Oh HECK NO! That is not how I doula. My goal is: if you have a willing partner then my job is to make sure that lucky person; knows what to expect, how to help provide comfort, knows what's normal and what isnt. I like to think of myself as a first base coach. I am there to run plays and "practice" with you. Then when the big day/game comes I am there to remind you of what we practiced /plays. I can't play the game for you, but I can provide support and reminders. But I have zero desire to replace anyone. This is YOUR day that you will remember, this is for you and the person you want most by your side. THAT person is as important to me as you are. Click here to watch a Testimonial from one of my clients, here a Dad shares why hiring a doula was the best money he's spent.

Absolutely not. My requirement to take any of my workshops is:  Are you a birth nerd? Do you love expectant parents and their families? Weather you are a seasoned birth professional or someone who wants to know more about birth my workshops are for you. As a doula I share how to use the rebozo with my clients. Some of them have never been to a birth or even held a baby. I have had birth pros who 'thought they knew all about the rebozo' their words, tell me that after taking my workshop they had a completely different outlook on what the rebozo is and how it was so much more than they had thought previously. Here's a quote from a student that sort of sums up what I hope to do for those seasoned doulas.  "I just took Gena's class, and wanna say that, you know I've actually in my doula training learned a little bit about the rebozo and tried some techniques out, but there's a difference between really learning the grammar of a language and actually being able to have conversations and I feel like I really walked away from this being able to have that conversation."- Madeline Doula, Vancouver BC, Canada. 

This is an excellent question and I have been answering it for years now. I am going to share a quote from Kelsey Holmes of the Greenheart Club(do read this article). 
"It is important to understand, however, that there is a difference between appreciation and appropriation.  Appreciation is when someone seeks to understand and learn about another culture in an effort to broaden their perspective and connect with others cross-culturally.  Appropriation on the other hand, is simply taking one aspect of a culture that is not your own and using it for your own personal interest.  Appropriation could mean of purchasing a piece of jewelry or clothing that may have important cultural significance to that culture, but simply using it as a fashion statement.  It could be taking a photo of a ritual ceremony simply for the sake of getting as many likes on Facebook as possible.  Regardless, taking a part of another culture without understanding what it truly means can be harmful not only to those whose culture you are using but also to those with whom you share it."  Program Assistant As a Mexican woman (2nd generation on my Moms side and my Fathers Family is from Las Cruces, NM which was Mexico until the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo of 1848. His mom's family goes back for generations before 1848), I LOVE sharing the beauty and sacredness of the rebozo. I have been chastised for sharing it with non-Mexican people. I have spent thousands of dollars over the years supporting Mexican and Guatemalan families by purchasing rebozos for my classes and students. I can't imagine not buying from or supporting these indigenous weavers and I can't imagine not sharing the rebozo with people who work with families during the time of birth. For 15 years I've received letters and emails from past students sharing with me what a difference the rebozo made in their clients births. Photos of laboring people being comforted and supported by the rebozo. Photos from doulas who used it on their families. Many lovely letters with photos of doulas with children with special needs being supported by the rebozo. I cannot imagine NOT sharing my love and appreciation of something so incredible from my heritage with people who want to help families during and around the time of birth. Here is more information about this topic. 

Shockingly I don't know that everyone needs a doula. I know some of my peers would be surprised by me saying this. However I believe there are some people out there who would do best unencumbered with ANYONE in their birthing space. Is this rare? Sort of, but it's the reason I cannot honestly say not EVERYONE needs one. Do most people need one?  Well, I will say having had 4 children and having had a doula with three of them, I personally, cannot imagine giving birth without one. At my last birth my doula wasn't trained by any doula training body. She was our nanny turned great friend. When I had my fourth I knew thousands of doulas and the one person I wanted was her. She knew me she loved me, she would make me feel calm and care for my spouse and kids. Exactly what I wanted. I think different people need different things from their doula. That's why it's so important that I am a good match with my clients. The idea that one could be the right/best doula for ANYONE is ludicrous to me. I can't be the best doula to everyone anymore than I could be the best friend to anyone in the world. I look forward to interviewing new clients and seeing if we click or not. If we don't it's ok! I have a long list of doulas in my area that are amazing. They are not my competition they are my peers and I want them to succeed as much as I want my would-be clients to be happy. This is my community that you are giving birth in. Whether you hire me or not, if I help you find a doula that will help you give birth the way that you want, then I have done my duty to my community. Doulas change the world one birth at a time. Whether we attend them in person or not.