More Than a Farm Mom, Less Than a Vet: I’m a Cow Doula
If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ve probably heard me call myself a cow doula. It’s a term I use a lot, and honestly it’s become part of my identity at this point. But what exactly does it mean?
It’s basically like being a doula for people… except for cows. There’s more to it than that though, so let’s back up and start from the beginning.
The Annoying Girlfriend Who Gets Excited About Babies,
But Is Pretty Useless If Actual Help Is Needed
I grew up surrounded by agriculture and spent a lot of time on both my aunt and uncle’s dairy farm and my grandparents' farm when they were still milking cows. But despite being around it, I had zero interest in working with livestock myself.
Then, I married a farmer. You might think that’s where my passion for cattle started. You’d be wrong. 😂 Even after marrying into farm life, I still wasn’t all that involved with the cows other than naming the cute calf or two that was born each year.
That changed in March of 2020 when I started working from home as a teacher because schools went virtual during COVID. I was pregnant at the time and because of the chaotic state of the world, there wasn’t a whole lot for me to do with my free time. As a result, I found myself outside with the cows a lot more, mostly out of boredom. This also happened to be when our calving season started for the year, and as I spent more time around the cattle, I wanted to actually do something to help instead of just standing around looking pretty.
I remember asking my husband for resources so that I could learn about cow things, and he handed me what can only be described as a giant vet school text book opened up to a section on something called a “flight zone”. For those who don’t know, a flight zone is basically a cow's personal space bubble. If you’re aware of her flight zone, you can get her to move in any direction you need her to go. With my newfound knowledge, I was now able to help move and sort cows, get pregnant ones into the barn when needed, and be around to assist with calving situations. That’s where it all began.
Farm Wife Who Is Capable Of Helping,
But Needs Directions & Guidance
To make a long story short after learning about flight zones, I learned more and I helped more. And as I helped more, I learned more. My role during calving kept growing each year, and over time, I gained a lot of hands-on experience.
Eventually, I started sharing about the farm on social media. When I went to update my personal profile to tag the farm’s page and reflect how I help on the farm in my “job title”, I realized I didn’t have a name for what I was doing. I wasn’t just a farm wife or a farm mom because I was actively helping with calving. But I also wasn’t a herd manager, and farmhand didn’t quite fit either.
I knew a lot of what I wasn’t, but I wasn’t sure what I was.
That’s when I came up with the term cow doula.
Pezewski Cattle & Grain’s Official Self-Appointed Cow Doula
“Cow doula” fit perfectly because, like a human doula, my role is all about support during pregnancy. I help care for the cows during pregnancy, monitor them before & during labor, and watch over them & their calves postpartum.
Another reason doula made sense is that doulas, unlike midwives or doctors, don’t necessarily have formal medical training. That describes my exact role during calving. I’m not the one in charge of medical decisions, but I do know what to look for to make sure things are going okay for a cow giving birth. I can handle things on my own when calving goes smoothly, and I know when to call my husband in for extra help. I don’t pull calves myself (at least, not yet), but I can recognize when intervention is needed.
I’m a cow doula-like a people doula, but for cows. 😉
The Moral of the Story
When there isn’t a perfect title for what you do, create one yourself!
That’s precisely what I did with cow doula, and it turned out to be beyond perfect. It captures what I do during calving season (supporting our cows through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care) without needing to try and fit myself into a role that already exists.
Sometimes, the right words don’t exist for the work you do, the passions you pursue, or the way you show up in the world. And when that happens? You don’t have to squeeze yourself into a box that doesn’t fit. You can just make your own.
