THE LOOM AND THE WEAVERS

Abstract

This study addresses the relevance of doulas' roles within the Brazilian obstetric context and their intersection with Freirean critical pedagogy, using the analogy of weaving to explore the complexity and interconnection of the elements involved. Doulas have gained prominence in the obstetric scene within the movement for the humanization of childbirth, offering physical, informational, and emotional support to pregnant women, women in labor, and postpartum women, in contrast to the technocratic biomedical model that fragments and dehumanizes the childbirth experience. By working within the principles of Freirean critical pedagogy, doulas can promote a dialogical educational process, centered on active listening and the joint construction of knowledge, challenging the "banking" conception of education that passively deposits knowledge. The study also highlights the importance of critical and reflective training for doulas, considering the characteristics of pregnant women, women in labor, and postpartum women, to avoid perpetuating oppressive practices. The regulation of training courses is seen as essential to ensuring that doulas' practice contributes to a more just, equitable, and humanizing social fabric, integrating both popular and scientific knowledge. The work of doulas, when aligned with the principles of critical pedagogy, not only humanizes obstetric care but also promotes the construction of a society where the agency of women and pregnant individuals is fully recognized and respected. This interweaving of practices and knowledge has the potential to transform the Brazilian obstetric landscape, creating a pattern of care that is strong, resilient, and, above all, humane.