Putting the “I” in International Childbirth Education Association
by Debbie Young
Many of our members and trainers work exclusively in the United States. They are so useful for the families and certification candidates, and we are proud of the work they are doing! But many moons ago, we decided that women worldwide need the same support and education, and added the word “International” to our organization’s name.
We have continued to find ways to keep that part of the organization alive. Some of our ICEA Approved Trainers (IATs) have trained in a variety of countries, including China, South Africa, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, India, Canada, and South Korea. We have ICEA members in more than 15 countries. We are involved in supporting doula organizations on other continents, like European Doula Network, and we will partner with them at the FIGO Conference in South Africa this fall for OB/GYNs. Tara van Dyke is our new International Director, and she and others will represent ICEA at that conference.
Many, many years ago, I was training some birth doulas and made the undereducated comment that people in less industrial countries may have better births because they didn’t have to contend with all of the hospital policies that some women have to deal with in the US. Boy, was I wrong. One of the students from that class went on to teach internationally as a doula and with Spinning Babies. She brought back information to me about the dire ways that women were ill-treated and the consequences of the lack of medical knowledge and materials. I apologized and thanked her for that information. Then I dug deeper to find the truth and changed my thoughts about the need for additional support in other countries.
Not long after that, I was thankful to join ICEA, which already had a finger on the pulse of family needs in the US and internationally as well! And now I am glad to be involved in working to train others in Kyrgyzstan in 2023 and this year, and possibly other countries in the future. To train doulas and educators in other countries, first, the trainer needs to become acquainted with the needs of people they are training and what the students will face when they begin their work. It is a privilege to go to Kyrgyzstan late this summer with Boni Katz to do a birth doula and postpartum doula workshop along with some continuing education. Fingers crossed for possibly talking to the health ministry about some ways to improve women’s experience and outcomes in birth.
I hope you are also proud of the ongoing outreach ICEA has locally, nationally, and internationally. And I appreciate all you are doing in your area for families!
