Starting out, need advice please!

[Pyxi]

I have a feeling this is going to be a long one, so TIA to everyone who sticks with me here.

I am currently a mommy of one, a 9 month old boy. DH and I both work full time, but my job allows me to work 2 days per week at home. I work in the video game industry doing community relations. For at least a couple of years now I have felt like I don't belong there, and a recent game we're working on has me uneasy -- a lot of dark content that I just don't agree with, and the alarm bells are just going off left and right that it's time to get out.

Generally, I feel like my calling is elsewhere. I was never big into computers or games. I feel as if my spirit is called to serve people, to uplift them and to bring peace and joy to them. I was talking to a friend of mine today who is about to have a baby, and she suggested I would make an excellent PP Doula or a Lact. consultant. I have never considered this, but after thinking about it for a bit I realize it would be right up my alley. I had a couple of questions I was hoping to get answers to. I really thank you for helping out.

Where can I find some quick, easy info on how to get started in either field?

Is there a site that would give examples of a yearly salary? (DH's concern)

What is a typical day like for a Doula or an LC?

Do the certification programs also go over the business side, such as advertising yourself/joining local groups/paying taxes/etc?

Is it possible to do this and bring your DC along with you?

Is there any job security? Once you get the ball rolling is it steady, predictable income?

I'm sure more questions will come up. Thanks.

[Pyxi]

No one has any advice or references for me, or even just encouraging words? I realize I'm at the very beginning of the journey right now, but I was really hoping for some wisdom and kindness and encouragement from people here...thanks.

[art_teachermommy]

pyxi -


It's scary to think of switching from something you've known so well to be your life and feel called towards a different direction. It's also really exciting to think about following what you know to be the right direction!
I felt called at a point to teach art...and I still do to an extent, however my passion has really turned to supporting women in childbirth. It's somthing that I can't turn away from or ignore. Not that I won't go back to teaching at some point...but I know that my calling is leading me away from formal art teaching.
I've just started with doula classes. We have a local group of midwives and doulas who work together. The doulas work together with the midwives. You are able to have a back up doula go to some of the meetings with the client in case you are unable to attend the birth. So that is the group I am getting certified through. I'm not able to answer any of your questions regarding what a day is like or anything else you've asked...but I would like to offer you encouragment to follow your calling and passion!

[MidwifeErika]

The job stability and predictable salary..... not usually.

Really, if you are self employed, it is pretty hard to have any idea what you will make from year to year. I have no clue if I will line up 20 doula clients for the next year or just 1. There are a few ways to have more constant business.... if you hook up with an already busy doula practice or if you are hired by one of the hospitals that provides doulas (I have heard of them but don't know how many really exist).

Are you looking more at becoming a birth doula or a postpartum doula? Postpartum days can look so different. During days I just require a 3 hour shift (I don't want to have to pay out so much in gas and travel for just an hour of work) to a maximum of 8 hours. During this time I might run errands, help soothe a crabby baby, clean house (light cleaning only), run some laundry, talk to the mom about basic nursing positions and general baby care. I also offer overnight care (which I was very steadily busy with this late fall) which is really fun. I go and care for baby or babies,do all the diaper changes, feed bottles if they are bottle fed or bring them to mom for nursing if they are breastfed and keep the mom company while she nurses and then take baby back after the feeding. It is really a job based on making the mom feel confident about her mother skills while giving her a bit of time to rest.

I would say, no, it isn't the sort of work you could bring a mobile baby to.

I don't know what the average salary is, but I would guess it is pretty low. Even if you were to be able to book solidly, it would be hard for it to be much money. If I were to book postpartum doula hours at 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year (which would never in a million years happen here.... I might get more like 100 hours for the whole year) then I would make $41600 before paying taxes, gas, etc, etc, etc. I probably make more like $1500-2000 a year in postpartum doula work as it just isn't in real high demand around here. Birth doula work if I were to book really solidly with fully paying clients I would make about $20000 a year, which again doesn't happen for me.... last year I made $450.... oh, that is a sad little number, isn't it? I feel like I worked A LOT, but my checkbook doesn't show it! Ok, so obviously this isnt a path to much money. When I was first thinking about becoming a doula I honestly figured I would make about 35,000 a year.... I am really far away from that now!

A IBCLC might have you making more money. I think it again depends on if you are self employed or gain employment from a hospital or something. I know a LC here who seems to be very busy and is self employed, but she just has that sort of personality that everyone wants to be around, so she is called often by families to come right after their baby has been born.

I hope what I have said isn't too discouraging. I can't tell you what your success will be in your area. Maybe you would be booked solidly all the time, I don't know. I just wanted to share more what it has been like for me. However, if this is your calling, I think you will be quite happy in this work. Each time a check does come, it is just a beautiful addition to a wonderful job.

