What is a Full Spectrum Doula?

Doulas are most commonly known for working with families and individuals through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, but there is a growing movement to expand the doula model of care to support a broader range of situations. Doulas who operate according to this philosophy are known as “full spectrum doulas.”

At Luna Doulas, we identify as full spectrum doulas -- but what does that mean in practice? Here are some of the ways that the full spectrum approach influences our work and the services we offer to our clients and our community:

• We envision pregnancy and birth as part of a full spectrum of reproductive and/or parenting experiences that includes (and is by no means limited to) fertility, pregnancy prevention, miscarriage and loss, abortion, surrogacy, adoption, conception through medical technologies, and the postpartum period. As doulas, we provide educational, informational, physical, and emotional support for all of these choices and outcomes. In addition, we also know that each of these experiences are significant, and that they are interconnected. For example, if you’ve previously had an abortion, it might (or might not!) influence how you feel about your pregnancy and birth, your specific needs, and the type of doula support you desire.

• Full spectrum doulas are pro-choice! We trust in your ability to make the decisions that are right for you, your body, and your family from a place of informed consent, and we will support you with no judgement. Families come in endless shapes, sizes, combinations, and means -- accordingly, our doula support is never “one size fits all,” and we will meet you wherever you are on your path.

• Like the moon wanes and waxes, fertility, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum moves through a cycle as well. We seamlessly support our clients throughout the spectrum of this experience, by providing a wide variety of options to meet their needs during each stage. Our offerings include labor and postpartum doula services; placenta encapsulation, tinctures, salves, and keepsakes; perinatal wellness, such as yoga, belly binding, and v-steams; resources for family building, including fertility, surrogacy, and adoption; doula support for abortion and miscarriage; and referrals to other professionals for services outside our scope or expertise.

As full spectum doulas, we at Luna Doulas work to bring comprehensive, compassionate and thoughtful support to each phase of the journey. It is our dream to see this expand to even more practitioners so that all clients can receive the benefits of the full spectrum model. If you’d like to learn more please get in touch with us -- we’d love to hear from you!

About the Authors

Luna Doulas is Sierra Shaffer, CLD and Skylar VanSteemburg, CLD. Through a unique team approach, we provide inclusive and personalized doula support, placenta encapsulation, and full spectrum care in the Boulder and Denver metro areas.

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