Delaware Doula Meeting

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We had our first "Delaware Doula's Meeting" on July 18th, Saturday in Newark Delaware.  We had 9 doulas present represented from Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania. 

We played "Birth Bingo" an ice breaker game so we could get to know one another. The doulas who attended the most births, who had been a doula the longest and who had the most children received a prize for their achievements!

We discussed having monthly meetings. Alternating the meetings from northern Delaware to central Delaware. I also shared my ideas with my sister doulas to get feedback from them. My ideas were to have monthly meetings where we could do case reviews, swap books, initiating a new doula training program, support one another, share a new "trick of the trade", publish a quarterly newsletter, host education trainings(aromatherapy, rebozo, placenta encapsulation, etc)  a few times during the year for doulas, and host an annual conference. Development of a website of all the doula listings, events including classes mothers-to-be could attended, workshops for doulas, and other resources.

Ideas other doulas had were to have a topic for each meeting and to start a "childcare co-op". The "childcare co-op" would entail if you had to attend a birth where another doula lived you could drop your children off with her so she could watch them while you were at your birth, assuming your "back ups" for childcare where unable to care for your children. Host a picnic once or twice a year for the doula's and their entire families to get together.
 
It was so refreshing to connect with other doulas and hear about how they are making a difference.

Tentatively the next meeting will be held August 23rd, Sunday at 4pm in northern Delaware again. Location to be announced. If anyone has any ideas as to a good meeting place feel free share. If this date and time does not work for you please let me know. If the majority can not meet at this particular date and time we can reschedule it.
 
HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING!!!

Cindy L. Collins
EuphoricBirthServices.com