Is this a good idea?

[MountainMamaGC]

First off I want to explain my town's situation. I live in an isolated mountain community. There are 2 towns that women have to go to give birth. The first one is about a 90 minute drive (in good road conditions). The hospital is smaller and older. The other is a small city about 2 hours away. It have a bigger newer hospital with more doctors and specialists. We have a hospital here but they wont deliver babies because there is no anesthesiologist. They will only deliver if its an absolute emergency. Women here tend to have inductions or c-sections because they are terrified of giving birht on the side of the highway, or going into labor during a blizzard.

My friend and I are crazy about natural living and breastfeeding. I am even this towns first LLL leader. We were chatting today and we thought it would be great if this town had some doulas. I think it would give women the confidence needed to wait until their baby is ready. We are looking into taking a DONA course and becoming doulas. We would take clients and watch each others child if the other was out of town. Also take over for each other in case of emergency. We would do monthly meetings with the mothers, to build a relationship and provide information about childbirth as well. We havent got it all worked out yet. I am wondering if this would work in this town. Also I was wondering about legal issues. Like what if a mother did have to deliver on the side of the road? I could I protect myself legally. Any advice or input is appreciated.

[Auroara Bobcat]

I think that this is a great idea. In your small town you may have a hard time finding women who would be interested in this type of service, but with enough community outreach you could inform many women.

If you are doula-ing for a client and there is a contract that says specificaly what your role is and what the client can expect from you, than I do not see how you should have any legal problems. But there may be something out there that I am over looking. If there is a good chance that a woman will go into labor on the way to the hospital than perhaps you should take cpr and infant resuscitation .. YOu.    .                  \

classes and become certified.

You should also have a very good understanding of the physiology of labor and birth, just incase you find yourself in a position that requires you to assist with the a birth (if both the mother and father agree on you assisting.)

But all in all this sounds like a wonderful idea and it could really benefit you and you community.

[momto9kidlets]

Like the other poster said you might have a hard time finding clients especially at first, but if you stick with it then the clients might come.  As word of mouth from clients starts to circulate that is how you increase your business.  So basically persistence pays off! 

As far as legality goes - it doesn't matter what you do in this world - if someone wants to sue you they can and will try.  Even if you do everything by the book and do nothing outside of your scope someone could try to sue you and then you would need to hire an attorney to prove you are innocent.  Sadly that is just how our world is right now. 

The truth of the matter is - if I lived my life worrying about being sued or being held liable then I wouldn't be in this business and I don't think many others would be too.  You have to practice within your scope and have faith that birth will go as it should and that your clients won't be the type to sue if they birth on the side of the road (a big one with this is NOT to tell then how long to stay home - if they want to go then you go and honor their wishes because when you hold them back that is when if can get sticky). 

[MidwifeErika]

When I first started I had some concerns about being sued. My preceptors pointed out to me that everyday I get in my car and drive, I am risking having an accident and having someone sue me. Each day someone walks up to my front door I am running the risk of the person slipping and falling and suing me. I can only control my actions, not anyone else's. This made so much sense to me. I just work hard and honestly and do my best and that is all that I can control in this life.

I think becoming a doula to serve the women of your community would be fantastic. You may struggle to fill your schedule, but I bet the women who hire you would value your services a great deal!!

[jengacnm]

Have you thought about becoming a midwife? Sounds like there's a real need there.

[MountainMamaGC]

I have thought about it. The problem is becoming one. I would have to go to university to become certified and there are only 2 universities that offer the midwife program in this country and I dont live near either one. I cant really afford the training at this point. I do think its something I want to persue someday. There is a huge demand for midwives up here since our healthcare system started covering them. Women go on waiting lists just to get one. You have to call the moment you get a BFP to get a spot.
 

Originally Posted by jengacnm 

Have you thought about becoming a midwife? Sounds like there's a real need there.