Uncategorized – Hillary Melchiors

Your Doula Perspective is Valuable

Where can doulas make an impact beyond serving their clients?

Service & Speaking

Whenever a family hires me to be their doula, I always think to myself what an amazing honor it is to be invited into such intimate spaces to serve them. I feel similarly honored now to be invited to serve as the president-elect for DONA International. Service to this amazing not-for-profit organization is something that… Continue reading Service & Speaking

This is Not The End

“And in real life endings aren’t always neat, whether they’re happy endings or whether they’re sad endings.” -Stephen King Ending or Beginning? I did not win the president elect seat for the board of DONA International, and that’s ok with me. I’m sad that I won’t be able to spend time helping that organization improve… Continue reading This is Not The End

Leadership Matters

Admirable leadership takes skill and understanding how to draw out the best qualities in those who surround you and trust you to be their leader. I love learning about leadership, and as a social scientist, I have a fair idea of how to empathetically understand the people around me. I strive to be a leader… Continue reading Leadership Matters

Including Our International Members

According to the DONA International website, our organization has certified 13,000 doulas in 56 different countries around the world. WOW! How amazing is that? I have spent the last week talking to some of the 165 DONA approved doula trainers from around the world, and have learned that many of those outside the United States… Continue reading Including Our International Members

DONA International’s Focus

Part of what drew me to become a DONA International doula in the first place, was my attraction to the non-profit model of the organization. I appreciate that DONA is a member driven organization with a focus on making a social impact by doing good. Becoming a volunteer board member is something that I always… Continue reading DONA International’s Focus

DONA Problems & Solutions

I’ve been listening to better understand the big issues that people both inside and outside of this organization are concerned with about DONA. Not only have I heard the concerns, but I know that together we can move this organization forward to not only address these points but also to go above and beyond expectations.… Continue reading DONA Problems & Solutions

Talk TO doulas, not just about us!

I wanna be in the room where it happens. Aaron Burr in Hamilton Doulas are a very hot topic right now in the conversation about maternal health here in the United States. Decisions are being made now about whether or not doulas should be covered by insurance companies. I have been invited to participate in… Continue reading Talk TO doulas, not just about us!

Why I’m a DONA Doula

There were three main reasons that I chose DONA International for my training. I was very purposeful when choosing a training organization. DONA was and is a respected and recognized organization. There are all kinds of doula training organizations to be found, but what really drew me in was the fact that among all the… Continue reading Why I’m a DONA Doula

Doula Talk

We have to change how doulas talk to each other. The first thing we need to agree on is that there is a problem in how we talk to each other as doulas. Next, we need to be aware that there are multiple individuals and organizations trying to tell doulas how to do our jobs… Continue reading Doula Talk