PUSH | The Doula Magazine

MARJORIE “MAMA” BAER, CD(DONA) The Doula certification process takes perseverance and time. I’m proud to say I’ve been a certified Labor and Postpartum Doula for more than 3 years now. I also obtained a third certification as a Postpartum Placenta Specialist where I encapsulate placenta for Moms.

Originally, the agency that certified me, hired me! I spent almost 2 years there, but I really wanted the freedom of my own business and Mama Bear Doula Services was birthed (pun intended)!

I’ve been Mama Baer (that’s not a typo!) for a long time as a Sunday School teacher, so this was fitting for me to be Mama Baer Doula!

Since my tenure, there seems to be more Doulas and more knowledge of what a Doula is. And that’s a good thing. I remember I needed my job description handy to blurt out at a moment’s notice, and now I see a great trend … people already know what I do! That is comforting to me. I think every birthing mother should have a Doula. We are so important in the process. Not only labor itself, of course, but, the pre-natal visits, helping the mother and father feel more prepared, easing their fears, solidifying Mom and Partner as a team, and so much more. We are not medical, so we are more on their level to delve deeper into their feelings, fears, perceptions.

And, the best part of all, I become a part of the family. The birth is never the end of the relationship. I always visit after the baby for a postpartum “project” and I stay in contact with voice and texts throughout the year.

If I had to sum up the Doula profession in one word … it would be comfort. We are about comfort … comfort to speak your mind, comfort for pain with positions, massage, aromatherapy (and more!), comfort for available knowledge and explanations that are on their level, comfort for non-judgmental support, comfort for continuous presence … and comfort with love. You can’t be a Doula without enjoying the process of loving on someone else and their families!

This has been a wonderful journey and it’s full steam ahead for me!

Being a Doula is special in so many ways. It’s exhausting too … but nothing worthwhile is easy, so bring it Mamas …I’m ready to be your Doula for labor and delivery, postpartum/newborn care or placenta encapsulation services.

Feel free to check out my website – www.MamaBearDoulaServices.net or my Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/MarjorieMamaBear/