World Doula Week 2022
Happy 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
Before I became known as a birth photographer - I actually fell in love with birth work as a doula. I have supported families since 2014…even owning a doula agency for a couple of years with one of my best friends from college.
When the pandemic happened, I found that the need for a doula only increased. We worked hard in Denver to ensure that doulas were still allowed to support families giving birth…and after only a very brief pause in April of 2020…we were granted access again to almost every hospital in the Denver-metro area.
Now, almost half of my clients each year are both doula and photography clients. I LOVE supporting families emotionally and physically, while also documenting the highs and lows of their birth stories. Most of these images below feature other incredible doulas in the Denver birth community. As restrictions have continued to lift, I find myself working with more doulas again (which I’m also so grateful for!)
Birth is a wild journey. It’s hard and magical. Powerful and humbling. I’m so glad that more and more families are choosing to invest in doula support - it truly can make such a difference in your birth experience.