These Standards of Practice ensure that certificate holders and applicants for certification are aware of, and committed to, upholding high standards of practice for Mattie Marie Traditional Birth Studies Doulas and other professionals certified by Mattie Marie Traditional Birth Studies program.
Our Standards of Practice are also meant to assist members of the general public, including expecting mothers, health care professionals, and other interested parties with understanding the duties responsibilities and limitations of Mattie Marie Traditional Birth Studies certificate holders and applicants for certification.
Mattie Marie Traditional Birth Studies developed and adopted our Standards of Practice to provide certificates holders and applicants for certification with a clear statement of the expectations of conduct and level of practice afforded the public in, among other things, the following areas: professionalism, client safety, and ethical standards.
Standard 1: Professionalism
1.1 The Birth Professional ensures that a clear representation of their services, policies, and practices are presented clearly in writing and deed to their client(s) at all times.
1.2 The Birth Professional will operate with respect to the client’s autonomy, while still providing guidance to the client.
1.3 The Birth Professional maintains a professional demeanor and appearance to all other professionals serving the birthing family.
Standard 2: Client Safety
2.1 The Birth Professional will maintain communication and situational awareness to her client’s needs, respecting the client’s comfort level during prenatal exercises, intrapartum position changes, or intrapartum positioning. Anything causing discomfort is ceased immediately.
2.2 The Birth Professional will follow all universal precautions as the health safety of all parties is non-negotiable.
2.3 The Birth Professional will follow all food safety requirements.
2.4 The Birth Professional will not contradict the client’s healthcare provider.
Standard 3: Ethical standards
3.1 The Birth Professional will guide the family through their pregnancy, intrapartum, and postpartum periods based on evidence-based information and support the family no matter what their race, creed, gender identification, gender preference, lifestyle or religion is.
3.2 The Birth Professional will assist the client in the identification of their needs and drafting a birth preference document prior to labor in order to allow the client to communicate their needs and desires as early as possible to their Midwife or Physician.
3.3 The Birth Professional will adhere to the acronym of NEAR: Nurture, Educate, Assess and Refer.
3.4 The Birth Professional will never diagnose, nor make decisions for the client, but will advise if escalation is in their opinion necessary and make a referral to a professional versed in the client’s needs.
3.5 The Birth Professional will not argue with any other members of the client’s birthing team, nor any other hospital staff.
3.6 The Birth Professional will refrain from any sort of clinical activity, as these extend beyond their certified specialization.
3.7 Mattie Marie Traditional Birth Studies Doulas and other Professionals Certified by Mattie Marie Traditional Birth Studies program DO NOT prescribe any treatments, including pharmaceutical medications, homeopathic recipes, or herbal supplements, that they are not previously, or separately trained and certified (and licensed where applicable) to do.