Do They Use Pronouns?

If you have recently explored options for midwives, doulas, or childbirth educators, you may have noticed a clear and consistent trend: the prominent display of personal pronouns and explicit declarations of commitment to diversity and inclusion, often specifically highlighting support for LGB (TQIA+) individuals and families.

In the context of pregnancy and childbirth—experiences rooted in female biology—this shift is not value-neutral. When providers publicly align themselves with specific social or political positions, it can create the impression that agreement with those views is assumed. Women who hold sex-based perspectives or who prioritize clear biological language may feel reluctant to voice their concerns or ask questions openly, for fear of being labeled intolerant or exclusionary.

Birth is an intensely personal and vulnerable time. Women deserve environments where they can speak freely about their bodies, their language preferences, and their beliefs without navigating ideological tension.

Find Your Tribe!

The language of “finding your tribe” can sometimes sound simplistic, but in a time when even basic biological truths are debated, seeking intellectual and moral clarity matters. Nowhere is this tension more evident than in the world of midwifery, doula care, and childbirth education—professions historically rooted in an intimate understanding of female embodiment.

For many women, especially those seeking birth workers grounded in biological clarity, this matters deeply. They want care providers who can speak plainly about female anatomy and reproductive function without euphemism or ideological overlay.

The Search for Woman-Centered Birth Workers

When I began researching pregnancy and birth organizations, I focused on doulas and childbirth educators. These professionals shape how women understand their bodies, pregnancy, and birth — so the philosophy behind their training matters.

What I discovered is that many training organizations openly align themselves with LGB (TQIA+) advocacy and promote gender-inclusive language that replaces words like “women” and “mothers” with terms such as “pregnant people.” To be clear, my concern centers on gender identity ideology — not sexual orientation. The issues are distinct, even if they are often grouped together.

To assess each organization, I conducted a simple review of their websites. I searched for terms like “LGB (TQIA+),” “gender-inclusive language,” and “pregnant people.” These keywords can give us a great insight into how an organization views sex and the idea of embodiment in its curriculum. When a site didn’t clearly state its position, searching the organization’s name alongside these terms frequently led to policy pages, diversity statements, or affiliations that clarified their stance.

The Credential Behind the Birth Worker

When families choose a doula or childbirth educator, they often focus on personality, philosophy, and experience. But there’s another layer that deserves attention: the credential behind the birth worker.

A credential is more than a certificate on a wall. It represents the institution that trained the professional, the curriculum they completed, the standards they agreed to uphold, and the framework through which they were taught to understand pregnancy and birth. Every certifying body carries assumptions — about biology, language, ethics, risk, and even identity.

Training organizations determine:

• What language is considered appropriate in client care

• How sex and embodiment are defined

• What diversity and inclusion standards practitioners must affirm

• What continuing education is required

• What professional codes of conduct govern practice

In many cases today, credentialing bodies incorporate gender-inclusive language policies and ideological statements into their training materials and membership agreements. For some birth workers, this alignment reflects their personal convictions. For others, it may simply be part of the pathway to gaining recognized certification in a competitive field.

Either way, the credential shapes the professional environment in which a birth worker was formed.

This does not mean a credential automatically defines the individual practitioner. Experience, mentorship, and personal philosophy all matter. But it does mean that the certifying institution has influenced their education and may continue to influence their practice through required renewals, policy compliance, and professional expectations.

For families, understanding the credential behind the birth worker offers clarity. It invites thoughtful questions:

• Who trained you?

• What philosophy guided your education?

• What professional standards are you accountable to?

Birth is deeply personal. Knowing not only who your provider is, but who formed them professionally, helps ensure alignment, transparency, and trust during one of life’s most significant transitions.

Marked with an asterisk *

Doula and childbirth training organizations that clearly support the LGB (TQIA+) agenda and explicitly push gender-inclusive language are marked with an asterisk. *

Unmarked

Some are iffy, but several doula and childbirth education training programs do not emphasize LGB (TQIA+) in their curriculum, though many still include inclusive language. Confusing. I think they are caught between a rock and a hard place, forced to navigate the childbirth communities influenced by gender politics.

If you are considering doula or childbirth education training, it is worth writing to these organizations asking them specifically what to expect in their curriculum regarding LGB (TQIA+) and requirements for using gender-inclusive language.

Ancient Song - U.S.

Ancient Song focuses on birth justice among Black and Latinx people. They use gender-inclusive language on their website, but it is unclear if they support LGB (TQIA+) in their curriculum.

* Bebo Mia - Canada

Bebo Mia clearly emphasizes its support for LGB (TQIA+) inclusivity and integrates gender language into its curriculum.

* Best Doula Training - U.S.

I could not find a specific policy, but they provide scholarships for queer birth workers and include LGB (TQIA+) topics in their curriculum.

* Birth Arts International - U.S.

Birth Arts International uses gender inclusive language on their website. Though I could not find their curriculum, student testimonials praise them for including LGB (TQIA+) inclusion in its curriculum.

Birth Matters International

It is unclear whether their educational curriculum highlights the use of inclusive language or promotes the LGB (TQIA+) agenda.

* Birthing Advocacy Doula Training (BADT) - U.S.

BADT is queer owned and has one of the most LGB (TQIA+) inclusive doula trainings available, centering on gender diversity and gender inclusive language.

* Birthing From Within - U.S.

Birthing from Within has a social justice section that emphasizes identity, inclusivity, and the LGB (TQIA+), though it is not clear if it is included in their curriculum.

The basic concept is pretty simple: all kinds of people give birth. Women give birth. Men give birth. People who identify outside the gender binary give birth. … If you want to have an inclusive practice that serves all birthing people, …. you could change your language to become more inclusive of more families in your community, substituting words like person (pregnant person, birthing person, postpartum person), partner(s), parent(s), and they/them.

