Exploring the Role of Doulas in Community Support!
As part of our January focus on SUPPORT, we’re excited to bring you a special webinar featuring two doulas who hold a unique and impactful role within their communities. Doulas are much more than birth professionals—they are compassionate guides, offering essential support during life’s most significant transitions. Their influence extends far beyond childbirth, playing a crucial role in building stronger, healthier families and communities.
In this webinar, our doulas will share their insights into the comprehensive care they provide before, during, and after birth. They’ll also discuss how their work helps foster lasting connections and promotes well-being. Joining them will be a mental health coach who will offer her perspective on the emotional and social needs she observes within society.
Key topics we’ll explore include:
How positive, supportive births can create lasting human bonds
The vital emotional and physical support doulas provide
Why real-life, sensual connections are essential for babies' early experiences
The profound power of natural birth and supporting others through it
Teenagers’ increasing disconnection from family life
The importance of keeping culture and values rooted in family and home
The growing disconnect from older generations
The human need to feel part of a “herd” or community
The challenges faced by new fathers
Simple tools to help negotiate overwhelm and anxiety
We encourage you to join the conversation, share your thoughts, and contribute your perspective as we explore these critical issues.
Guest Speakers!
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Guest Speakers! 〰️
Debbie Mitchell…
is an international doula based at the crossroads of France, Germany, and Switzerland. Drawing on her personal experiences of raising children in different countries, she brings a unique perspective to her work. Becoming a parent is an extraordinary, yet often challenging journey, and raising children abroad—where everything is unfamiliar—adds an extra layer of complexity. However, international communities can be some of the most supportive, as they understand the struggles, unite, and help one another. As a doula, she sees her role as a way to help new parents tap into that supportive network, guiding them to find their own footing and their own path to parenthood.
Dr. Špela Peternel …
is the proud mother of three beautiful daughters and has been working as a birth professional for nearly 15 years. She holds certifications as an Advanced DONA Doula (AdvCD), Birth Doula Trainer (BDT), Childbirth Educator, Breastfeeding Consultant, and Postpartum Doula. In addition to her extensive experience, she is an active member of the European Doula Network (EDN).
Before becoming a doula, she spent 15 years as a scientist in the field of Bio-Medical Research and holds a PhD in Biomedicine. Her deep passion lies in exploring the art and science of life, and as a doula, she focuses on understanding how emotions and feelings influence the birth and postpartum experience.
In addition to her doula work, she is a certified Homeopath and Flower Essences Practitioner, as well as a trained DreamBirth practitioner. She is currently studying Sapphire Imagery at the School of Images in New York.
As the head of the MY DOULA Association and its training program, she trains doulas in Slovenia and is an active birth advocate, childbirth educator, and connector of doulas. She strives to ensure that the doula profession is recognized and respected both in Slovenia and internationally.
With over 400 births attended and more than 3,000 families supported on their journey into parenthood, her dedication to the work is profound and far-reaching.
Nikki Steele Osborne…
is a Scottish Lassie married to an American guy with a Montenegrin rescue dog and a wee boy with a huge personality.
Nikki's journey to becoming a coach, speaker and course creator has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, relocations, post partum depression, running her own businesses and navigating the challenges faced with this transient lifestyle.
Becoming a mum was Nikki's catalyst for change and it is her passion and purpose to share all she has learned with you.
