Ep. 35 - From the Doulas: Expert Advice for Birthing Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Birth Allowed Radio

We are really in the midst of some major disruption for birthing families, in an already fragile healthcare system. In this episode of Birth Allowed Radio, I called on two seasoned doulas and members of the Birth Monopoly "Know Your Rights" community to provide a grounded and strategic perspective for the families who need it most. Miri Halliday of Spokane, WA is a birth doula and childbirth educator, and Lisa Gould Rubin of Burlington, VT is a doula, childbirth educator, and has had a virtual doula practice for over 10 years. Together we tackle the tough conversations surrounding doula access to their clients in hospitals and increased pressure on birthing families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Miri and Lisa reveal what they’re telling their families on how to prepare, what to expect at the hospital, how to cope under societal trauma, and what doulas, partners, and birthing mothers can control. “Everybody’s operating out of this place of fear and scarcity in terms of support and all of this unknown, and it is the worst thing that we want people to be feeling now that they are on the verge of having babies.” - Lisa Gould Rubin “There are going to be clients who are going to say - ‘I refuse. I’m going to have this baby in the lobby unless my doula comes with me.’” - Miri Halliday RESOURCES: Connect with Lisa Gould Rubin at thegoodbirthproject.com (http://thegoodbirthproject.com/), on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TheGoodBirthProject/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/GoodBirthProject/). Follow Miri Halliday at hallidoula.com (https://www.hallidoula.com/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/hallidoula) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/the_oaky_afterbirth/). Click here (https://birthmonopoly.com/covid-19/) for all Birth Monopoly COVID-19 resources, including the Hospital Policy Tracker for Doulas and Visitors. Click here (https://birthmonopoly.com/3-things/) for all you need to know about the updated Birth Monopoly course, “3 Things Every Parent Needs to Know About Hospital Birth.” For the latest COVID-19 research and resources from Evidence Based Birth®, including the Virtual Doula Directory, click here (https://evidencebasedbirth.com/covid19/).