Some doulas don’t like the word client.
- Joni, from Mexico calls them gorditas – little round women.
- I often call them my moms.
But it sure confuses my friends when I say, “My mom is having her baby today.”
It is also confusing because I have students and clients, but they all hold the same spot in my heart. So I am trying to find the perfect way to refer to them.
- “Pregnant mom”
- “Round woman”
- “Expecting momma”
I need ideas – what do you call your clients?
I can guarantee you I would not use a doula who called me a “round woman” or “gordita”! What exactly is wrong with client? If I am paying someone for a service, then I am her client.
Actually, gordita=little fat woman. I would be pretty offended if my doula called me gordita. I’d stay away from that one. =0)
I’ve heard that in Latino cultures “gordita” is a term of endearment, not meant to be offensive. I can totally see that term working well in that culture. We’re too sensitive in the US 😛
For me it is confusing a bit because my doula clients are also my students 95% of the time and they don’t feel like clients really. More like friends because we really get to know each other through classes and then prenatal appointments.
I call them clients and occasionally refer to them as mommas. ie “I have a momma due on the 19th…” I wouldn’t mind gordita – but for sure it is probably cultural.
I refer to my clients as “my moms/families”, if I’m not calling them clients…
I cracked up when I read that she calls her clients “gorditas”. Yes, it is a term of endearment in their culture and yes, we are way too sensitive.
Gorditas! How funny! I call them my “doula-moms,” I don’t like the word client, either. It sounds so…cold, maybe?
For some reason calling someone “my mama” a rubs me the wrong way and makes it seem like i’m taking ownership over the woman or her birth, or like she’s my child. I see lots of doulas saying “I’ve got a mama due today,” etc. and somehow to me that language just seems to put too much focus and emphasis on the doula and not enough on the expectant mother. For me “my client” implies more that the woman is in charge and has hired me to support her. I understand it is a bit cold-sounding considering what we do, but for me it feels more comfortable. sometimes i also say (for example), “Amy, whose birth I’m attending…”
I’ve called them “mamas” in the past….but the thing is, when I was pregnant, I felt adamant that I was NOT a mama yet. Despite what anyone may have written or said, I felt that I was not a mom until I held my baby in my arms. Until then, I was a pregnant woman. And like you say, it’s confusing to others when I call them “mamas”. So, I tend to stick with clients. I feel good about that.
I agree that “I have a momma due today” is a safe thing to say. Or to call them your mommas.