What does 2014 have in store for BirthWell Partners? Well, if the last few months are any indication, the key word is " growth." In December, we cheered as one of our doulas attended our 100th client birth since incorporation--a big milestone for us. Only seven months into this fiscal year and we've already attended more births than all of last year, and twice as many as in our first year.
Attendance at our free monthly Birth Stories meetings has been so high that we are adding another meeting. In addition to 2nd Tuesdays from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the YWCA, we will also be meeting the 2nd Thursday of every month from 6:30 to 8 pm at the Hoover Library. The first evening meeting will be February 13th. Please visit our website for more information and a list of meeting topics for both groups.
In mid-January we hosted the first of what we hope will become an Annual Doula Retreat. As part of our mission to promote the doula profession statewide, the weekend was an opportunity to learn new skills and to network with other doulas. Many thanks to our board members, Audrey Oyama and Truus Delfos-Bronner, who each led educational presentations at the retreat, and to Jason's Deli for providing lunch for attendees. |
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BirthWell Partners Receives a Community Grant from the March of Dimes
For the second year in a row, we are pleased to receive a community grant from the Alabama Chapter of the March of Dimes. The $7500 grant will enable us to address preterm birth rates, low birth weight and low breastfeeding rates by providing childbirth education and doula support to mothers recovering from substance abuse in the Birmingham area. |
Q: How did your doula help you during labor and birth?
A: She massaged me, comforted me, made me feel like I had no care in the world. She talked to me. She made me feel like she was a mother to me, a mother which I never had. She is amazing, plus some.
A: She held my hand, consoled me and encouraged me by being reassuring that I could do it. Her coaching was loving and confident.
A: She provided so much information about pain management, breathing techniques…she attended my birth and was very helpful with the nursing staff.
A: She helped me feel more safe.
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April 3rd-7th
We're busy preparing for our 6th comprehensive doula training, which will include a new component, the Maternal Child Health Specialist (MCHS) training, focused on addressing maternal-child health disparities in our community. This session will be mandatory for our scholarship trainees, to help prepare them for working with our target population.
We will host a scholarship information meeting on Tuesday, February 11th, 10:30 a.m. at the YWCA (209 23rd Street North, Birmingham). Anyone interested in applying for a need-based scholarship should plan to attend this meeting. More information and application forms for the scholarships are available on our website. The deadline to apply for scholarships is March 3rd, 2014.
Workshop registration is now open for those interested in attending (who are not applying for scholarships). Information about the training, including the dates, cost, location, and registration forms, is available here. |
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