituals and fun associated with...
read more
How a Doula Helps Clients to Receive Respectful Care
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE Research indicates that between one-quarter to one-third of birthing people describe their labor and birth experience as traumatic. Lived experiences or a traumatic previous birth experience may all contribute...
read more
Is Attending an Unassisted Birth within DONA International’s Scope of Practice?
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE Last week's Doula Me This! post asked birth doulas to consider what they would do if a contracted client shared that they were now planning an unassisted birth. Many doulas responded on social media and/or the...
read more
Series: Doula Me This #5 – Clients Are Planning an Unassisted Birth
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE Today is the fifth post in the occasional series, “Doula Me This!” Each post in the series provides a common scenario that a birth or postpartum (or both) doula may face. The “correct” answer (if there is one)...
read more
Expert Tips for a Smooth Recertification Process
By Uta Mattox, AdvCD(DONA), CD(DONA) Today's post is the third and final post in a short series focusing on tips from the experts on birth and postpartum certification and recertification. Today, longtime doula Uta Mattox, former Director of Certification and current...
read more