World Doula Week!

In light of World Doula Week beginning today I want to honor the many Doulas that serve the women of Rochester and region. 

Did you know that we have a local doula cooperation that partners with one another to ensure every woman who wants a doula gets one?

SO, in light of World Doula Week I want to write one post everyday this week how doulas make a difference in the world of birth. 

The co op exists so we can educate, empower and inspire each other in the area about birth and how doulas can better serve the community. These are a wonderful and powerful group of women! They inspire me and keep me motivated as a birth doula. And they are here to passionately serve you!

What is World Doula Week?

The purpose of World Doula Week ("WDW") is to empower doulas all over the world to improve the physiological, social, emotional, and psychological health of women, newborns and families in birth and in the postpartum period. The World Doula Week events will take place all over the world during the same week, stating the benefits of the presence of doulas in birth and in the postpartum period:

• Reduces the incidence of c-sections 
• May shorten the length of labor 
• Reduces epidural and analgesic requests 
• Increases breastfeeding initiation and continuation 
• Increases mother’s satisfaction of birth experience 
• Can reduce the incidence of postpartum mood disorders 
• Increases new parents’ confidence in the care of their newborn

Why World Doula Week Started ~

World Doula Week started in Israel as World Doula Day in 2010 by Ruti Karni Horowitz who had no idea about International Doula Month. The event was a huge success, so Ruti had suggested that it become a world-wide event to celebrate doulas globally. Initally, World Doula Day (March 22) was chosen because it is the spring equinox, which represents the return of fertility in countless cultures. When the committee was formed, we all decided to expand World Doula Day (March 22) into a World Doula Week (March 22-28) so that multiple events could be planned to help spread the word about doulas. It was also important to the committee members that World Doula Week would be inclusive of ALL doulas and ALL doula organizations.

Our goal is to spread the word about doulas and to encourage doulas to continue improving the physiological, social, emotional, and psychological health of women, newborns, and families in birth and in the postpartum period. By planning events world-wide during World Doula Week, we believe we can make positive change for birthing and new families by educating the public.