Where are all the doulas, midwives and those in training?

[TreeLove]

Here's to you ladies!:D

[lisamarie]

Hello~

I am so excited to see this forum up and running!:)

I have been a massage therapist for almost 10 yrs. now. When I was in massage school, a good friend became pregnant w/her 1st baby and asked me to provide labor massage for her. What a wonderful experience it was and I have been hooked ever since.

Since then, I have been providing labor support and massage to some of my clients, family and friends. I don't advertise, just word of mouth. I charge on a sliding fee scale~whatever they can afford and want to pay me. I have a very good friend (we met in a bf class 5 1/2 yrs. ago) due Feb. 9th and she has asked me to be her doula. I feel providing support~emotionally and physically during such a difficult, but joyful time in a womens life is so rewarding and I feel deeply touched and blessed to be present when a new soul enters the world. I try to educate the mom and dad, during the pregnancy (such as giving her copies of articles from Mothering :D ), but make it clear that it is HER birth.

Looking forward to meeting all of you and learning more!

Warmly~

Lisa

[jordmoder]

Hello all -

I'm a home-birth midwife licensed in Washington State - or I would be if I weren't home in Portland, OR with 2 year old DS and waiting on another due in April!

I really love my work, and although I am not currently practicing, also love to talk about all things relating to that awe-inspiring time of pregnancy and beyond.

Greetings to all you other midwives, doulas, want-to-be midwives and supportive folk!

Barbara

[Allana]

this is new!
I am very excited about this forum. I am a, hope to be soon, doula in training. I can't wait to hear from all the wonderful women in the childbirth field. I've been toying with the idea of maybe someday becoming a midwife. But that is a way down the road. Can't wait for more to come!!:D

BTW I will be doing my certification through ALACE hopefully soon.

[Hayes]

Doula in training here. Took the DONA class, just waiting for a few friends to go into labor! I have at least 2 births set up, and hope to have a couple more in the next 6 months or so. So far, I haven't charged anything. I really just want to be able to support my friends. I guess if someone asked me, someone I didn't know well, I would charge, but I do it for the thrill of birth, and to help women realize their own strength!

[madison]

Count me in also as a doula in training.

I'm certifying through DONA, have completed the training and am trying to get to my three births and complete a childbirth class. So far my schedule has prevented me from even trying to arrange a birth, becuase I work 60-hours per week. I'm not quite sure how to do it, I'll probobly have to call in sick! I'll be taking the CB class in January, so after that I will get moving on it all and buckle down.

I really want to work as a post partum doula, but I want the DONA certification because it's the most recognized. I love newborns and new parents.

I also facilitate a parenting group for prospective lesbian & gay parents, and serve on a committee representing all of the area LGBT parenting groups, and advocate for our families.

[happyday8598]

HEY! When did this open!?!??!

This is GREAT!!!

I'm a Labor Assistant in training. I'm training through ALACE.

SOOOO EXCITED TO GET MYSELF OUT THERE!!!

Look forward to chatting with more of you!

Love,
Emily :)

[Angiemama]

i am a doula in training, certifing through dona... after that... midwifry school (for cpm licence)

[nj_hipmama]

I'm so happy to see this. I want to begin training to be a labor doula. Tell me pls. where is the best place to start. Right now I'm just trying to gather info before I start any classes. I'm a sahm w/ 3 children, so that limits my time somewhat. I know that CAPPA offers the labor doula training in a 'distance' program'. Would that be as good as actually attending the work shop? I know about DONA, but has anyone heard about NACA. I can' t find it on the web anywhere. Also does anyone know where I can get training/certification for LC. I have a million questions; like how do I get my letters of recomendations, how would I find mamas who are looking for doulas, do I charge, how much? I want to eventually become a CNM and figured this was the way to start. Also, are you all supported by your significant others. My dh just looks at me some times and shakes his head like he's not sure where I'm from, or how I came up w/ some of the ideas I have. I haven't even told him what I'm planning now. :( I just said that I was looking into taking some classes. Any suggestions on that front? I would really appreciate any help and all support. Sometimes I feel as if I'm the only one out here.

