Doula Mamas Tribe - Page 3

[momto9kidlets]

Hi all - I have been a doula for 8 yrs now and have 9 children.  I started doula work when my seventh child was almost 2 yrs old (she turns 10 yrs old today woohoo), and at the time thought I was done having babies.  Several years later hubby and I changed our minds and now we have our two sweet babies who are 2 and 1 yr old.  I have done doula work through the last two pregnancies and in both cases actually did my final clients three weeks before my babies arrived, and I went back when they were around 3-4 months old.  With my daughter I took a student doula with so I could take breaks to pump and in case it was long (it wasn't) and with my son I just lucked out that the first few births back were shorter. 

[rebirth]

Does anyone here have help? I'm looking for a mothers helper and would love to see if my fellow doula mamas haveo ne and how it works out!!!

[rebirth]

So, how is everyone doing? whats on all of your calendars for the next few moths?

I'm still working on building up my volume and hope to get an average of 2 clients per month by the end of the year, for births, and 6-10 postpartum per year. I'd like ot teach CBE (privately) a little more often then I do, but I barely advertise it, so that is no real suprise. :)

I have clients due each moth for the next 4 months, then a break (family vacation!!!) then an august client and that is it. I've had 2 interviews this week for fall clients, and would love to get my fall schedule going now too!!! I've got 2 postpartum clients on my schedule too, so that is good :)

[mymaybaby05]

Originally Posted by rebirth 

So, how is everyone doing? whats on all of your calendars for the next few moths?

I'm still working on building up my volume and hope to get an average of 2 clients per month by the end of the year, for births, and 6-10 postpartum per year. I'd like ot teach CBE (privately) a little more often then I do, but I barely advertise it, so that is no real suprise. :)

I have clients due each moth for the next 4 months, then a break (family vacation!!!) then an august client and that is it. I've had 2 interviews this week for fall clients, and would love to get my fall schedule going now too!!! I've got 2 postpartum clients on my schedule too, so that is good :)

 Sounds like a fantastic year planned!

[momto9kidlets]

I am doing really well.  I was working for a hospital doula program, but just resigned this past weekend because I was taking too many call shifts and simply not getting enough clients.  Being in school and blocking all of that time and not getting clients was really frustrating and then they wanted me to take even more call shifts and I just couldn't commit.  As it was I was taking 13 (24 hour) call shifts this month and being in school.  Sadly I had one birth through them in January, none in February and one in March - just doesn't pan out to be on call that much and then not get paid for all of those hours. 

As far as what is coming - I recently started a soon to be non profit group so that has kept me very busy.  We are going to be working with teen and low income mothers - offering classes, doulas, mentors, etc. 

I also teach part time for a local hospital (3 days per month), but sometime in the next few months will be adding a new class to my roster so will be teaching weekly for a few hours on Sundays. 

I am also in school working on my nursing degree, and might take postpartum clients if they come, but am not actively looking for any clients.

[phathui5]

"So, how is everyone doing? whats on all of your calendars for the next few moths?" """

The next couple of weeks on my calendar look a little crazy.

I'm staffing a table at a children's consignment sale with our doula group this weekend, March 18-20.

March 21- Taking a client to childbirth class at hospital

March 23- Interviewing possible babysitter

March 24- Doula Connection meeting

March 29- Leaving for Midwifery Today conference

April 4- Arriving back home

April 7- Speaking at childbirth class

April 10- Natural Health Expo

April 13- Meeting with L&D head nurse at local hospital

April 14- Doula Connection Parent Night

April 11- Prenatal meeting w/client

April 18- Prenatal meeting w/client

RIght now, I have one client due in March, one around the end of April, one in early May, one in June and one in October (already hired me!).

[mymaybaby05]

Originally Posted by phathui5 

"So, how is everyone doing? whats on all of your calendars for the next few moths?" """

The next couple of weeks on my calendar look a little crazy.

I'm staffing a table at a children's consignment sale with our doula group this weekend, March 18-20.

March 21- Taking a client to childbirth class at hospital

March 23- Interviewing possible babysitter

March 24- Doula Connection meeting

March 29- Leaving for Midwifery Today conference

April 4- Arriving back home

April 7- Speaking at childbirth class

April 10- Natural Health Expo

April 13- Meeting with L&D head nurse at local hospital

April 14- Doula Connection Parent Night

April 11- Prenatal meeting w/client

April 18- Prenatal meeting w/client

RIght now, I have one client due in March, one around the end of April, one in early May, one in June and one in October (already hired me!).

I hope my buisness grows as well as yours!!!   
 

[canadiancookie]

My name is Michelle and I'm a birth doula and married mother of two living and working in Western Canada.  I'm DONA trained, but I am choosing to certify through another organization.  I've been working as a doula for nearly 3 years and I love it!  Would love to connect with other doulas!

[mamamoonbirth]

Mama K - I am in Southwest Washington as well. Have you been to any of the BSN meetings? I am trying to network with some more Vancouver area folks, seems most everything goes on in Portland. I recently attended a day long talk from Barbara Harper on waterbirth, it was at Southwest Washington medical Center. I met a midwife from Legacy Salmon Creek who is going to show me around her place and aquaint me with their birth pools. Lots of exciting things going on in good ol' Vancouver!

