Season 5 Episode 6: Birth Is Not a Spectator Sport: The Important Role of Doulas in Childbirth and Postpartum with Julie Brill, CCCE, CLD, IBCLC

 

The concept and role of a doula is better understood these days by parents and health professionals, but the reality of a doula’s life may still be a mystery to some.  Today we will explore how Julie, who has practiced as a doula for 29 years, impacts the lives of the families she’s assisted as she shares her insights of life as a doula 

Julie Brill is the author of the doula anthology Round the Circle: Doulas Share Their Experiences. She has been teaching childbirth classes and attending births since 1992 and mentoring new birth professionals throughout New England as a member of the CAPPA Faculty since 2003. Additionally, she is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and a Certified Holistic Lactation Consultant. Julie is in private practice in Bedford, MA, where she teaches prenatal breastfeeding classes and provides in-home breastfeeding consultations. She is also the mother of two adult daughters who she home schooled until they entered college. 

Listen and Learn:

  • How a doula – “just a woman in the room”—can make a big difference during birth  
  • What studies show about doulas 
  • How doulas have gained awareness over time 
  • What responsibilities doulas have
  • How nurses benefit from having doulas in the room and learning some doula skills
  • What various models of hospital doula programs look like 

 

Resources & Mentions:

Major Survey Findings of Listening to Mothers III: Pregnancy and Birth

Variation in Cesarean Birth Rates by Labor and Delivery Nurses, Dr. Neel Shah, MD, MPP

Continuous support for women during childbirth

Round the Circle and Birth Wisdom

Doulas Discuss Birth 

 

Related Products from InJoy: 

Understanding Birth

The Miracle of Birth 3

The Miracle of Birth 4

Understanding Breastfeeding