[SJane]

I'm also a doula in training. I signed up over a year ago, found out I was pregnant, continued to take the class but am now just really getting started as my son is 7 mo.s old. I took my training locally at the Holistic Midwifery Institute in Ann Arbor MI. It was wonderful! I have my first client due sometime this week and another due after x-mas sometime. I'm really glad to be working. These births are no charge, just building up experience. I'm really anxious to hear about how others got their practices going? How to advertise, what works? I'm also hoping that by moderating this board I will find lots of good advise :) Yes, by the way, I am your moderator if you need anything!! I hope we can all learn a lot from each other here!

[Angiemama]

my partner is extremely supportive of me... he's actually proud.. he's glad i'm so passionate about anything, and being obseessed about something so beautiful and natural makes him glad i'm his baby's mama... thats what he says ... and i'm glad he feels that way, because helping woman learn and empower them selves is so important to me... i'm thrilled!

[rubym]

hello
I am a doula in training. Recently completed a dona course at the seattle midwifery school and I am on my way to certification.
I am also an aspiring midwife, with plans to attend the seattle midwifery school in 2002 or 2003. Ahhh and I went to tennesse in november for The farm midwifery assisting workshop. that was wonderfull. I am planning to go back for the level 2 workshop.

So thats me, nice to see you all here

[Modesto Doula]

Hello all!!
I am also a doula (in training??? maybe) I dont consider myself to be a DIT, although at my experience level, I guess I am.
I think that the idea of being a DIT means that you are being trained by someone , which I am not. I would like to find a local doula to assist for a few births, but my babysitting situation hass only recently worked itself out and now shes not too busy.
I have watched at one birth, was with another doula for one, done one on my own and have one due in Jan. I also work shifts as a volunteer, but so far every night I go in the hosp is almost empty =(.
I have a two year old (in two weeks) and am due in May, so I think I may not even be accepting clients much after Feb for a long while.
Its nice to have a board here!!
Look forward to getting to know you all!!

[Shaz]

Hello!!!!!!!!

I completed my Doula training in May 2001 and am in the process of certifying through DONA. I've already attended 10 births and have one this month and two coming up in January!!

I am also one of the co-ordinators of a new Doula group in our area...Upper Grand Birth Services. We have 10 Doula's, so far, in our group and would love more!!!

My passion as a Doula is VBAC. I truly believe my births have lead me to this (unnecessary c/s and mismanaged VBAC). I am hoping to start a VBAC support group in my town as our c/s rate is very high:mad:

Looking forward to getting to know everyone!!

[lovinmama]

Hi everyone,

My name is Racheal, I am a doula and as of next week
will have finished the program at Birthwise Midwifery
School in Maine. I moved to Maine from N.C. to attend the
school and it has been great. Now to find someone to apprentice
with.... I have a new baby due in a month so I am going to have to put it on hold for awhile. I am really happy to see this forum
and cant wait to meet and talk to other doula/midwives.

Racheal

[EarthWind]

Hi everybody!!!

I'm Michelle and I'm taking Elizabeth Davis' Hearts and Hands Midwifery Intensive this winter! I'm so excited!:D I actually can hardly believe how interested I am in this stuff. I never would have expected it. I'm not really sure where this is going to take me - but the journey sure is a great ride! I may eventually become a midwife, or do childbirth education or be a doula. I'm not really sure. What I do know is that I love this stuff!!!!

Here's to all of you:D :D :D !!!

Michelle

[boobybooby]

Hi All,

I am a Doula currently fulfilling requrements with DONA. All I need are 3 births to finish. My first client ended up a planned section due to Herpes positive culture (don't ask!). so, I am really looking forward to my first real client due in March 2002! She is having a planned HB with my midwife who I know is wonderful to work with. I have not yet marketed myself to the public around here. I am planning to do that soon, as I am finding out that it is difficult to just stumble upon clients. I may also have a Doula who is willing to invite me to a birth in Feb (upon client approval and compatibility, of course) and allow me to give labor support for credit. I want mostly to give back something to any woman open to having a wonderful birth experience. I know I could have never had such amazing experiences without my Doula and I feel strongly that every woman deserves good, caring labor support.