[tlcdoula]

I can't answer question about lactation because I have no extra training in that area, so hopefully someone else will come along with answers for you.

Where can I find some quick, easy info on how to get started in either field? You could start by doing an internet search to find the certifying bodies, and then start by reading their philosophies to see which one or ones match you.

Is there a site that would give examples of a yearly salary? (DH's concern) I think yearly salary really varies with the area you live in. I can tell you where I live I am lucky to get a couple of clients per year. Last year was my best year and it just so happened that I had a long term twins client who paid me probably about $5000 over a four month period. Honestly last year I made about $5500 as a pp doula - not a huge money maker for me. I am sure there are others who make a ton of money doing it, but I think it is very regional, so you will most likely want to start by finding some pp doulas in your area and see what they make. I have never known a pp doula to make enough money to replace their actual job (I could be wrong, and I would love to meet that doula).

What is a typical day like for a Doula or an LC? I think it varies with the needs of the client. I had one mom who hired me to just come over and hold her baby while she napped and/or showered or ate. I had another family who hired me to come and do complete care for their twins at night while they slept and to also do their baby laundry, make the bottles for the next day, etc.

Do the certification programs also go over the business side, such as advertising yourself/joining local groups/paying taxes/etc? I have only gone through one organization and to be honest I thought they were pretty lacking in this area!

Is it possible to do this and bring your DC along with you? I personally don't think it is very professional, so no I wouldn't. I have known some women who do, but in my eyes when someone hires me and is paying me a good fee then I am there to completely be there for them and could not do that if I had one of my children along.

Is there any job security? Once you get the ball rolling is it steady, predictable income? Mine hasn't been at all. When I was certifying I had to give my services away for free in order to meet the requirements and since then have only worked with about four families (only two last year).

[MindfulBirth]

Well, I hate to make this thread a real downer, but the truth is that doulas simply do NOT make a lot of money and we are in it because we feel "called" to it.

You can do things to supplement, sure. I mostly doing postpartum work right now. Some weeks I work 2 days, some 4, some none. Right now my schedule is booked until the end of March, but it is possible that I won't get another client until Fall. Ya just never know. One of the things I like about postpartum work is that I can set my own hours. I tell potential clients that my "client hours" are between 9am - 2pm in a three-hour minimum shift. This allows me to take my girls to school/babysitter in the morning and pick them up afterschool in the afternoon. Then I get to spend the rest of the day with my girls and planning for classes that I am going to teach.

I am starting to teach classes on Saturdays to supplement my income. My first class starts in March (gotta get my fliers out TODAY). The nice thing about teaching is that it is on YOUR schedule. That way you could plan your classes to coincide with your husband watching your baby. And you can add classes on more specific topics if you feel you have the time or need more income.

I plan to just teach and postpartum doula for a couple more years - maybe taking two or three labor clients this year and next. When you are a labor doula you need to be able to run out at a moments notice. THat means you need to have reliable childcare available to you, a husband who will support your being away for up to 24 hours (possibly more!) and the willingness to be away from a breastfed baby (?) for an extended period of time.

There are several certifying organizations out there. Or you may find that you are able to begin work without certifying. That is a personal choice, although in some areas of the country you are more likely to get hired if you are certified. Spend some time looking around the websites of CAPPA, DONA, ALACE, BirthArts, Birthing From Within, CBI, ICEA, etc. to see which organization most closely aligns with your birth philosophy. Figure out what the benefits and drawbacks of taking an in-person training course vs. distance learning would be.

You need to consider the costs of training..the many books you will be required to read, teaching aids, labor comfort aides, babysitting, internet promotion, brochures, phone calls, gas, etc.. as well as the cost of your time to train, read, create brochures, put together handouts and contracts, potential client interviews, etc. and balance that against the reward of seeing a woman have a safe, satisfying birth and see if it is worth it to you.

Most certifying organizations will NOT go over the business side with you. I have found it very helpful to belong to the AllDoulas messageboard. If you haven't already checked it out, it is just alldoulas dot com. Feel free to say that I sent you there (same username there as here).

As far as becoming a LC. You might find that to be more job-steady and better income. I know a lot of LCs that have actual offices and some take insurance. The downside is that it takes a LOT of training to become one. LOTS of volunteer hours. Take a look at the ibcle dot org website for more information about what is required.

I don't think any of us are here to discourage you. It is great that you are thinking of the practical side before jumping in and spending $450 on a training that you never use.

Best wishes. Who knows..maybe you will become the next Penny Simkin or Pam England...traveling around giving lectures, writing books and making videos.