Cannabis-Informed Doula Care: What That Means and Why I Offer It

Cannabis use during pregnancy and postpartum is one of those topics people whisper about, tiptoe around, or hide completely. Not because they’re doing something reckless — but because they’re afraid of being judged, dismissed, or shamed. I’ve heard the fear in people’s voices when they bring it up. I’ve seen the hesitation in their messages. And I’ve also seen the relief when they realize they can finally talk about it openly.

That’s why I choose to be a cannabis-informed doula.

Not to encourage cannabis use.

Not to replace medical advice.

But to offer realistic, harm-reducing, nonjudgmental support for people who already use cannabis and want guidance — not fear.

Because the truth is simple:

People deserve care based on compassion and evidence, not stigma.

What “cannabis-informed” means (and what it doesn’t)

Being cannabis-informed does not mean I tell clients to use cannabis.

It does not mean I give medical advice.

It does not mean I claim cannabis is safe for everyone.

What it does mean is this:

I understand why people turn to cannabis for nausea, anxiety, appetite, pain, sleep, or trauma

I stay educated on cannabis forms, dosing, and harm-reduction information

I listen without judgment

I help clients talk with their providers if they want support navigating that conversation

I provide evidence-based resources

I respect bodily autonomy

I support informed choice, not fear-based pressure

I help clients make safer choices, not shame them for the ones they’re already making

Cannabis-informed care is about staying grounded in reality instead of pretending people don’t use it.

Why people use cannabis in pregnancy and postpartum

Every person’s situation is different, but some reasons I’ve heard include:

HG-level nausea

appetite issues

anxiety

chronic pain

trauma responses

sleep struggles

managing PTSD

staying regulated when other options failed

reducing dependency on harsher medications

Whether someone decides to continue, reduce, or stop their use altogether — that’s their call. My role is to support them emotionally and help them access the information they need to make their own decisions safely.

Why people fear talking about cannabis with their providers

I’ve heard it countless times:

“I don’t want CPS involved.”

“I don’t want my doctor to shame me.”

“I don’t want to be treated like a bad parent.”

“I don’t want assumptions made about me.”

And sadly, these fears aren’t exaggerated.

Too often, people face judgment instead of support — which pushes conversations underground when they should be transparent and safe.

By offering cannabis-informed doula care, I help bridge that gap. I help clients:

prepare to talk with their provider

understand what to expect in Colorado

advocate for themselves

access community resources

stay emotionally grounded

No one should feel unsafe telling the truth about their own body.

Harm reduction is compassion in action

Cannabis-informed doula support is rooted in harm reduction:

talking openly about forms of cannabis

understanding potency

avoiding overuse

avoiding risky consumption methods

supporting clients who want to taper or stop

creating safer usage plans

recognizing how stress, trauma, or HG shape cannabis choices

Harm reduction isn’t about encouraging use — it’s about acknowledging reality and keeping people safer without shame.

Why I offer this support

I offer cannabis-informed doula care because:

parents deserve to feel safe telling the truth

stigma creates harm, not safety

fear shuts people down

trust allows for real support

cannabis use is more common than people think

mental health matters

trauma matters

autonomy matters

My own journey — navigating HG, postpartum depression, medical trauma, and the years of survival-mode parenting — taught me that people make decisions based on lived reality, not idealized perfection. And they deserve support that reflects that truth.

This work isn’t about cannabis.

It’s about care.

It’s about compassion, understanding, and informed choices.

My role is simple: support, not shame

I’m here to:

listen

offer evidence-based guidance

help create safer-use strategies

support emotional wellbeing

help clients navigate conversations with providers

provide resources

hold space for the complexity of real life

And always — always — within my scope, without replacing medical advice, and without judgment.

People deserve doulas who meet them where they are, not where someone else thinks they should be. And cannabis-informed doula care allows me to do exactly that.