Traditional Childbirth Arts is an international educative organization that focuses on birth work. Our mission is to provide exceptional education and support to aspiring birth-workers as well as continued education to existing birth workers. 
TCA shall not be held liable for the practices and behaviors of individual students or certified doulas, birth-workers and encapsulation specialists that complete TCA courses.. We are solely an education provider furnishing a certificate upon completion. Each student/doula/birthkeeper, birthworker, encapsulation specialist is an independently owned and operated practice. Some may work for/with an agency or in some cases, for a hospital.
Standards of Practice
A doula is a person knowledgeable in pregnancy/childbirth/postpartum who provides non clinical continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the birthing family before, during and just after childbirth. Professional doulas are aware of the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a  birthing and postpartum  person . A doula's mindset is that pregnancy and birth are normal, natural, and healthy processes. This includes preparation for birth, helping the birthing individual with continuous support, comfort measures, relaxation techniques, as well as support after childbirth, such as help with breastfeeding resources and postpartum care.
A Traditional Childbirth Arts certified hospital doula is taught to offer support for the family in the hospital or a birth center. They serve as an advocate, labor coach, and an informative resource for birthing/postpartum individuals and their partner. They are also a liaison for the birthing person and their care staff, spouse or partner, family, and visitors.
What a TCA Hospital Doula Does Not Do
Medical/clinical tasks: A doula does not take blood pressure, check fetal heart tones, assess body temperature, or perform internal exams.
Give medical advice 
Make decisions for their clients 
Replace partners or other family members 
Interfere with or obstruct medical care 
Speak for their clients
Empower women: A doula does not have the power to give or take the power away from another person.
Push their own birth ideals onto a birthing/postpartum person
What a Traditional Childbirth Arts Doula Does Do
Provides mental, emotional, informational and personal support from the moment they are hired or are in agreement to attend a birth/postpartum. Encourages proper nutrition and works with their client to attain proper nutrition as per their primary care provider Provides continuous non clinical  support during the birth Shares current and evidence based information Is encouraging and positive Doulas the whole family Reminds a birthing/postpartum Individual of their own intuitive ability Helps to create and hold a safe, peaceful and calm space for the birthing/postpartum individual Helps the birthing/postpartum individual find their own voice Knows their place in the birth/postpartum setting Provides feedback to the birth/postpartum person and partner Is sensitive to cultural diversity Provides referrals including information on birth place options and local practitioners who work with pregnant, birthing and postpartum individuals. Assists the client in locating resources such as a birth pool, birthing stool, squat bar, and overall materials that may be needed for the birth Attends prenatal visits and or provides postpartum visits Respects and protects client confidentiality Extends professional courtesy at all times to their colleagues, including other doulas, obstetricians, midwives, nurses, placenta encapsulators, childbirth educators etc.  
Code of Ethics
 A TDMA doula shall:
Center the best interest of their clients over all else
Respect the privacy of their clients and hold all information about said client in confidentiality.
Uphold all agreements. If the doula is unable to fulfill an agreement, they shall make every effort to arrange other services  
Be reliable
Practice within scope
Demonstrate professional courtesy
Uphold and advance the wisdom, values and ethics of doula work
Respect cultural differences
Engage in social and reproductive justice issue of their community in an appropriate manner
Contiguously expand on education to stay up to date with the latest evidence based information  
 
If a student/certified doula acts in a manner that brings the professional ethics, standards and practices of a TDMA professional in question, via fraud, abuse or practicing outside of the scope of practice, they will be removed from the program, with no refunds offered, or certification will be revoked. Revoking a certification can be caused by fraudulently doing course work, professional work or any cases of professional abuse of skills, power, etc. 

Lodging a Complaint
 A complaint may be submitted by any person or institution against the conduct of a TDMA doula. Complaints maybe  also filed internally  without a 3rd party complaint. Anonymous complaints or complaints without evidence, will not be investigated. The complainant will be notified of the decided next steps, with-in 30 days of their written statement.  
The complaint will be recorded.
The student or doula will be notified of this complaint and have 10 days to respond.
TDMA may ask for further information from the complaint.
Possible actions depending on the council’s discernment
Do nothing
Facilitate and encourage the complainant and student/doula to come to a mutually agreeable solution
Council the student/doula on proper conduct
Revocation of certification or student enrollment 
Email complaints to:  t.doula.arts@gmail.com
Include you name
Student/doula name
Date of occurrence
A detailed account of the complaint
Your phone number
Your emial address 



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