Right time to become a doula

[amitymama]

So I've been giving it a lot of thought and I really want to become a doula. However, I am TTC my second child right now (first cycle) so could become pregnant very soon. I don't know how long the training is for doulas but I'm wondering if it would be better to wait until I've had my second and he or she is at least 1 year old so I won't be as needed for nursing. But that means waiting two years! Also, a part of me thinks I should wait until I've got two of my own births under my belt and because my first was in the hospital and ended up being a vacuum delivery. I feel that I need to have experienced a natural homebirth before I can be a 'legit' doula, though I know that's not true. But I want to jump right in and not wait that long.

Any thoughts?

[MsBlack]

I myself would not want to wait to begin. That said, can you begin now just by reading, reading, reading? Then, by the time you are ready to seriously begin, you will already have a ton of the reading done.

[amitymama]

Originally Posted by MsBlack

I myself would not want to wait to begin. That said, can you begin now just by reading, reading, reading? Then, by the time you are ready to seriously begin, you will already have a ton of the reading done.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. That, and maybe taking a related class that would be useful, like massage, aromatherapy or hypnobirthing. Surely these are good things to be skilled in as a doula!

I guess I'll look into the courses and do my own educating at the same time and see what happens. Thanks!

[Meche]

If there were a requirement of experiencing a natural homebirth to become a doula, there wouldn't be many out there! I know what you mean, not that it's necessary but it's a nice complement to your future practice to have experienced it yourself. I have had two hospital births and am looking forward to my own homebirth in April -- being a doula at homebirths really made me crave having that experience for myself!

If I were you, I would use this time of pregnancy to do the prep work -- workshops, conferences and reading -- to have that out of the way because it can be a lot to juggle those tasks with the birth work and raising small children. This is a good opportunity for you!

I took my DONA training workshop two years before I actually started attending births. It was a slow time in between, but I was researching, going to conferences and attending birth circles during those two years, so I was developing my knowledge base. It was worthwhile in the end.

Good luck!

[amitymama]

Originally Posted by Meche

If there were a requirement of experiencing a natural homebirth to become a doula, there wouldn't be many out there! I know what you mean, not that it's necessary but it's a nice complement to your future practice to have experienced it yourself. I have had two hospital births and am looking forward to my own homebirth in April -- being a doula at homebirths really made me crave having that experience for myself!

If I were you, I would use this time of pregnancy to do the prep work -- workshops, conferences and reading -- to have that out of the way because it can be a lot to juggle those tasks with the birth work and raising small children. This is a good opportunity for you!

I took my DONA training workshop two years before I actually started attending births. It was a slow time in between, but I was researching, going to conferences and attending birth circles during those two years, so I was developing my knowledge base. It was worthwhile in the end.

Good luck!

Thank you, that's just the kind of thing I was hoping to hear, that people have done the training, workshops and research but then not jumped straight into doing the practical work. That makes me feel a lot better. To me, it makes perfect sense to go ahead and get the training out of the way while I've got a toddler sleeping through the night and with a regular bedtime and before I've got a squalling baby and sleepless nights again!

Thanks again.

[SublimeBirthGirl]

Being a doula with young children was impossibly difficult for me. Being on call knowing I'd have to find a place for them even at 2 am was so stressful. I trained and attended 6 births but I don't doula anymore. My 1st was 20 months or so when I attended by last birth, and I was 1st trimester with my 2nd at the time. I may get back into it when they're a lot older.