CBE and/or doula with no personal birth experience?

[bluedaaria]

Hi! I'm kinda new around here, and was wondering if I could ask you all for your input.

I would like to pursue my CBE and doula certification (I am leaning toward ALACE), but I am wondering if the fact that I am young (mid 20s) and have no personal birth experience will hinder my work, or make clients uncomfortable with me. Can clients take me seriously if I am young and childless?

I would love to also hear about the experiences of anyone else who does birth work and is childless.

FWIW, I am a RN and work in post-partum. I do not encounter any apprehension from clients with my work in the hospital, but I do feel it is different. People don't seem to have this expectation from a nurse, but I wonder what it would be like if I started working independently in the community (which I am so excited to do!!).

TIA for any insight and advice

[teachinmaof3]

There are many birth professionals who don't have children.

Can clients take me seriously if I am young and childless?

It's going to depend on the clients. Not everyone that interviews you will want to hire someone who hasn't personally experienced labor/birth.

[Meche]

Three of the midwives on my birth team have not had children. I know several great doulas/educators/L&D nurses who have not birthed yet. To me, it doesn't make much of a difference, except to say, "Oh yeah, I can tell you what it feels like."

On the other hand, my CBE trainer suggested *not* to interject our personal experiences into our teaching. She cautions against using too much anecdotal information about ourselves and our other clients, and prefers sticking to the evidence-based information that we trust about physiological birth.

Anyways, how many male OBs are out there? I bet none of them have ever felt what it's like to push a baby out.

Compassion, respect for the process and love of women are what should be important, not the quality or quantity of birth experiences.

[bluedaaria]

Thank you for the reassurance.

Natural childbirth, and natural family living has been a passion of mine for about 5 years. I plan to birth my own babes at home someday.

Working as a post-partum nurse has given me the oppurtunity to work with new moms and families but my time with them is very short, and with the competing demands of a hospital enviroment (juggling 4-6 patients at a time) I feel I am not able to give the undivided attention each mom needs and deserves. I think the information a women is exposed to while pregnant is far more influential then the fragmented information I can give in the hectic hospital enviroment. I want to work with women in their homes and in the community, where they feel empowered and I can develop a relationship with them over a longer period of time.

Originally Posted by Meche

On the other hand, my CBE trainer suggested *not* to interject our personal experiences into our teaching. She cautions against using too much anecdotal information about ourselves and our other clients, and prefers sticking to the evidence-based information that we trust about physiological birth.

I completely agree with this. Each women's experience is unique. This is how I practice as a nurse.

[tinyshoes]

Originally Posted by rubytuesday

Can clients take me seriously if I am young and childless?

I always smile when I see women pursuing doula work who are concerned about this aspect...because I think of all the male OBs that also have never given birth, and they've got plenty of patients. They certainly have no problems telling a pregnant, laboring woman what to do, despite never having done it themselves.

Sure--it's unusual to be a nulliparous doula, but it has been done and can be done. Good luck to you!

[bluedaaria]

Thanks for the good wishes