Ep. 40 Mothering the Mother: History of Doula Care

Knock-knock. Who’s there? Do. Do-who? DOULA (ok ok see, this is why we’re podcast hosts and not comedians). This week we’re discussing the origins of doula care. Best known for their growing role in providing laboring mothers during childbirth, doulas have been around for decades in an official capacity and even longer in an unofficial one. Closely intertwined with midwifery, doula work has evolved alongside the changing world of labor and childbirth. We dive into that history as well as doulas' roles on birthing teams in hospitals, homes and birthing centers today. We then discuss the medicalization of childbirth, share some of our own experiences as medical students on labor and delivery floors of hospitals and unpack how doulas, support and caregiving play into those spaces. 

Check out our Feminist Corner discussion questions after listening and send us your thoughts! 

• Thoughts? 
• How can we reconcile the medicalization of birth with the role of doulas and the health of the mother?
• How do you think doula work could be made more accessible to pregnant people?

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