5 Ways to Practice Collaboration Over Competition in Birth Work
The phrase collaboration > competition has become a bit of a keyword, AND it’s one that we are on board with. Dominant culture focuses on much individualism, and through this lens, we miss tons of opportunity to grow and learn together. Furthermore, we create a false sense of lack (feeling as though there’s not enough– clients, money, opportunity, etc.), and tend to distrust one another.
At BADT we encourage and create space for collaboration. This starts with a mindset, with the willingness to think about our interconnectedness, the ways we need one another.
The list below offers ideas for practically implementing the idea of collaboration > competition. While some may be more specific to solo practice doulas, the majority can apply to collectives, group practices, and birth work and/or Reproductive Justice organizations.
5 Ways Doulas and Birth Work Organizations Can Collaborate
Form informal (or formal) collectives with other doulas. For individual or solo practice doulas, these are folks you can coordinate with for backup doula care, reach out to for ideas during a birth, explore and create community resources and offerings with, refer to, and so on. Another idea is to create a co-doula practice. All of these ideas also help make birth work sustainable.
Share one another's' offerings and content on social media and in newsletters. While this may seem small, this practice helps folks in the broader community join you in the value of collaboration. It shows that you appreciate and learn from other birth workers in your community, and you expose your audience to folks and content they may not otherwise learn about. Check out our resource list with some of our fave racial justice focused folks in the field.
Show up for community actions and movements. Birth work is beyond the 1:1 direct client work. It’s about believing in and advocating for all birthing people having access to the healthcare they need and deserve. This means following local and national legislation, showing up for actions/marches/events, and engaging in crucial conversations. Find the ways and places that align for you to show up. Consider your physical and emotional capacity (which fluctuate over time), as well as your social location, as you decide where and how you can show up.
Create joint offerings. Find the ways that you can uplift and enhance one another, and grow something together. This increases visibility of both people or organizations, and offers folks in your audience new voices and perspectives. This also allows you to teach on topics you feel highly skilled at, while working alongside folks who have different expertise and gifts.
Commit to more face to face time. Being with other folks, virtually and/or in person is an important practice. It’s through these containers that we grow our networks of care and really get to know one another.
A Glimpse into BADT’s Practices
Some of the ways BADT has applied the above considerations include:
Collaborating with teachers on building courses and offering master classes from other industry experts.
Cross-promoting events for other training orgs, teachers, and BADT-participants on social media and in our newsletters.
Featuring guest writers on our blog.
Facilitating a community app for birth workers to connect, process, build connections, etc.
Meeting regularly with other teachers/trainers in the industry and attending relevant conferences and continuing education spaces.
Offering a directory for birth workers who are BADT-trained. (Not only can birthing families find doulas here, doulas can connect with one another!)
Join Us in Community
Learn more about our ongoing and upcoming courses here, and be sure to sign up for our email list so you’ll be first to hear about new courses, open enrollment periods, and scholarship opportunities. We are proud of the ways BADT connects humans and brings people together in the name of Reproductive Justice.