Heather Mains, BFA, CD (DONA), MA, has been a doula, attending births since 1994 and advocating on behalf of improved maternity services for more than a decade. She based this article on a lecture she gave at York University's Association for Research on Mothering (ARM) conference on Mothering and Spirituality in October 2003.
When he was asked, “What is a friend?” Aristotle answered, “One soul inhabiting two bodies.” When asked, “What is a doula?” I answered, “One soul inhabiting two bodies,” … the privilege to be in union—nonseparate from another with a shared intent or purpose. Read more…. An Intimate Dance with Birthing Women
Photo by Ahmad Odeh
So rarely in our lives do we have the privilege to be in union—nonseparate from another with a shared intent or purpose. Such is the opportunity during labour and birth. We must take notice and give ourselves permission to engage in this type of intimacy.
Photo by Cornelia Enning
A number of authors have called attention to the language we commonly use in discussing birth and how particular words shape our understanding of birth.
