Doula

Title: Doula

Reports to: Operations Seat

Guiding Star Southwest, a division of Southwest Coalition, Inc., is searching for compassionate Doulas to join its mission in expanding life-affirming medical and birth services for women in El Paso, Texas. As an affiliate of the national Guiding Star Project and inspired by St. Mary, Our Lady Star of the Sea, Guiding Star Southwest is committed to delivering trauma-informed healthcare that respects the whole person by considering a woman’s mind, body, and soul. The organization’s focus spans the full spectrum of women’s health, from puberty through perimenopause, and emphasizes fertility, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and motherhood, while striving to reduce trauma by advocating against societal pressures that may compromise the natural functions of a woman’s body. The ideal candidate is a compassionate doula with a servant’s heart, eager to empower women through education and take a pivotal part in providing wholistic comprehensive care.

The Opportunity

As we expand our core services to include a birth center in alignment with Wholistic Feminism, we are looking for pro-life doulas to be responsible for working closely with pregnant women, assisting in births, and providing critical education to women and couples. 

To be a successful wholistic Guiding Star Doula, you should be dedicated and focused on providing top-quality wholistic care and education to your patients, focused on “wholism” or whole-person care which considers a person’s mind, body, and spirit. You should have a strong working knowledge of trauma-informed women’s healthcare, as well as a patient, caring, and detail-oriented personality. Your role will involve building strong relationships with clients, guiding them during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period, and advocating for their needs and preferences. 

Our ideal candidate is someone that has witnessed how vulnerable a birth can be to a woman and recognizes the value of having a trusted individual present with her during birth to assist, comfort and empower her. Must be Christ-centered, ready & willing to share their God-given talents with a servant-heart.

The ideal candidate will enjoy:

• Our unique model: In addition to our programs to build a Culture of Life in the Southwest, we also strive to provide expert healthcare to ensure that women have a life-affirming alternative through pre-natal and post-natal healthcare, education, and material support.
• Our culture: At Southwest Coalition for Life, we offer a more relaxed working environment, catering to the needs of our employees and establishing a family-like feel.
• Being an innovator: With the merger and expansion of two non-profit organizations, you will be establishing birth and postpartum support for a new venture and helping support a ground-breaking mission on the new frontline of the pro-life movement in post-Roe America.

The Company

Southwest Coalition, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation focused on restoring reverence for the sanctity of human life and natural womanhood across the Southwest through a coalition of nonprofit social enterprises in line with Catholic and Biblical teaching, including our Guiding Star Southwest women’s medical centers, The Lily Pad Maternity Home, our Her Care Connection outreach and mobile medical bus, and Coalition for Life ministries.

Our Core Values

All team members must embody and execute our Core Values within their day-to-day duties and responsibilities:

• Humble: Lack entitlement and ego, be respectful and flexible, don’t take yourself too seriously, set others up for success even at a potential loss for yourself.
• Hungry: Have an unrelenting hunger to change the world, taking initiative fueled by a boldly optimistic hope and entrepreneurial growth mindset.
• Smart: Strong emotional intelligence, understanding the impact of your words and actions on others, inviting vulnerable communication and healthy conflict.
• Heart: Be compassionate, prayerful, and empathetic with a sincere desire to truly see and know others through a reverence for life and natural womanhood.

What the Role Entails

When measuring overall aptitude and cultural fit, all candidates will be benchmarked using these standards.

Responsibilities:

• Prenatal Support:
  • Meet with expectant mothers and families to discuss birth plans, preferences, and concerns.
  • Offer education on childbirth options, breathing techniques, and relaxation methods.
  • Provide emotional support and encouragement to alleviate anxiety and stress during pregnancy.
• Labor Support:
  • Accompany and support mothers during the birthing process at home, birthing centers, or hospitals.
  • Be an educator for couples and mothers prior to birth by providing classes and one on one sessions with clients to empower them and mentally prepare them
  • Assist with comfort measures, such as massage, positioning, and providing a calming atmosphere.
  • Guide mothers and fathers to advocate for the mother's birth plan, ensuring her wishes are respected by medical staff.
• Informational Assistance:
  • Answer questions and provide evidence-based information about labor, delivery, and postpartum care.
  • Offer guidance on breastfeeding, newborn care, and postnatal recovery.
• Postpartum Support:
  • Provide post-birth support, including emotional support and practical assistance.
  • Help with breastfeeding and newborn care, offering guidance on feeding schedules and diapering.
  • Assist with household tasks and meal preparation to ensure the mother's well-being.
• Emotional Support:
  • Offer continuous emotional reassurance and a non-judgmental presence throughout the childbirth process.
  • Address fears and concerns, and provide a supportive environment for the mother and her partner.
• Documentation and Communication:
  • Maintain clear and organized records of all interactions and services provided to clients using Medical systems in place.
  • Communicate effectively and consistently with medical professionals and other support personnel involved in the birth process.
  • Maintain department compliance with all policies, procedures, guidelines, and requirements of the Texas Pregnancy Care Network (TPCN) contract.
  • Maintain department compliance with all Guiding Star Southwest (Guiding Star Project) policies, procedures, and internal paperwork requirements.
• Continuous Education:
  • Stay up-to-date with the latest trends, research, and best practices in prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum care.
  • Participate in ongoing training and professional development opportunities to enhance doula skills.

Perform other duties as assigned

Required Skills & Abilities:

• Must be a professed, faithful, and engaged Christian
• Must be passionately pro-life, exhibiting a reverence for life at all ages from conception to a natural death
• Agrees with and is willing to uphold and adhere to the foundational principles in accordance with our Faith and Values agreement
• Bilingual Fluent English and Fluent Spanish required
• Possess a valid driver’s license, auto insurance, and reliable personal vehicle
• Ability to lift more than 25lbs
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods
• Ability to kneel, crawl, lift and bend down occasionally
• A completed Doula Certification is required for this position
• Demonstrated experience in attending and assisting patients at births as a doula is required
• Excellent communication skills - written and verbal and excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Proficient in commonly-used computer programs and applications, such as Microsoft Suite, EHR Systems, Google Suite, email, project management apps (Asana), time clock, messaging apps, and other relevant technologies
• Excellent organizational and time management skills; Be self-motivated, detail-oriented, and able to execute duties with little supervision
• Highest level of personal integrity and excellent interpersonal skills and collaborative leadership skills 
• Ability to thrive, remain flexible and focused in a fast-paced and complex work environment
• Able to envision opportunities and contribute innovative problem-solving skills
• Ability to prioritize tasks and carry out projects with minimal supervision
• Must be humbly confident, hard-working, and trustworthy
• Positive, friendly, caring and patient attitude

As a Doula, you will play a pivotal role in creating a positive and empowering birth experience for expectant mothers and their families. Your dedication to emotional and physical support will contribute to the overall well-being and satisfaction of the clients you serve.
Please note that this job description is subject to change and may be updated as needed.