[aiden&brennsmom]

Hi everyone,
I am so excited to have the board here. I already consider myself to be a doula but plan to do DONA through Seattle Midwifery this spring. I plan to become a Midwife sometime in the future... can't quite figure out how to manage that and raising children yet. Anyway its nice to see everyone here...
Tresa

[marymom]

I am in S Florida and hey RUBYM I took the doula course up in Seattle in...95 I think(sister lives up there on Orcas)...altho I was working as a volunteer doula in Austin TX years before that- but I havent done any births in a few years (except my own,lol)and Ruby- I also was at THE FARM this summer!! I was at the August session- which one did you attend? Which session will you be going back for? I was hoping to return in April for the labor assistant 2 class- I loved it there :)
Hope to be doing births soon here- have a 2 year old and 4 others in the house still and I happen to be single:rolleyes: so- I take everything one day at a time but- I definately hope to be a midwife- and have 2 homebirthing DEMs who will be using me for assistants soon hopefully :) :) email me if you want mom@bellsouth.net

[Kelly71]

I begin my training with a doula weekend in March and have just begun reading the Hearts and Hands book. I'm lucky to be doing it with 2 girlfriends. We hope to someday open our own practice together.

Peace and happy holidays to all.

[pamjakes]

I just had my second baby boy, a home VBAC, 2 weeks ago. I plan on doing doula training sometime this year, the earliest would be by April, but I don't think I'll be ready to leave my babe by then.

I am going to become a midwife eventually. I am a part-time university student in Women's Studies (taking a break until either the summer or fall 2002 terms though). I'll be applying to a midwifery program in a few years. I feel that it is my passion and calling. I'm just enjoying having my family for now, and boy, that counts as experience!

[hawleyclan]

Hi! It is nice to meet you all!! :) I'm studying to be a Midwife too! It is nice to meet with other ladies who are on the same journey! :D

Study keeps me busy, and so does family, but I like to pop by and read the posts when I can... :)

Anyone here from Texas? I live an hour South of the Metroplex... :)

I just got a Midwifery Study Group going. I have gathered a bunch of resources, files, albums, and bookmarks together to help other aspiring midwives on their journey... There are also Study Questions, Discussion questions, and some quizzes to keep everyone learning... :) Feel free to visit...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Godsbabycatchers

I look forward to visiting more with everyone...

The Lord bless you,
Zoie :)

[acmom]

I am new to mothering.com and I was very excited to see this board. I am planning to take the Doula weekend training this March and hope to begin my midwifery classes in the fall. It is exciting to see so many women interested in this field. I was excited to find out the few women I have talked to about my ambition where as interested in midwifery as I was. I look forward to seeing what some more seasoned veterans have to say on topics.


Hope you all had a wonderful holiday. :p

[Modesto Doula]

PamJakes,
You should talk to your area doula trainer to see if she would mind you bringing in your little one to the training. If you do it before he is crawling, and if he is content to lie beside you or be in the sling, he wouldnt be much of an interruption (especially if you are still nursing him!).
You wouldnt have to leave him all weekend to do it that way, and most trainers will accomodate young nursing babies. I would have taken mine with me if she had been young enough.
Hope it works out.

[happyday8598]

PamJakes, I brought Caleb to the training with me... He was only 6 months old, and he was great! Nobody complained! Think of what you're training for!! :)

Who would you think of training with, have you thought of it?

Love,
Emily :)

[Jyotsna]

Hi everyone,

This is my first time to post to this new forum.

I am interested in Midwifery. I live close to THE FARM in Tennessee, and I am planning to visit there soon, talk to the women in the midwife education program there. I have heard so much about Ina May Gaskin, and look forward to actually meeting her.

