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caroline@imiae.com

caroline@imiae.com

The Importance of Support Without an Agenda

The Importance of Support Without an Agenda

We all have an idea in our minds of what a perfect birth would be like. It might be one of our own birthing experiences, a birth we have attended, or just a mythical birth that we have created in our own minds (mine would definitely include an en caul birth since I have yet to see one!) But as educators and as doulas, it is so important to constantly remind ourselves that our dream birth scenario is ours alone. 

Rebuilding Resilience | A Note from the Board

Rebuilding Resilience | A Note from the Board

Twenty years ago I could get by with burning the candle at both ends pretty easily. All that adrenaline and cortisol caught up with me several years ago. I had to be very intentional about replenishing my minerals, prioritizing my sleep, and choosing to walk instead of doing HITT style workouts. It’s been quite a journey and thankfully I’ve rebuilt my resilience and reached a point where not only can I cope with normal life better I can also attend three births in three days (it was a wild month of March) and recover faster than I would have ten years ago from one birth. 

How to Join an ICEA Committee

How to Join an ICEA Committee

Do you have children? If so, do you remember what it was like, as a young mother or father-to-be, to prepare for the birth of your child? Do you remember the challenges of parenting a newborn baby? If so, or even if none of that applies to you, we. Need. YOU! Every member of ICEA is unique and brings a special skill set to the ICEA community. Your involvement on a committee promotes how we can effectively meet each other’s needs as we present evidence-based classes, doula work, and postpartum doula work. 

Ode to the Birth Companion…

Ode to the Birth Companion…

I don’t know why she did it, but she did.  My good friend let me come to the birth of her first baby, and her doula gave me a job.  Which seems like a smart idea, but, in retrospect, when you invite someone to watch a birth for the first time, you should probably NOT put them in charge of taking the videos.  That was her bad.  I took a steady, 2-hour long, crotch shot video.   Full on.  With her mortal portal front and center.   That was my bad. 

Responsibility to Support | A Letter from The Director of Lactation

Responsibility to Support | A Letter from The Director of Lactation

I have been privileged to serve on this ICEA Board for the past few years – currently as the Director of Lactation. In that role, I am very proud of the fact that ICEA adheres to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Code on the Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes. What does it even mean to adhere to the WHO Code? It means that ICEA will not accept funding from formula companies, nor will we collaborate with partners who accept formula company funding. Did you know that the World Health Assembly adopted the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes back in 1981? We are now forty-four years later, and formula milk manufacturing companies continue to violate these established principles and place commercial interests before children’s and families’ health.

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