Doulas - how did you get started (how'd you meet clients)?

[JoyNChrist]

So here's the background info...

I really want to be a midwife. But with the crazy Louisiana laws and a very hospital-friendly birth culture where I live right now, I just don't think it's possible. DH and I plan to move to Texas within the next 3-4 years, so I think I'm going to wait until then to begin formal training (ATM). In the meantime, I'm doing a lot of reading and I want to become a doula. There are a couple DONA conferences I could attend soon, and I'm ready to begin the training process. I don't think any of that will be a problem.

What I'm concerned about is how to attract clients. There are no doulas I know of in the area (and certainly no midwives). There's an LLL group, but it's very small. I don't know of any natural birth classes being taught around here.

So how did you get started? Should I talk to some OBs? Would it be smarter to become a natural childbirth educator first? Should I just start accosting random pregnant women?

I'm just trying to find a toehold here...I'm ready to jump in head first!

[jennybean0722]

Wow. I never come on this discussion and I just happen to run into someone from Louisiana. Where exactly are you located? UL is opening a midwifery program in the fall of 08! You could always start there too and just try it out for a semester and see what happens.

And I'm in Lafayette. I got NO answer whatsoever from many people about homebirth midwives in my area, but the harder the pressed, more names started popping up.... Mostly names of people at UL (nursing profs, etc.) that do occasional hbs. Of course there is the birth center too, and the midwife there is going to have apprentices from the new UL school.

If all else fails, being a doula would be great in the meantime. I've gone back and forth with that too, but I'm thinking maybe a post-partum doula. Not sure yet.

Have you checked out the "La Natural Birth Meetup Group?"; "Radical Cajun Moms Yahoo Group"; there is also a new Lafayette natural birth group on yahoo I think. I've been in touch with Erica at [e-mail]. She has been a good resource and also teaches natural birth classes at Babies R Us. She seems very proactive and we need more people like her here (aka YOU!)

Good luck,
Jenny

[fek&fuzz]

What about starting a blog where you write about topics related to natural birth, and offer your services? Blogs are very easy to set up, and people are always looking for things on the internet so it's a natural way for your clients to find you. (I'm a lawyer with a blog and it brings in about 40% of my clients.)

[GrrlyElizabeth]

I got my first client from craigslist! Also, if you certify with DONA you'll be listed on their website (if you train with ALACE you'll be on their site even before you certify).

[JoyNChrist]

Hi Jenny!

I'm in the Lake Charles area (DeQuincy, actually, but nobody ever knows where that is, lol). Were you at the Business of Being Born at UL? I went - amazing! (If you were there, I was the one in the striped shirt down in the front who asked Anne about the husband's role in labor during the Q&A session).

I'd love to do the midwifery program in Lafayette, but I think I want to wait a while and see how the program is received and what kind of opportunities the graduating midwives find. I don't want to go through the whole process, then find that it's almost impossible to practice here, ya know? If I'm going to end up in Texas anyway, I'd rather do the ATM program from the get-go.

Thanks for the tips - I need to check out some of the stuff that's happening in Lafayette...it's only about a 1-1.5 hour drive from home.

[Gunter]

just started telling everyone i knew that i was becoming a doula and needed clients. and, that i would do the first few for cheap.

[rubyeta]

I offered assistance at cbe classes in the area. I also asked the hospital birthing class teacher if i could have 10 minutes in her class to talk about Doulas and what we do. I got lucky and everyone welcomed me into their classes.

[Babes in arms]

Hi Stacy.

There actually is a doula near you. Her name is Faith Sumpter.
She may be a good resource for you. She calls herself MawMaw Faith. I used to have her contact info and could probably dig it up if you need me to.

You are welcome to come to our Natural Birthing Forum in Lafayette. The first meeting is this Thursday at 6pm in the children's section of Books A Million.

Thanks for the plug Jenny. I'll see you Thursday!

[yarngoddess]

While I'm not a birth professional I wanted to tell you all how I met my Doula. I did a search online for my city and doula. I looked through all the listing for the local areas that have my price range and then I emailed the doula's that I liked until I found one that I hit it off with. I like the idea of craigslist, or ob's, or even dropping your info card off at the local hospital. Take an ad out in the paper, or find the free papers or nickle savers and advertise there- usually for free or less than $20.00!!

[jeninejessica]

As funny as it sounds- I posted in a few forums I belong to, letting people know my position, and that I was offering free doula services for a few months. Then I posted on the local "craiglist" type thing, for free services as well. Within 2 weeks I'd had about 7 women contact me, and have booked 3 so far!

[Cookie5765]

My teacher gave me my first few clients (they have a list of people wanting cheaper doulas). I also advertise on a yoga site in the area that has a list of pregnancy/birth resources (I get a lot of contacts from this site but not so many clients as a I live a little ways from the center and some people are weary of the distance). My osteopath has my business card, so does a couple local chiropractors. When nothing is coming in then I post on Craigslist and I am pretty garaunteed to get a client that way (often for post-partum work which is fine with me). I've been doing this for a couple years and only take 1 or 2 clients a month.