Burnout & Boundaries in Doula Care: A Conversation We Need to Have

Birth work is beautiful, sacred, and deeply personal but it can also be incredibly draining.

As doulas, we often pour from a cup that isn’t being refilled. We stay up all night holding space during long labors. We provide emotional care through postpartum tears. We witness trauma. We hold it all, and then try to return to our own lives like we didn’t just carry someone through one of the most transformational moments of theirs.

That emotional labor can pile up. And when we don’t set clear boundaries to protect our energy, burnout creeps in. It looks like irritability. Fatigue. Resentment. Detachment. And worst of all, it can make us lose our passion for the work we once loved.

Let’s be clear: burnout doesn’t mean you’re not good at this. It means you’ve been giving too much without enough support in return.

Why Boundaries Matter in Birth Work

Boundaries aren’t walls. They’re bridges to sustainability.

They help us:

• Protect our rest and recovery time

• Maintain compassionate but clear communication with clients

• Set expectations that honor both parties

• Create space for our personal lives, families, and healing

Without boundaries, we risk overextending ourselves to the point of no return.

Boundaries are self-care. Boundaries are harm reduction. Boundaries are the secret sauce to showing up long-term in this work.

Let’s Talk About It Together

If this resonates with you (or if you’re unsure where to even begin), you’re not alone. That’s exactly why our next Donuts & Doulas meeting is centering this topic.

📅 Next Meetup: August 13, 2025

📍 Sip & Sonder – Inglewood, CA

☕ Donuts, coffee, open dialogue, and community care

We’ll discuss burnout in real life, not just what it looks like on paper, but how it actually shows up for us as caregivers. We’ll explore how to rest and recover beyond the usual bubble bath advice. And we’ll create space for coloring, conversation, and collective healing.

This isn’t just for doulas, if you’ve ever cared for someone else while forgetting to care for yourself, this space is for you too.

Join us. Your wellness matters, too.

Follow @sproutingkare or click the link in bio to RSVP.

You don’t have to do this work alone.