Category: News

As June arrives and summer begins, many of us find ourselves spending more time with family and friends. Whether gathering […]

As we move through May, I am reminded that this season often feels like a reflection of birth work itself: growth, transition, […]

by Amanda Afdahl Just a few weeks ago, we experienced a cold snap that I had been watching for and […]

…and somehow, nobody stopped her. Hi, I’m Bailey! Southwest Iowa girl, founder of Iowa and Nebraska’s fastest growing doula agency, and […]

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. 

Hello 2026 and all you lovely ICEA members! It is hard to believe we are already here. I have some […]

Do you have a story to share? Are you excited about teaching the next generation of childbirth educators and doulas […]

How can it possibly be December? And where did 2025 go? I am a person with a talent for being […]

I can’t believe we’re already in the 11th month of the year—time truly flies! It has been such a joy and privilege to serve as Treasurer and to be part of this wonderful ICEA family. I’m deeply grateful for each board member I’ve met and for the dedication, heart, and inspiration that everyone brings to this organization.

Interested in making a difference in the lives of families across the globe? Passionate about being a childbirth educator and/or […]

by Stephanie Sosnowski World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated August 1 – 7 every year, and has been since its designation […]

Putting the “I” in International Childbirth Education Association by Debbie Young Many of our members and trainers work exclusively in […]

The Latinx/Latine Lactation Collective has announced that Latine Breastfeeding Week will happen September 8th through the 14th. ICEA is excited […]

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. 

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. 

Spring, or at least false spring, has hit the Colorado area. We may get another snow, but I would be […]

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.

by Rachel Majors Hello fellow birth enthusiasts! My name is Rachel Majors and I am fairly new to the ICEA […]

Dear ICEA Community, Wow, where did 2024 go? It was a year brimming with fun, work, and wonder—a reflection of […]

by Miriam McKinney As the year ends, I’d like to take you on a little journey back in time. In […]

My name is Amanda Afdahl and, as President-Elect, I have the privilege of getting to write the October newsletter. It’s […]