[cinderella08]

Hi!! Can I join in?  I am Amber - birth doula and student midwife.  I did my training through Childbirth International and loved it.  I have a daughter who is 2.5 and a son who is 8 months.

[heather333]

Hi! This is a great thread! I was recently certified as a birth doula, but before that I was attending births through a local hospital doula program. I am now starting my own doula business, but I'm not too sure how to go about advertising. What has worked best for all of you? I'd love to get more clients, but in CT, it almost seems like it's getting over-saturated! We're such a tiny state!

I also have 4 children of my own, ranging in ages from 9 (in a few days!) to 1 year old. I homeschool and sell slings on the side, plus I'd love to get involved in teaching more childbirth classes. Currently, I am teaching for a couple planning a homebirth.

Heather:)

[CookieMonsterMommy]

Joining!

I'm a certified labor and post partum doula.  I'm also a certified childbirth educator--which is what I'm trying to focus on more right now, due to the fact that I work full time.

I'm a single mother, so with work and childcare for my son, it's very hard for me to schedule clients on an on-call basis.  I'm an RN on Labor & Delivery, so in a way, I'm getting my birthing fix, but it can be incredibly frustrating, as you can imagine.  The US birthing system is not mother or child friendly, and I definitely do what I can to support my patients, but I have rules to follow as a nurse and they often conflict with what's best for mom and baby.  Makes me want to pull my hair out sometimes.

I also lost my daughter who was born and died June 30th of 2010, so I'm not sure I'm ready to become as emotionally vested in a client as I would like to be at this point in time.

But I'm looking forward to "chatting" with you all.

[heather333]

Hi Kelly,

First, I am so sorry for the loss of your baby. It must be hard going back to the L&D floor! You must have strength!

I volunteer at a hospital, and it can be hard to watch the hospital births and all the rule following! It's ncie to be able to get in there and try to make a difference though, as I am sure you are able to do with your patients. You're probably that breath of frsh air they need:)

Heather

[MamaBearCare]

Hi everyone,  my name is Tina and I have been a doula for almost 4 years now.  I'm certified through DONA and working in the Houston, TX area.  It's tough as a mom of 3 and having a husband that travels with work SO much, but I make it through.  My 5 & 7 year olds do not understand why they cannot come with me to my births because birth is such a natural part of our lives.  Do any of you have similar situations/struggles?

[celynen]

Hi Mama Doulas!  I'm a DONA certified birth doula in Nor Cal and teach private CBE as well.  Nice to see us with a tribe post with lots of new and experienced doulas to bounce ideas off of!  I've helped moms with everything from VBACs to breech and twins.  I love my work.  It's the greatest calling I've ever had aside from my motherhood.  I'm a mom to two boys - ages 5 and 3, so the biggest challenge in my work, I think, is managing quality childcare on short notice.  That's a constant struggle but always seems to work out. 

Kelly - we've a local doula who works only with parents who are expecting stillbirth or only to have a very short time with their LO.  She finds the work incredibly hard, but rewarding.  Perhaps as someone who has been down that path, it might be a place where your experience would serve you and your clients well when you're ready.  *Peace and healing to you.*

[rebirth]

Originally Posted by celynen 

Kelly - we've a local doula who works only with parents who are expecting stillbirth or only to have a very short time with their LO.  She finds the work incredibly hard, but rewarding.  Perhaps as someone who has been down that path, it might be a place where your experience would serve you and your clients well when you're ready.  *Peace and healing to you.*

I've offered free support to families expecting a stillbirth. I've gone through recurrent miscarriages, and I have a desire to help families be less alone at that time then I was, especially with the intensity of labor and loss....

[love4bob]

Hi! I'm in training through Birth Art's International, and I'm going to a DONA workshop next week! :) I'm excited! I haven't attended a birth yet, but I hope I can soon. My schedule doesn't really fit well with doulaing, but I really have a passion for it, so I want to make it work! I am in college full time to be a teacher, so that takes a lot of my time. My husband is also in the Army, so he doesn't have a lot of flexible time. Plus I'm pregnant and have 3 little ones! Wow!

[heather333]

Just wondering what has been the most successful advertising venture for each of you. I'm trying to build up client volume, but I'm not sure the best place to devote my dollars and energy. I also volunteer at a nearby hospital in their doula program, but even the need there has been low. I'm in CT, and I live in a more rural part of the state where client base is low to begin with. The wealthier parts of the state see huge doula-desire, but not so much around here, and I cannot travel that far. Any advice would be great!

Heather

[cinderella08]

I had business cards, flyers, and info cards made up through vistaprint.com and sent about 25 of each (stapled in a 3pc set) to every single local midwife and OB office within a 100 mile radius.  I created a facebook page as well.  Both were helpful.

[pagoda24]

Hi there- mama to a toddler, been a doula for 7 months now, have attended 4 births and have another 2 this summer- and expecting to start TTC in the next months :) I am getting ready to send off my certification packet to DONA so will be certified right around the time when I am getting pregnant. My son starts part time day-care in 2 weeks so once he's out of the house during the day I'm going to work on building a website and getting some more private clients. I've done most of my work as a community doula serving low-income women receiving care through FQHCs. I love my work so much and I am so glad to have found this tribe :)