I am being incouraged to attend Doula training first, and get some experience attending some births before taking this midwife assistant workshop. Has anyone taken the midwife assistant workshop yet? It is 6 days away from home and I have a nursing 18 month old. I noticed the website says NO KIDS OR PARTNERS IN THE DORM. How have those of you who attended been dealing with the care of your own children...particularly nursing babies? I don't want to stop breastfeeding for this, and yet I don't want to NOT attend this workshop. Is there a way to bring a caregiver to the workshop with me who will care for my youngest two, so that I can take some breastfeedng breaks??

This is probably a question I should ask them, but just wondered if any one here had this issue.

Any Doula training programs in south west Tennessee??

Thanks, I have enjoyed reading the messages here.

[kiwi-mama]

Hi, im so pleased to find this board.
I am a direct entry Midwifery student in New Zealand, just about to start my 2nd year. So far i have attended 2 births in a supportive role and these were both amazing experiences, totally re-inforcing. The last one was a home birth just last night :D
I also have 3 children, the youngest is almost 7 months, and no partner, so life gets a little hectic at times!
My baby, Mayan, has come to class with me ever since she was 2 days old (and was even allowed to be with me during an exam!). I was planning to have a close friend look after her this year but after talking to some of the tutors I found out they would be disappointed if she wasnt in class!!

I would love to hear more about your experiences on The Farm, as i had the honour of meeting Ina May Gaskin when she was in NZ for a midwifery Conference. Peggy O'Mara was there too and i was fortunate to meet her also.

ps we dont have Doulas in NZ (at least not that im aware of) but midwifery is very strong here.

[marymom]

When I was at THE FARM in august I brought my older daughter and nursing toddler, the older daughter to watch the nursing toddler, There was a lunch break and a break before dinner-(ahhhhhh dinners on the farm, very nice indeed- but without family) The days were long but it was do-able...and they passed quickly- and they were priceless !
There are several homes and available living areas for women who have accompanying family or whathave you for minimal small extra $-
I hope to take the second course in April- it was so nice there.

[stormB]

Hello everyone. This is my very first post and I'm excited to find this thread. I am (also) a direct entry midwife in New Zealand (hello fellow Kiwi mum and DE MW). Midwifery is my passion and I just can't get enough of being "with woman". I look forward to discussing some professional issues with you all.

[shine]

om namah shivaya

and hello!

I live in Nashville and I am a cerified doula with DONA and I am a student of the Utah College of Midwifery (distance learning program). I have also been interesting in taking a couple workshops at the Farm and I have the same trouble you do. I have a 2.5 year old who is nursing and definitely would be unhappy away from mama for a week (I think I'd be even more unhappy!) I've wondered the same thing about a caregiver but couldn't come up with a plan. If you live near me, maybe we could together figure out a plan?

sandi

[Jyotsna]

Hi ladies,

I am thankful for this forum. I learned about ALACE here only 20 days ago, and just last weekend attended an ALACE workshop for birthing assistant.

I am working towards my certification which may take up to one year.

That workshop was fantastic, and I took my nursing baby. The ALACE folks had babysitters for babies over 6 months, and those under could come to the workshop room with their moms. I brought my baby in to nurse, then took her back to the the room where she was staying. It was the only way I could do this!

Don't let having a nursing baby hold you back. Get the training done while your baby is young. In fact, we had one mom who was 2 weeks pp, 2 moms who were 4 weeks pp and 6 month old, and 10 month old in addition to my 18 month old.

Jyotsna

[Hera]

Hi!!

I am also very excited to see this! A am a massage therapist, with a practice for women (Hera Mothercare, in Eugene, Oregon). I have just moved here from Colorado, so I am still working on my license and stuff. I see myself working with women throughout pregnancy, hopefully labor, and then doing the postpartum doula thing. I love making food for new moms, I am influenced by the Ayurvedic postpartum dietary guidelines. (yes, that's Eye-ur-veda, not Are-you-veda!) Anyway, it's great to see so many collegues from all over!
Yay!

