2026 Doula Symposium - A Labor of Love
About this Event
Symposium
8:45a-4:30p
Join doulas, healthcare professionals, community organizations, public health leaders, and advocates for two days of learning, collaboration, and connection focused on improving maternal and infant health outcomes.
What to Expect
- Inspiring keynote presentations
- Interactive breakout sessions
- Discussions on maternal and infant health, birth equity, & family support
- Community resource sharing
- Professional networking opportunities
Who Should Attend
Doulas who are interested in learning about the process of becoming Medicaid contracted.
Agenda
Comfort Measures for Doulas
Host: Jodi Cunningham, PhD
Info: Presented by Jodi Cunningham, PhD, Certified Birth Doula, and Evidence Based Birth® Instructor
This interactive and engaging 1-hour breakout session combines the latest evidence with hands-on practice to help doulas confidently use comfort measures during pregnancy and labor. Participants will explore the research, practice effective techniques, and discuss strategies for overcoming common barriers to providing comfort measures in a variety of birth settings.
Implementing Trauma - Informed Care in Perinatal Practice
Host: Amy Rebekah (Chavez) Burkett
Info: This session will describe the six trauma informed care principles and unpack how to put them into practice in working with pregnancy, labor and birth support, and immediate postpartum. We will explore the science behind semantics and how to optimize safety and support for all birthing people, newborns, and care professionals. There will be time for Q &A discussion.
Cultural Humility
Host: Dr. Meredith Shockley-Smith
Honey in the Birth Room: How to Effectively Advocate
Host: April Kline
Info: Advocacy in the birth room isn't about showing up ready for a fight it's about understanding the system, building relationships, and helping your clients be heard.
In this session, we'll take an honest look at the realities of hospital-based maternity care: the layers of policies, protocols, supervisors, liability concerns, and competing priorities that shape the decisions of nurses, physicians, and other care providers. We'll explore why most clinicians aren't the enemy—they're often overworked, under-supported, and navigating a system that rarely rewards individualized care.
We'll also discuss why the most effective advocacy often begins long before labor. By working upstream to prepare clients, build trust, encourage healthy pregnancies, and normalize the birth process, we can help more families have uncomplicated, "boring" births that require less crisis intervention and less confrontation.
All Things Lactation: A Practical Guide for Doulas
Host: Kim Kokladas NDTR, CLS
Info: This breakout session will provide attendees with a comprehensive overview of lactation, combining foundational knowledge with practical, real-world application. Emphasis will be placed on supporting the whole individual, using effective counseling techniques, and navigating common breastfeeding challenges. The session is designed to equip doulas with the skills and confidence to support breastfeeding families, particularly those in high-risk communities, and aligns with the overall goal of improving maternal and infant health outcomes.
Learning Objectives
· Identify common breastfeeding practices and trends, including misinformation seen on social media.
· Apply client-centered counseling techniques to support breastfeeding individuals.
· Recognize appropriate pumping practices and when to refer for additional lactation support.
· Explain the role of WIC in breastfeeding support and community care.
Doula Depletion: Recognizing, Preventing and Recovering from Burnout
Host: Denise Hayes-Thomas
Info: s doulas, we hold space for others through some of life's most vulnerable and transformative moments. While this work is deeply rewarding, the emotional, physical, and mental demands can lead to stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout if left unaddressed.
This breakout session explores the signs and symptoms of doula depletion, the factors that contribute to burnout, and practical strategies for maintaining personal well-being while providing exceptional client care.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
