Please help me quit my corporate America job.

[Eli's_mommy]

So I am a doula now. I've been pretty busy, but I haven't actually left my nine to five yet. I want to desperately. We just bought a house less than a year ago and I would like to keep it. That is not possible on dp's income alone. I have done the math, and if I can get 4 clients a month, we can live very comfortably. I have been very proactive about marketing, and I'm going to keep at it. I'm pregnant myself, so luckily I have some maternity leave in March and April, and I'm hoping once May rolls around I don't have to go back.

Doulas- are you able to keep a steady-ish income? I'm getting rec's from midwives and that seems to keep me pretty busy...they know I have another job though, and I think if I left I could get more work. Hmmm. I just need good vibes and support. This is my calling and I can't keep going to this worthless job.

And if you happen to be a midwife in WA, I'm taking clients starting again in May Oh, and I'm awesome. :

[mom2tillie]

No advice, just wanted to tell you that you are not alone. I have the similar plans. If I don't work we lose more than half of our income though. I haven't completed my doula training yet either, but I have begun.

Hoping to be a SAHMer by 09.

I'm pulling for you.

-Iris

[ctdoula]

I'm just curious how you're planning to take clients w/a newborn at home. I'm not being snarky, just curious. My doula 'career' came to a screeching halt when I had my first baby. I just could leave for indefinate periods of time. I was a doula for 5 years before dd was born, and I've been at births ranging from 1 hr to 72hrs in length. I just couldn't fathom being gone for 25hrs, childcare, pumping, being on call all hours with a tiny baby. And still can't....

I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be a downer. I know having 4 clients a month is possible. I was getting constant phone calls when I finally took myself off the DONA list. If you really get yourself out there, you can. Do you have backup?

[ctdoula]

I'm just curious how you're planning to take clients w/a newborn at home. I'm not being snarky, just curious. My doula 'career' came to a screeching halt when I had my first baby. I just could leave for indefinate periods of time. I was a doula for 5 years before dd was born, and I've been at births ranging from 1 hr to 72hrs in length. I just couldn't fathom being gone for 25hrs, childcare, pumping, being on call all hours with a tiny baby. And still can't....

I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be a downer. I know having 4 clients a month is possible. I was getting constant phone calls when I finally took myself off the DONA list. If you really get yourself out there, you can. Do you have backup?

[SublimeBirthGirl]

4 births a month would have landed me in an asylum, but for me even one was challenging, so, *shrug* I'm also curious about the tiny baby thing. The first year being on call would have been next to impossible for me, even for one birth.

I would start by looking at your lifestyle and figuring out where you can save if you're at home. Groceries (cooking is way cheaper from scratch than using prepared stuff, healthier too), cable TV, etc. Where can you cut spending? You may be surprised. To make it work you may have to make somewhat of a leap of faith, and that means getting those bills down to the minimum possible.

[Eli's_mommy]

As far as having a small baby at home, I have considered this. If I stay at my current job, I will be gone a minimum of ten hours a day to begin with. I realize 10 hours is different than a 50 hour birth, but I'd rather risk an occassional 50 hour birth than constantly work a job I don't enjoy 10 hours a day (if you're counting lunch- and honestly it's way more if you count drive time).

Sounds like I need to get my certification with DONA finished...I've done the births but just didn't have the cash handy to pay them. I'll get on that...

Thanks for the support from everyone

[Eli's_mommy]

Originally Posted by SublimeBirthGirl

4 births a month would have landed me in an asylum, but for me even one was challenging, so, *shrug* I'm also curious about the tiny baby thing. The first year being on call would have been next to impossible for me, even for one birth.

I would start by looking at your lifestyle and figuring out where you can save if you're at home. Groceries (cooking is way cheaper from scratch than using prepared stuff, healthier too), cable TV, etc. Where can you cut spending? You may be surprised. To make it work you may have to make somewhat of a leap of faith, and that means getting those bills down to the minimum possible.

Hee hee- I did three births in a two week span last month and loved it. I know for certain this is for me.

You're right though- it's surprising where you CAN cut back if you need to. I could get rid of cable, buy a cheaper car, etc etc. It's nice to have those things in my back pocket. I want to go into it assuming I can afford those things though....

[1stimestar]

Do you have a reliable back up network? Do you have childcare that can work at the drop of a hat? You need more then one each of back up doula and child care provider if you are going for 4 clients a month. It CAN be done but you better have all your ducks in a row, which it looks like you are working on right now. Good luck!

[Eli's_mommy]

Originally Posted by 1stimestar

Do you have a reliable back up network? Do you have childcare that can work at the drop of a hat? You need more then one each of back up doula and child care provider if you are going for 4 clients a month. It CAN be done but you better have all your ducks in a row, which it looks like you are working on right now. Good luck!

I forgot to mention I have one main back up doula and I have a secondary. I currently have four sources of childcare and currently looking for a fifth.

I know I can do it. I just need to be pushed pushed pushed and told I can do it I guess.

[Gunter]

YOU CAN DO IT!

Would you think about doing post partum work, in addition or would that be too much to juggle?

[Eli's_mommy]

Thank you so much! I probably wont do post partum work aside from the two visits I normally do. I'd rather start teaching childbirth ed.

OT- we're both due in Feb!

[tlcdoula]

For me work comes in spurts. For example, I had three clients in July, three in August, one in September, 0 in October and 2 in November. I still have one of the November mom's due, but do not have anyone else lined up until February.

I did end up doing four births in four days in July and that just about killed me LOL. I literally came home from a birth and just about turned around and went back - with one set that is exactly what happened. I got home at 12:30 am and left at 1 am to go right back to the same hospital I had just left.

Maybe others have it differently but I could not give up my regular job(s) if I needed income because the work just isn't predictable enough.

[iemaja]

Hi, Just thought I'd chime in, I'm a newly certified doula with my first client due in early January. I work full time, so I was wondering how you take on births while working F/T. I intend to use vacation/sick days for this first client...but I know that if I had a steady business I wouldn't be able to do this. I intend on cutting back to part time next August so that I can take on more clients.

GOOD LUCK! YOU CAN DO IT!!!