Operation Special Delivery
Many people ask, "How did Operation Special Delivery get started?" There's no short answer to that question, so here's the low-down.
Like many people, Patricia Newton, a doula in southern New Jersey, felt the need to personally respond to the tragedies of September 11, 2001. Being a childbirth professional, she immediately saw the U.S. military and their families as indirect victims of the attacks. Because she was geographically located between Washington, D.C. and New York, she asked nearby doulas via the internet if they would be willing to donate their services to any pregnant woman who either lost her partner on 9-11, or would be giving birth without the presence of her partner due to future deployments.
The response was overwhelming. Not only did doulas on the East Coast enthusiastically respond, but within one week, doulas from twenty states wanted to jump on the bandwagon. Now we have doulas all over the world that provide service to military families. It was around this time that I started my volunteering with OSD.
Operation Special Delivery (or OSD), provides trained volunteer doulas for pregnant women whose husbands or partners will be deployed, or unable to attend the birth due to military reasons We also provide support to families whose partners have been severely injured or who have lost their lives. The doulas that are volunteering are doing so at a pro bono (free) rate, and are doing so by their own discretion.
Why military moms? OSD believes that no one should go through childbirth without support, especially the women who are giving birth while their husbands or partners are making such a great sacrifice for our country and our freedom.
If you are looking for an OSD doula you can go to www.doulas.com and look up a doula in your area. Or you can contact me and I will try to help you find an OSD volunteer doula.
I currently support families in the Everett Naval Station and Seattle area. I am also the Coordinating Director for the State Coordinators in OSD.
Like many people, Patricia Newton, a doula in southern New Jersey, felt the need to personally respond to the tragedies of September 11, 2001. Being a childbirth professional, she immediately saw the U.S. military and their families as indirect victims of the attacks. Because she was geographically located between Washington, D.C. and New York, she asked nearby doulas via the internet if they would be willing to donate their services to any pregnant woman who either lost her partner on 9-11, or would be giving birth without the presence of her partner due to future deployments.
The response was overwhelming. Not only did doulas on the East Coast enthusiastically respond, but within one week, doulas from twenty states wanted to jump on the bandwagon. Now we have doulas all over the world that provide service to military families. It was around this time that I started my volunteering with OSD.
Operation Special Delivery (or OSD), provides trained volunteer doulas for pregnant women whose husbands or partners will be deployed, or unable to attend the birth due to military reasons We also provide support to families whose partners have been severely injured or who have lost their lives. The doulas that are volunteering are doing so at a pro bono (free) rate, and are doing so by their own discretion.
Why military moms? OSD believes that no one should go through childbirth without support, especially the women who are giving birth while their husbands or partners are making such a great sacrifice for our country and our freedom.
If you are looking for an OSD doula you can go to www.doulas.com and look up a doula in your area. Or you can contact me and I will try to help you find an OSD volunteer doula.
I currently support families in the Everett Naval Station and Seattle area. I am also the Coordinating Director for the State Coordinators in OSD.
