LGBTQIA+ Affirming Education

Today on the blog we’re joined by guest author Sarah DiVito. Sarah has been supporting families as a doula for over 6 years and has been a member of the Doulas of Raleigh team for 3 years. Sarah is incredibly committed to inclusive care and believes that every family is deserving of compassionate, non-judgmental support. She is an amazing doula and a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Congratulations to you!!! You’ve made the decision to expand your family! You’ve dedicated time, energy, and love to the process and now you’re preparing for a new beginning - childbirth, postpartum, and parenting.

The precipice of this journey can bring an array of emotions. From excitement to anxiety from joy to overwhelm, parents-to-be can travel the spectrum of the deep and complex feelings family building can bring. When you’re not only entering the uncharted waters of new parenthood but doing so as a queer person, there can be even more nuances to navigate.

Parents who identify within the LGBTQIA+ community can find added steps necessary to gain genuine support. Regardless of how your family is growing, whether through IUI/IVF, surrogacy, parenting through the foster system, or adoption, you deserve to be surrounded by whatever support you want!

Where there are many avenues to travel down when it comes to preparing to welcome a baby into the family, the need to be seen, heard, and respected become less of wish list items and more of requirements to be safe.

One of the greatest ways you can learn how to navigate the nuances of what you need is through childbirth and newborn care classes! Doulas of Raleigh educators build these classes not only to introduce information on the process of childbirth or newborn care but to empower you to enter this new experience in whatever way feels best for you and your family. Knowing what may be available to you is the first step in learning how to get it! The road to parenthood isn’t a straight line and no two journeys look the same which can be intimidating when deciding which classes to take and what is for you. Please be assured that if you are becoming a parent, preparation is for you! 

Classes available at Doulas of Raleigh include:

As a Doulas of Raleigh educator, it is my goal that every single class be a welcoming space, where each family knows they are wanted and accepted in that classroom. Our group classes are fun and inviting and are a great way to learn and connect with fellow parents-to-be. But, if you are looking for education that is tailored specifically to your family’s needs, I also teach private classes in the comfort of your own home. No matter what kind of education you are seeking, Doulas of Raleigh offers it.

The reality of building a family as members of the LGBTQIA+ community can be one filled with prejudice and obstacles. Thankfully, the paths around those obstacles are being forged every day and the spaces where the prejudices can thrive are getting smaller and smaller because parents like you are empowering themselves to demand everything we deserve. 

If you need education and support as you travel your path, reach out! We’re here for you!

Kelly Rutan