Sarah-Jane Steele

Did I throw you off with the word "Dona" as the first word in my headline? DONA is the Doula Association for around the world, of which I am now a part of. Birth doulas offer emotional support to the expectant mama and her partner( if she has/chooses one),encouragement and wisdom ( knowledge of procedures, positions for birthing, studies etc) throughout labor and birth. I was formally trained as a Doula after assisting a couple of births- though I do believe that much of a Doula's "worth" lies in her ability to self study beyond the DOULA training- be in the field attending births. I came to the Doula world by default. I was seen as someone who would be "good in an intense situation" given I've practiced and studied yoga for many years. Thus, I was asked to attend and support a home birth. I have a background as a journalist and particulary enjoyed field work and humanist journalism and I thought supporting a woman in labor and birth could, in a way, be likened to this. I had no idea that in attending that birth it would mean the "death" of my News Journalism aspirations and, the "birth" of my new ( or did I always know?) calling, birth support. It has always been an inherent quality of mine to want to nurture, I suppose I thought being a "voice to the voiceless" as a journalist would do that. It absolutely does empower, elicit change and can help people. But- after attending this birth I realized I had an absolute purpose there, my ability to research all aspects of labor and birth were strong due to my background, my audio visual side was being stimulated far more than it ever would be a newsroom, and....my heart opened. Soon after I became a mother ( not because I attended a birth and it made me crave doing it myself, my little one was a complete, yet delightful surprise). My heart opened more when I became a mother. Now, I'm doing all I can to use my skills and training to be an extremely caring and informative Doula and yoga guide. I concentrate alot on breath, self love, body connectivity and movement in my teachings. I wholeheartedly believe this helps women courageously approach labor and birth with confidence. This leaves room to see and feel the beauty in labor, the beauty in birth, and most importantly the maintenance of that sensation of beauty and health thereafter. My favorite things to do are 1) Dispell myths around labor, birth and parent hood and 2) practice safe yoga 3) Cook delicious, healthy meals for new families. My Blog:http://s