Patti Johnson is a CAPPA doula in training from rural Spirit Lake, Iowa. As I often do, I called Patti after she recently completed The HUG online course (Part I) to hear how the program went and to learn more about her use of this resource.
Patti and her husband work in a Cherish Center maternity house in her area where four to six women come to spend various amounts of time during their pregnancy. The non-denominational program is supported by private donations and provides a home-like atmosphere for their participants as well as transportation to doctor visits, counseling, support during labor and delivery, and parenting classes.
Patti speaks warmly of the “Earn while you Learn” parenting program curriculum that Cherish Center shares with its residents. Although Patti feels this particular program is comprehensive, she sees an opportunity for HUG Your Baby to fit in. Like many parenting programs she thinks that theirs does a good job explaining newborn care but without much attention to reading a baby’s body language. Patti anticipates that her new credentialing as a doula and her use of The HUG will work well together as a great way to meet the needs of the new parents her organization serves.
© HUG Your Baby 2012