Traci Doula Traci Weafer

Welcome to the Doula Blog

DADS, SHE DOESN’T NEED A DOULA TO HAVE A BABY, BUT YOU DO.

I recently read a fascinating article in Romper called, “My Husband said no to a Doula & I’m still pissed.” Writer Kelly Green openly discusses her frustration about her partner’s decision “quasi-unilaterally” that they did not need to hire a doula for the birth of their child, a choice that Green writes should have been hers to make. I know hiring a doula can be a tricky thing, but they are beneficial for dads too. (I’m using the term “dad” here because I most often deal with fathers, but this applies to any birthing partner.) In my experience, dads want to just

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HOW TO BUILD A POWERFUL BIRTHPLAN

Is your birth plan helping you connect to your power and confidently advocate for yourself and your goals? Birth plans can be a strangely divisive topic in the birth world. Some people believe they are rigid lists of what you do or don’t want done during your birth. But a birth plan done right can help you obtain the education you need from your provider to be able to say yes or no to a procedure that is most likely a routine practice or policy. So how do you create a powerful birth plan? When you stop the information overload and uncover

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Doulas Do Not Have “Scope”

The word “scope” is a controversial word in birthwork. At times, it has also been used to reprimand doulas. The confusion has largely come from doula organizations using the word “scope” as their perspective of how the doula of that organization should practice. While one organization says that their doula “scope” cannot use essential oils, another organization says they can. However, doulas do not have a “scope of practice.”  A scope of practice regulates a set of standards under a license. Doulas are not licensed or regulated. This is explained by Hermine Hayes Klien (youtube video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ6ngb4ng4I. Doulas do not

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MIDWIFERY VS. MEDICAL MODELS OF CARE

As a doula, one of the very first questions I ask my clients is what is their belief system around birth? What are their birth experiences? What do they know about their own birth? I want to understand their perception of birth in their birth culture. What the majority of families describe is a hands-off, family-centered, low intervention, natural feeling of care. They talk about wanting to be seen as a normal person who’s having a baby and not a medical condition. ​ When I’ve asked childbearing women to describe the midwifery model of care, I hear words such as: Mom-focused Low

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HEAR TRACI ON THE “BIRTH MONOPOLY” PODCAST

Traci was recently featured on the “Birth Monopoly” podcast! In episode 11, Traci joined host Cristen Pascucci to discuss providing moms with information to make their own choices about their birth experiences. Traci talks about her unique role as an advocate and educator.

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Traci Weafer

Childbirth Educator, Mentor, Advocate, Parent

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