Professional Doulas of Charleston began in 2003 when longtime doula and childbirth educator Lin Cook noticed several other women in Charleston were working as doulas. She suggested to Gretchen Gabriel that the Lowcountry needed a local doula association, and PDC was born.
Gretchen recalls "There were a few of us doing doula work. We all had a common goal of wanting to support women in their choices, but were working independently. I wanted us to be able to join forces to make a group where women could gain further understanding of what we did (and did not) do and where we could support one another. I was hoping to put an end to a feeling of competitiveness or division with one another, as we all had a common goal. (Another goal was) setting standards of care while showing each individual's strengths. Lastly I hoped we could show the midwives, nurses and physicians we worked with that we were professionals working with mothers for the mother's goals for her birth. I hoped that having a professional organization would build bridges between us and the rest of the birthing community so together we could support women."
The first meeting comprised five people, four of whom became PDC’s foundational members: Mandy Reimer, Lin Cook, Gretchen Gabriel, and Adrienne Leeds.
Within a few months we created a brochure and launched our website. Summerville Medical Center’s “Ready Set Baby!” in Summer 2003 was our very first community event.
One of the primary tasks in creating PDC's identity was drafting our mission statement. In 2003 it read:
"Professional Doulas of Charleston is committed to getting mothers the birth that they want by providing pregnancy, labor and post-partum support. Doulas maintain professionalism and high standards of personal conduct.
This includes but is not limited to:
• Keeping lines of communication open with clients and their chosen health care providers
• Advocating for clients
• Making appropriate referrals when asked to practice outside the scope of one's abilites and/or training
• Maintaining confidentiality
• Honoring the client/doula contract
• Pursuing continuing education."
In 2005, with our original membership more than doubled, we amended our Mission Statement to include community outreach. This addition formalized what we really had been doing all along:
“Professional Doulas of Charleston is committed to helping couples give birth in their own way by providing pregnancy, labor and postpartum support. Doulas maintain professionalism and high standards of personal conduct. In addition, Professional Doulas of Charleston strives to educate the public about the role of the doula and natural childbirth."
Over the years we have been honored to speak at various Prenatal Yoga and Babies R Us classes about the Role of the Doula and Informed Decision-Making. We've interfaced with several L & D Nursing staffs, discussing how to best work together. We’ve been a part of Roper-St. Francis’s annual Pregnancy Celebration fair every year since its inception, hosting a table as well as giving a presentation about Coping Skills for Labor.
Additionally we are regular participants in the Postpartum Support of Charleston Moms’ Run.
We now have 12 members, serving as Birth and Postpartum Doulas. Many of us wear other hats such as RN, Massage Therapist, IBCLC, Placenta Specialist, and Childbirth Educator. We are your community doulas.
Gretchen recalls "There were a few of us doing doula work. We all had a common goal of wanting to support women in their choices, but were working independently. I wanted us to be able to join forces to make a group where women could gain further understanding of what we did (and did not) do and where we could support one another. I was hoping to put an end to a feeling of competitiveness or division with one another, as we all had a common goal. (Another goal was) setting standards of care while showing each individual's strengths. Lastly I hoped we could show the midwives, nurses and physicians we worked with that we were professionals working with mothers for the mother's goals for her birth. I hoped that having a professional organization would build bridges between us and the rest of the birthing community so together we could support women."
The first meeting comprised five people, four of whom became PDC’s foundational members: Mandy Reimer, Lin Cook, Gretchen Gabriel, and Adrienne Leeds.
Within a few months we created a brochure and launched our website. Summerville Medical Center’s “Ready Set Baby!” in Summer 2003 was our very first community event.
One of the primary tasks in creating PDC's identity was drafting our mission statement. In 2003 it read:
"Professional Doulas of Charleston is committed to getting mothers the birth that they want by providing pregnancy, labor and post-partum support. Doulas maintain professionalism and high standards of personal conduct.
This includes but is not limited to:
• Keeping lines of communication open with clients and their chosen health care providers
• Advocating for clients
• Making appropriate referrals when asked to practice outside the scope of one's abilites and/or training
• Maintaining confidentiality
• Honoring the client/doula contract
• Pursuing continuing education."
In 2005, with our original membership more than doubled, we amended our Mission Statement to include community outreach. This addition formalized what we really had been doing all along:
“Professional Doulas of Charleston is committed to helping couples give birth in their own way by providing pregnancy, labor and postpartum support. Doulas maintain professionalism and high standards of personal conduct. In addition, Professional Doulas of Charleston strives to educate the public about the role of the doula and natural childbirth."
Over the years we have been honored to speak at various Prenatal Yoga and Babies R Us classes about the Role of the Doula and Informed Decision-Making. We've interfaced with several L & D Nursing staffs, discussing how to best work together. We’ve been a part of Roper-St. Francis’s annual Pregnancy Celebration fair every year since its inception, hosting a table as well as giving a presentation about Coping Skills for Labor.
Additionally we are regular participants in the Postpartum Support of Charleston Moms’ Run.
We now have 12 members, serving as Birth and Postpartum Doulas. Many of us wear other hats such as RN, Massage Therapist, IBCLC, Placenta Specialist, and Childbirth Educator. We are your community doulas.
