Where do I start to become a doula?

[pixiewytch]

I think I would really like to pursue this. I used to work in ob/gyn as a medical assistant for a number of years before becoming a SAHM. I've always wanted to go into midwifery but I think the financial and time investment may be out of my reach. After having my own doula experience I think I would enjoy doing this.

First off, how old were your children before you had the freedom to really work? Mine are 5 and 7 mos so this is something that may not happen anytime soon. I would still like to plan for it though.

Secondly, where do I start for training? Where and how much?

If nothing else, having a clear goal to put this into action would be great for me right now!

[DoomaYula]

There are a lot of threads about this, you can search.

It comes down to: good reliable childcare. You have to be able to call in the middle of the night, be gone for 24h, the usual.

Some doulas are certified (I'm with ALACE; there's also DONA, CAPPA, CBI, and many others) and some aren't. It's up to you. There's usually a weekend workshop, along with a list of required books, and you have to attend X amount of births before you're certified.

[pixiewytch]

Thanks for your reply. The childcare issue sounds like the biggest obstacle for me with this, or any other job for that matter. How do those of you do it with a partner who works a 9-5 job with no exceptions?

And how do you get your feet wet? I know you said you have to do so many births before being certified. Are those under some other supervision? How do you get that first birth without experience? And the one after that and so on? I know everbody starts somewhere. I just imagine it would be tough to get that initial experience without any experience.

[MidwifeErika]

Originally Posted by pixiewytch

Thanks for your reply. The childcare issue sounds like the biggest obstacle for me with this, or any other job for that matter. How do those of you do it with a partner who works a 9-5 job with no exceptions?

My husband works a regular job with manufacturing hours (starts work at 6:30am). We have a list of quite a few babysitters who I could call on if I get called to a birth while he is at work. I think having more than 1 possibility is the best. If I am gone in the middle of the night and not back in the morning, it is his turn to find the sitter to cover until I return. The childcare part is the most stressful part to me being oncall.

[DoomaYula]

Originally Posted by pixiewytch

Thanks for your reply. The childcare issue sounds like the biggest obstacle for me with this, or any other job for that matter. How do those of you do it with a partner who works a 9-5 job with no exceptions?

My best friend and I have an arrangement, I pay her to watch my kids while I'm at a birth. If she can't do it, I have several babysitters and several other friends I can use. It's really important to have someone you can REALLY count on, like someone who understands that you can't call in sick or whatever to a birth.

And how do you get your feet wet? I know you said you have to do so many births before being certified. Are those under some other supervision? How do you get that first birth without experience? And the one after that and so on? I know everbody starts somewhere. I just imagine it would be tough to get that initial experience without any experience.

Just put it out there to friends/family that you're interested in attending births and you're willing to do it for a small fee -- do not do births for free because you'll just get taken advantage of. Charge like $50-$100 or at least enough to cover babysitting. It took me about a year to get all my certifying births in.

[SublimeBirthGirl]

I love ALACE, and if you sponsor a workshop, you take it free. I did DONA as well and it was pretty good, but ALACE was really great.

[pixiewytch]

Originally Posted by SublimeBirthGirl

I love ALACE, and if you sponsor a workshop, you take it free. I did DONA as well and it was pretty good, but ALACE was really great.

I don't want to seem nosy, but I see you have two little ones so how do your childcare arrangements work out?

So far I just can't see myself being able to do this until the kids are old enough to stay home alone. I don't have relatives or friends living nearby that could watch them on the fly while DH is at work during the day. I guess the only option would be a daycare where I could just drop them off at any time. Do they even do that?

[tlcdoula]

Originally Posted by pixiewytch

I don't want to seem nosy, but I see you have two little ones so how do your childcare arrangements work out?

So far I just can't see myself being able to do this until the kids are old enough to stay home alone. I don't have relatives or friends living nearby that could watch them on the fly while DH is at work during the day. I guess the only option would be a daycare where I could just drop them off at any time. Do they even do that?

I have a friend who made arrangements with a homeschooling family. If she had to go to a birth during the day the teenage daughter would come over and watch her kids until her husband came home.

[DoomaYula]

I have 4yo twin boys and a 2yo girl. I started attending births again after she was about 6 months, when she would take a bottle from whoever. I am a BFAR mom so she got lots of bottles anyway -- I'm not sure I could have done it if she had not taken bottles. I'm pregnant again and plan to take at least 6 months off after this baby is born.

[wumanh]

How about starting out as a postpartum doula at first? Then you can schedule child care. Birth Arts International has distance programs for both L& D and Postpartum
On another thread I put it out that moms with young kids can look at their parenting as great training. Patience, working with their pace, education, doulaing babies to become adults!

[pixiewytch]

Ooh, thanks for that suggestion. PP doula sounds very feasible to me as well. I have had a lot more confidence with this baby than I did with my son because of the experience from before.

And speaking of babies, Yuma, you are right. My DD will not take a bottle from anyone, only the breast so I really can't do anything right now. I'm taking things slow but that doesn't mean I can't work my way into this eventually.

[nethead]

I've been giving this a lot of thought lately too, and it seems PP douling seems like the feasible option while my kids are still young (I'm B/F almost 12 month old twins).
But I'm confused by which course to take and which one seems best etc,etc. Is it preferable to do PP and birth doula from the same organization or doesn't it matter? I wish ALACE did PP and birth doula certification, I think I've been thinking about this too much...

[turtlewomyn]

I have also been concerned about dealing with little ones (as I am not done having children) but I would also really like to do birth work as well. I have kind of thought that I might do it in steps: PP doula/CBE.....birth doula......midwife assistant.....midwife and then also throw becoming a lactation consultant (hopefully IBCLC) in there along the way. That way I can do the more daytime oriented work while the kiddos are young, and progress to the nighttime work as they get older/ as the schedule allows.

[SublimeBirthGirl]

I haven't attended any births since I was pregnant w/ my 2nd. The childcare thing was VERY VERY stressful. If I ever go back to it, it'll be years from now.

[nethead]

Originally Posted by turtlewomyn

I have also been concerned about dealing with little ones (as I am not done having children) but I would also really like to do birth work as well. I have kind of thought that I might do it in steps: PP doula/CBE.....birth doula......midwife assistant.....midwife and then also throw becoming a lactation consultant (hopefully IBCLC) in there along the way. That way I can do the more daytime oriented work while the kiddos are young, and progress to the nighttime work as they get older/ as the schedule allows.

Yes this is how I would like to progress also. Trouble is, I think I may be 80 by the time I get there

[pixiewytch]

I'm grateful for all your responses and now I'm considering the PP doula idea. I see the recommendations on different workshops for certification but how do I contrast and compare? What are the differences between ALACE, DONA, etc? I would like to narrow down my options but not sure where to start with so many choices. Thanks.