doula wisdom

[red moon]

Hi,
I am getting started with the process of training to be a doula. I was wondering if other doulas out there could tell me something about their experiences.....like what got you into it, what you did to get certified, and what your most poignant moments have been. (by the way: what/ how does a doula get paid??? By the hour, or all at once at the end, one lump sum? As usual I get interested in something and begin pursuing it and THEN ask about that practical matter!

[1stimestar]

I only have a couple of minutes so will post more later but I can tell you how I get paid. I charge XX amount. I provide an initial free consultation where we can meet and see if we click. I also go over my contract and tell them that I do not expect them to sign it right then. Go home, discuss it and give me a call. I go over that I do not consider them a client until I have a 50% downpayment of my fee. I also need to be paid the remaining 50% by week 38, when I go on call for them. That way there is no money issues being thought of at the birth, no hard feelings of going on call without being paid, no worrying about paying money when you have a new baby to deal with.

[Stephanie L.]

Originally Posted by red moon

Hi,
I am getting started with the process of training to be a doula. I was wondering if other doulas out there could tell me something about their experiences.....like what got you into it, what you did to get certified, and what your most poignant moments have been. (by the way: what/ how does a doula get paid??? By the hour, or all at once at the end, one lump sum? As usual I get interested in something and begin pursuing it and THEN ask about that practical matter!

I am new in the doula world myself, but will answer a little:

Sum up about my experiences--Mamas in labor discover that it's A LOT harder than they ever thought it would be. They need to know they CAN do it--their partner and you (doula) are there for her, and whatever decision she might make (like epidural), that it's OKAY. She is doing something VERY difficult. If she needs help then she needs help. SUPPORT SUPPORT SUPPORT!

What go me into it--I had a hard labor with #1, a lot of fear and difficult time surrendering control. My next birth was a "snap" because I had healed my heart and fears and learned how to overcome my fears. When I'd meet other mamas hwo had that worry in their hearts I realized I could help them because I understood, had BTDT, and seen the other side, too. It doesn't have to be that hard.

I went through the DONA labor doula certification process. A workshop is offered nearby regularly.

Poignent moments--well, there is sooooo much to say here, mama!! But I love helping to facilitate dad involment. So many dads don't know how to help. Learning in birth classes is not on-the-job-training. Often, they don't know how/when to apply certain techniques. As a mom, myself, I have a nurturing sense and might see something long before the dad. Telling him (out of mama's earshot) my observations or offering ideas and then letting him take credit actually moves me. Then as the baby is crowning and born and the dad is bawling I have a sense that both parents will be there for their babe to nurture and love. It can be so much easier for mamas to be that way, it's how we were built. But dads need encouragement and support.

But it's not ALL about the dads, OF COURSE! Just soooo much to say, here!!

Payment varies, naturally, based on the cost of living. Around here in Oregon, I think birth doulas ask $500-$700 for a couple prenatals, birth, and a PP visit. I have heard a doula in Manhattan could easily charge $1500. or more. I think most doulas ask for partial payment up front (retainer), and the rest at the PP visit. Probably varies, too.

So far, I have never heard of a doula who can make a living wage at this job. It's a "labor of love." (Pun intended. ) You need to have another income to live off of. sorry.

[Babes in arms]

Originally Posted by Stephanie L.

So far, I have never heard of a doula who can make a living wage at this job. It's a "labor of love." (Pun intended. ) You need to have another income to live off of. sorry.

Just wanted to add here that I do know of doulas who support themselves comfortably. I know of one partnership in particular that the primary doula has been at it 20 years and has such a large clientel that she added a doula partner and a doula in training to her business just to keep up. She's in south La and charging 500 a birth.

[red moon]

I am also an herbalist, and my sense is that these might marry well. Also, neither one may be a complete income, but together, some semblance of financial well-being may ensue. One can hope!

[SublimeBirthGirl]

How doulas get paid varies. It's really up to you (one nice thing about self-employment). I never got certified - I trained with ALACE and DONA, just never certified. I found that it didn't affect my ability to get clients. I attended my first homebirth as a doula, and that was the beginning of the end of my doula career. Every hospital birth was worse than the last and I couldn't stand doing it anymore. I'm glad there are women who can stomach it but I'm not one of them. The 2 homebirths I attended were absolute high points in my brief doula career (which I may pick up again somewhat as my kids get older-childcare was VERY stressful for me).

[demetria]

Originally Posted by red moon

I am also an herbalist, and my sense is that these might marry well. Also, neither one may be a complete income, but together, some semblance of financial well-being may ensue. One can hope!

They do, they do

[Maggi315]

There is a doula yahoo group that is very active and has several years of archives. you will find all the answers to your questions and more! I forget the name, I haven't belonged in over 2 years, but you can go to yahoo groups and do a search.

Good luck!

[DoomaYula]

Originally Posted by red moon

Hi,
I am getting started with the process of training to be a doula. I was wondering if other doulas out there could tell me something about their experiences.....like what got you into it, what you did to get certified, and what your most poignant moments have been. (by the way: what/ how does a doula get paid??? By the hour, or all at once at the end, one lump sum? As usual I get interested in something and begin pursuing it and THEN ask about that practical matter!

I got into it because during my first labor, with twins in a hospital, I had a wonderful experienced woman help me -- she was so much more helpful than my mom or the kids birth dad -- and I ended up having a wonderful vaginal birth. I thought every woman had a birth like that. I realized later that most women aren't satisfied with their births, and finding women who enjoy them is even more rare. So I'd like to help women enjoy their births. Now, some clients have no interest in "enjoying" their birth -- they just want to get through it, ya know? That's fine. I have to remind myself that it's okay. But every once in a while I get a special client who actually wants to experience her birth, and that keeps me going.

I attend only hospital births and after 2 years, I'm a little burned out and jaded about hospitals -- at least our local hospital. But then, the hospitals aren't going to change if the women don't demand change, and unfortunately most women I know are happy to acquiesce to whatever their doc or CNM says. We don't have any hb mw's here.

I used to charge by the hour, but then someone on here suggested that it would be more beneficial to charge a lump sum -- if a woman has a 2 hour labor, I still could have spent 12h in prenatal appts with her, and my fee should reflect that. Doulas provide an important service and we deserve compensation for that. I charge $400. I used to do a lot of advertising but I'm pregnant now and also I'm a little more choosy. I'm the only doula in town, which is crazy. I was really ill last week with a virus and I had a client at 38w and I was thinking PLEASE don't go into labor! PLEASE!

I'm ALACE certified. I really like ALACE.