How to Get More Involved in Your Local Birth Community
Feeling like something’s missing in your local birth community? Maybe you’ve noticed a lack of support for expecting families or a gap in meaningful, community-driven events. As a doula, you have the unique opportunity to fill that void and make a real difference. One way you can do this is by hosting community mother blessings or blessingways. These mother-centric, spiritual, and community oriented events can transform the way mothers enter into their motherhood era and foster a sense of connection and belonging within your local birth community. Read on to discover how you can use mother blessings as a way to form beautiful bonds, get more involved in your local birth community, and grow your business while doing it!
What is a mother blessing or blessingway?
A mother blessing, also known as a blessingway, is a sacred ceremony rooted in Navajo tradition, designed to honor and support a mother as she embarks on the journey of childbirth and motherhood. This ceremonial gathering recognizes pregnancy and birth as a sacred and unique experience and is typically held near the end of pregnancy, around 34–38 weeks, and often takes the place of a traditional baby shower.
It’s a time to focus on the woman’s journey into motherhood, to uplift her, and to create a powerful, supportive community around her. Unlike the often consumer-driven nature of many baby showers, a mother blessing is about connection, spirituality, and the deep bond shared among women.
Why Doulas Should Be Hosting Community Mother Blessings
Hosting community mother blessings is an incredible way for doulas to get involved in their local birth community. It’s an opportunity to build genuine connections and trust with clients. When you help guide a mother through such a deeply personal and spiritual event, you’re supporting her in a way that goes beyond the usual scope of birthwork, leading to stronger client bonds and increased trust. Remember, birth and postpartum can be very vulnerable times for your clients and knowing that you’re there for them on a deeper level can help them feel more relaxed during such vulnerable moments.
Hosting blessingways is also a great way to strengthen your local birth community. These gatherings offer a chance for families, friends, and other birthworkers to come together, creating a network of support that’s often missing. As a doula, hosting, planning & leading these ceremonies not only strengthens the bonds between you and your clients but also positions you as a connector within the larger birth community.
Another benefit to hosting blessingways or mother blessings is that it helps grow your visibility within your local birth community. Word spreads fast when people feel supported and connected, and the more you offer these meaningful, heart-centered events, the more your reputation as a doula will grow. You’ll naturally become the go-to for support and connection. This is an organic and effective way to expand your client base without any aggressive marketing tactics.
How to Start Hosting Community Mother Blessings
Hosting community mother blessings is a powerful way to bring together multiple expecting mothers, creating a supportive and celebratory space for them as they prepare for motherhood. To get started, first reach out to your local birth community—connect with doulas, midwives, and other birth professionals to gauge interest from those who may want to collaborate with you. Check with your clients to see if it’s something they’d like to participate in as well. If you want to open it up to the public, you can advertise through social media or local parenting groups to spread the word about the event. Once you have a few interested mothers, you can begin planning the details.
Here are four more tips to get you started:
Personalize the Experience: Choose rituals, ceremony elements, and activities that resonate with the families you’re serving. Tailor the event to reflect diverse backgrounds and beliefs, ensuring it feels meaningful and inclusive. If y
Create a Warm Environment: Set up a welcoming space with thoughtful decor, comfortable seating, and calming elements like candles and soft music. A well-prepared environment enhances the experience and makes guests feel cozy and welcome.
Utilize Local Resources: Engage local small businesses for refreshments, decor and other services like henna or belly casting. This supports local enterprises and helps weave your event into the broader community fabric.
Stay Connected: After the event, maintain communication with participants. Share photos, check in on them, and keep the dialogue open to nurture the connections you’ve made.
Our digital download, "A Doula's Guide to Planning a Community Mother Blessing," provides detailed guidance on organizing and executing these events. While the guide offers valuable insights, the real impact comes from applying these ideas to suit your unique community needs.
A Doula’s Guide to Planning a Community Mother Blessing
Want step-by-step guidance to planning and hosting mother blessings in your birth community? While these tips are a great starting point, our e-book, A Doula’s Guide to Planning a Community Mother Blessing, gives you all the detailed, step-by-step instructions you need to organize a powerful and unforgettable ceremony. Written by doulas for doulas, this 37-page guide includes everything from crafting the planning & organization, to customizing the ceremony for the mothers, as well as practical tips for creating intentional community and growing your business.
Are you ready to bring a deeper sense of connection to your local birth community? Hosting a mother blessing is an incredible way to support your clients, expand your network, and create lasting bonds between mothers. If you're looking for guidance to get started, our guide provides all the tools you need to plan these meaningful events. Take the first step in building a more connected and supportive birth community—you have the power to make a real difference!