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Writer's pictureMarlee-I Mystic

Involving Fathers in Doula Work: Building Stronger Families from the Start

In the journey of pregnancy and childbirth, the focus often centers on the birthing parent, but there's a growing recognition of the crucial role partners play. Involving partners early in the pregnancy through doula work can significantly enhance the experience for the entire family. Joey Cordero, a dedicated advocate for fatherhood, sheds light on this in his insightful discussion about fatherhood and doula work.


A Father's Journey

Joey Cordero leading a fatherhood workshop at the SisterWeb cottage.

Joey's own journey began with the child welfare system and the reunification with his three-year-old daughter. This experience propelled him into community work, helping other fathers navigate similar challenges. Over the years, Joey has trained social workers to engage fathers more effectively and collaborated with various community partners to bridge gaps in the system. His recent collaboration with SisterWeb in a workshop on fatherhood underscored the importance of integrating fathers into the doula work early in pregnancy.


"My name is Joey Cordero. I'm a father in the community and I have been doing fatherhood work for about 14 years now. That came about with having experience in the child welfare system. I reunified with my daughter when she was three years old, and I began doing work in the community, helping other fathers reunify with their children. This work has taken me into all sorts of spaces in my community in San Francisco, California, working with father’s directly, training social workers on how to better engage fathers…Today, I collaborated with SisterWeb and did a two hour workshop…beautiful conversation today around fatherhood– our own experience with our fathers and understanding how it shows up in our work."



Early Involvement

One of the key takeaways from Joey’s discussion is the profound impact of involving fathers early in the pregnancy process. Fathers, like all partners, can provide crucial support to birthing parents, contributing to a more balanced and nurturing environment. However, many Joey reiterates that fathers may need coaching to understand their roles better and to become more actively involved, with the understanding that Institutionalized racism disproportionately impacts Black and Latino fathers during labor.


SisterWeb community doulas from the Kindred Birth Companions (KBC) program participating in a fatherhood workshop at the SisterWeb cottage.

Building Bridges: Collaboration and Capacity Building

Joey and SisterWeb's workshop highlighted the concept of "bridge work" – building connections and finding solutions to engage fathers effectively. By addressing the barriers fathers face and collaborating with doulas and other community partners, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment. This collaborative effort is crucial in transforming how we view and support family dynamics from the very beginning.


Language of Co-Parenting

A significant insight from Joey’s discussion is the importance of language in shaping perceptions. Instead of focusing solely on the birthing parent or their partner, shifting to a language of "y'all" emphasizes the collective effort of co-parenting. From the moment a baby is conceived, co-parenting begins, and acknowledging this early on sets the stage for a more cooperative and supportive family environment.


Conclusion

SisterWeb community doulas from the Kindred Birth Companions (KBC) program participating in a fatherhood workshop by Joey Cordero at the SisterWeb cottage.

Involving partners early in the pregnancy process is not just beneficial but necessary for the well-being of the entire family. Through coaching and support, partners can become more active participants, contributing to a nurturing environment for both the birthing parent and the baby. Joey Cordero’s work highlights the need for collaborative efforts and a shift in language to create a more inclusive and supportive approach to family care. By embracing these changes, we can build stronger, more resilient families from the very start.


This blog post was written by Katelyn Sotelo, Evaluations and Communications Intern & undergraduate student at UC Berkeley, majoring in Public Health and Education. Photos and audio/visual materials were collected by Sofía Carbone, Communications Coordinator at SisterWeb.

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