BirthWorks International - U.S.

Birth Works International has a “diversity, equity, and inclusion” statement that expresses their support for inclusive language, such as:

expectant/laboring/birthing/gestational parent to describe the pregnant person who gives birth

It is not clear that their curriculum includes LGB (TQIA+) topics, but they strive to support policies that focus on inclusion.

* CAPPA - U.S.

CAPPA uses inclusive language on its website and integrates inclusive language in its curriculum.

One of the easiest ways we can build bridges of inclusivity is in our messaging online and offline. Simple changes like adjusting “mom” to “birthing person” makes room for people not identifying as women.

* Childbirth International (CBI) - New Zealand

CBI uses inclusive language on its website and in its courses.

We use inclusive language in all our courses and believe in the right of every person to be treated with equity and kindness. CBI trainers have undergone professional development in using inclusive language and how to support all students, regardless of their gender identity, religious and spiritual beliefs, race, culture, and family structure.

Doulas of North America (DONA) - U.S.

DONA doesn’t have structured standards for incorporating LGB (TQIA+) specific topics into their curriculum but uses gender inclusive language as a default. In 2016, they changed their vision statement from “a doula for every woman who wants one” to a “a doula for every person who wants one.”

* Doula Training International (DTI) U.S.

DTI is highly inclusive, incorporating LGB (TQIA+) and gender inclusive language into their curriculum.

Why does Doula Training International use gender neutral language? Our entire society is set up to affirm two genders when gender exists on a spectrum. Gender and sex are not the same thing - and the doulas role is to affirm all pregnant people.

Doula UK - U.K.

Their website uses gender-inclusive language, such as a birthing person, alongside woman-centered language. I could not find information on their curriculum, so I am not sure if it includes LGB (TQIA+) inclusivity.

Hypnobabies - U.S.

Hypnobabies acknowledges inclusiveness among their instructors but they do not focus on LGB (TQIA+) topics in their curriculum.

International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) - U.S.

ICEA acknowledges transgender and gender-queer families, but they use woman-centered language alongside gender inclusive language. It does not appear they focus on LGB (TQIA+) topics in their curriculum.

* Lamaze - U.S.

The following is a sample of suggestions that Lamaze makes for using gender neutral language in their classes.

On your website and registration material, consider using gender-neutral language. On registration and intake forms, ask your participants what their pronouns are. (He/him, she/her or they/them).Introduce yourself at the beginning of class with your own pronouns.During class, when you are referring to the people who are giving birth, consider using the following nouns: "pregnant people” instead of “pregnant women”. When using pronouns, use “they” rather than “she” or “he” and “them” rather than “her” or “him." Ensure that there is a gender-neutral bathroom available for class members to use. Very pregnant men would not be comfortable or feel safe using a female bathroom.

Mama Glow - U.S.

Mama Glow uses a mix of woman-centered and inclusive language on their website and encourages gender-inclusive language, but it is not clear if their curriculum focuses on LGB (TQIA+) specifically.

It is integral that, even as we center and uplift women, we create space for birthing people of all genders to feel seen, heard, and supported. Gender-inclusive language is a perfect place to start. Replacing terms like “mother” and “pregnant women” with terms like “birthing person,” “gestational parent,” or “pregnant people” holds space for gender variation and fluidity.

Maternity Wise Institute - U.S.

Maternity Wise Institute acknowledges gender diversity and inclusive language, but its focus is more on advocacy. It does not appear that its curriculum focuses on theLGB (TQIA+).

ProDoula - U.S.

ProDoula has a diversity and inclusivity statement and provides guidance on inclusive language, but it does not appear they focus explicitly on LGB (TQIA+) in its curriculum.

* The Mindful Birth Group - U.K.

Our teacher training course includes mandatory reading including AJ Silver’s Supporting Queer Birth. …. We work closely with Jacob from Transparent Training Ltd. to ensure that Mindful Birth teachers are trained in trans parent inclusivity and that all of our materials and resources reflect this too.

Sista Midwife Productions - U.S.

Their primary focus is on Black women’s birth experience, not the LGB (TQIA+).

* Whole Body Pregnancy - U.S.

Whole Body Pregnancy uses inclusive language on their website and centers their training on LGB (TQIA+) inclusion.

Whole Body Pregnancy is unapologetically pro-Black, pro-Abortion, pro-Queer.

The Public Gaze

Many professionals in the childbirth field are hesitant to speak openly about their beliefs. Publicly affirming women’s sex-based rights, questioning gender-inclusive language, or stating that sex is immutable can carry significant professional risk. In today’s climate, such positions are often met with backlash — reputational harm, loss of opportunities, strained professional relationships, or even threats to certification and employment.

I have witnessed this dynamic within the birth world. I have experienced it myself.

As a result, many practitioners choose silence. Not because they lack conviction, but because the cost of speaking can feel overwhelming. For independent birth workers whose livelihoods depend on referrals, partnerships, and professional standing, the stakes are especially high.

Some are willing to stand visibly and absorb the consequences. Others contribute in quieter but still meaningful ways — by supporting organizations that affirm women as a biological class, by using clear language in their own practices, or by aligning with networks that promote a grounded understanding of women’s bodies.

Both forms of courage matter.

If we believe that women deserve language, care, and advocacy rooted in biological reality, then we have a responsibility to support those working to preserve that foundation — whether from the front lines or behind the scenes.

We must. And we should.

“If women can’t stand in a public place and say “men cannot be women,” then we do not have women’s rights at all.” ~ Helen Joyce