Doulas play a crucial role in nurturing families, yet the needs of new dads and other non-gestational parents often remain unmet. Many supporting partners feel unsure of their role, struggle to balance caregiving and work, or feel excluded from early parenting conversations. When doulas actively include and support these parents, they can strengthen family bonds and build confidence in caregiving.

In this session, we’ll explore the unique concerns and needs of non-gestational parents during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, as well as the barriers that doulas might face in supporting them. Through interactive discussions and practical exercises, you’ll learn strategies to navigate these dynamics, engage and empower all parents, and foster their connection to their babies and families. While this session’s content centers on dads, many of the theories and practices discussed can apply to non-gestational parents of all genders.

Join us to expand your skills, gain new tools (including a checklist you can use in your practice), and leave feeling empowered to support all parents with confidence and care.

SPEAKER

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) are the most common complications of pregnancy and postpartum, yet they often go unrecognized. In this keynote session, Dr. Sara Moyer will examine the evolving landscape of perinatal mental health and introduce the Perinatal Mental Health Screenings Toolkit, including the recently updated EPDS-US screening tool and PMH Connect resource/information sheet.

Learn how this critical screening tool is being refined to better identify those at risk, and explore the role of birth and postpartum professionals in fostering person-centered  education, early detection, intervention, and meaningful support for families.

This session was recorded as part of the 2025 in-person conference and qualifies for DEI/Cultural Competency & BRN-CA nursing credit. 

This webinar provides a chronological review of recommended approaches to positioning and latch during the newborn period and a research-based summary that clarifies which approaches make early lactation easier, which make it more difficult, and why. It includes the information needed to implement a simplified lactation initiation strategy designed to reduce the incidence of the 3 most common early problems, as well as details about online resources freely available to families.