Hugs to community-based doulas!

We loved this recent Huffington Post blog (by Jane Fonda) about the effectiveness of community-based doula programs. These doulas offer all the wonderful support of traditional doulas, but go even further. They usually work with women who cannot afford doula services. Sometimes these mothers-to-be are teenagers, sometimes they suffer from drug or alcohol addiction, and sometimes they have only their doulas to rely on for prenatal and birth support. These doulas go above and beyond to help women who need emotional and physical support during their labors and deliveries!

Jane writes, "If we as a nation are to break the cycle of poverty, crime and the growing underclass of young people ill equipped to be productive citizens, we need to ... help those who have already given birth so that they become effective, nurturing, bonding parents." She believes that community-based doula programs can be part of the solution. Programs that do this kind of work here in the Twin Cities include Everyday Miracles and the Doula Program at the American Indian Family Center. If you know a pregnant woman who could benefit from such services, please pass along this information!

Love,
Alisa, Sarah & the women of Blooma