You Can Do Better Than ‘Birth Junkie’
The Words We Use
When you’re passionate about birth, you want to learn about it.
You dive into books and podcasts. 
You search for blogs and videos on YouTube. 
You scour social media for people to follow. 
What should you be called for doing that? 
A "birth nerd?" A "childbirth junkie?"
I see a lot of that. People referring to themselves as a birth nerd. Calling anyone who’s diving into birth information a birth junkie.
And I don’t like it, so that’s what I want to talk about today.
Why do we use words with negative connotations to describe someone who is passionate about a topic?
A Positive Alternative
Why don’t we say something positive about someone who is heartfelt, excited, and devoted to an area of interest?
If someone was pursuing a PhD in psychotherapy, we wouldn’t say they’re a therapy junkie.
We don’t call cardiac specialists heart nerds.
I don’t think this is a case of misogyny — dismissing the interests of predominantly women in a field related to predominantly women — even though I am prone to such accusations.
I do think it’s a case of downplaying the genuine and necessary interest people have of birth, a subject that our culture has relegated to the shadows. And those people are doing it to themselves!
I think of the power that words have on us and invite you to think about how you want to frame your passions.
“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.”
― Ludwig Wittgenstein
Your Passion is Real
If you are fascinated by the birth process...
If you care about how people are treated in labor...
If you believe new parents are not well-cared for in our society...
If you are passionate about the power of human milk...
Find a way to describe your commitment to those things in a way that legitimizes, rather than undermines, you.
Choose Your New Title
Advocate • Aficionada • Appreciator • Authority • Believer • Champion • Custodian • Defender • Devotee • Disciple • Enthusiast • Expert • Fan • Friend • Guardian • Keeper • Lover • Proponent • Protector • Scholar • Spokesperson • Steward • Supporter • Upholder
Each of those words has a nuanced, powerful definition that says so much more about your role than ‘nerd’ or ‘junkie.’
When you take on a more accurate, descriptive, and empowered title, your work will be infused with meaning and people will understand the true value of what you do.
Let me know which title/s you choose.
With love from a social justice advocate, earth steward, birth process aficionada and protector, baby champion, wisdom keeper, and autonomy upholder.
What Are Your Next Steps?
There are many paths you can take to become a doula. Whatever you've been doing so far, keep doing it! (except for calling yourself a junkie or a nerd) You might next pursue formal doula training, apprenticeship or shadowing, doula coaching, or hearing from other doulas how they started their career (read my story here).
Not sure what move you should make next? Let me help you talk it through. Schedule a free consultation with me and explore all your options.
If you’d like to explore deeper into your interest of birth, AND get certified to serve families on Medicaid in WA state, sign up for my online birth doula training.
Not sure you want to be a birth doula? So wise of you to figure out what doula role would be the best fit for you. My book, So You Want to Be a Doula, will help you figure it all out!
Check out all of my courses here.