Rebecca

[fullcirclesb]

Hi Everyone!

I'm postpardum doula that specializes in mood disorders. I also love to attend births but don't have as much experience with that.
I excited to see this forum!

Sarah

[Jyotsna]

Namaskar Sandi!

I would be very interested in working out our plans to attend THE FARM midwifery classes together and the child care plans too.

I am getting very serious about midwifery, and have been talking with our local homebirth midwife in town. I was perusing her literature and noticed that her apprentices all have attended the Level 1 workshop at the farm. I have about one year here where I need to read the books and attend the births that ALACE requires for the labor assistant certification, then I will be ready to go to THE FARM.

I just attended the ALACE labor assistant certification workshop last month, and I am so excited. I decided that I would host an ALACE workshop in Memphis this summer. If you are interested in attending the ALACE birthing assistant workshop, you might consider coming over to Memphis for it.

As I have more details, I will share them here. For hosting the workshop, I will get to attend again FOR FREE! I hope to have some recent births under my belt by then so I can attend this workshop from a "new" perspective!

When do you plan to attend the Level 1 workshop at the Farm?

Lets do talk! I plan to drive out to THE FARM soon to check them out anyway. Would you like to meet over there and compare notes while visiting the midwives?

Om Shanti,

[mamarain]

I have just re-realized my dream to become a doula so it's a pleasure to come here and read what you all have to say. I'm still looking around for the cert. programs and comparing the websites; getting very curious about ALACE (and bummed that all the programs are so far!) Anyways, i am here, wanting to say hello and congratulating you all for the wonderful work you are doing! :thumb :love

[Nyki]

Hi there!
This is just a word of encouragement to all you aspiring doulas - GO FOR IT!
I am a midwife and part of my job is also being a doula. I coach and deliver at the same time and it is such a rewarding job! It is great to get some births "under your belt" as a doula before becoming a midwife but, either way the rewards are great!

:love Nyki

[azaria]

Hi everyone -
I am a midwifery student in Eugene Oregon, finishing up the first year right now. I'm working with two expectant moms with a local midwife; one is due this month! Studying and attending births at the same time is invaluable - well, challenging time-wise but it's really helped me to learn.
Stay strong all!
azaria

[CircleOLifeMidwife]

Hello, all! :)

I'm a homebirth midwife in Oregon, just passed my NARM exams. :)

So wonderful to see so many likeminded women here!

[paula_bear]

Sorry I don't have time right now to read all your responses, but I wanted to introduce myself. I'm Paula, currently SAHM to 8 y/o Joseph and 2 y/o Kelly Rose. I am starting up my postpartum doula business. So far (in the past week...) I have: chosen a name (Tus Nua, Irish for New Beginnings), printed business cards, designed and printed a brochure.

Please check out my thread about getting started as a doula - I could use some friendly advise!

[isismama]

Hey,

I am training to be a birth doula with DONA. I have just started the certification process and am working slowly because I have a 6 mos old. I am also thinking of becoming certified as a childbirth educator (with ALACE, I think).

I'm so glad motheringdot commune has this forum!
Becky :thumb

[jenniferhq]

Hi Everyone,
I am so excited that I just have to write. I just received my doula certification packet from DONA and im going to my doula training tomorrow!!! I cant wait!!
I have started making a web site. I cant wait to attend my first birth. Of all of the doulas that have already done there first births to be certified, did any of you do it for free?
Anyway, Good luck to all of the other doulas in training.

Jennifer

[paula_bear]

Congratulations, Jennifer! I hope you enjoy your doula training and learn a lot. Your excitement is refreshing to see. Unfortunately, with many of my doula friends, that excitement fades after awhile. My only advise to you is to keep in mind that you are there to support your client's and to help them achieve their perfect birth, not yours. Match your expectations with those of your client and you'll be fine.

Most doulas I know did not charge for their first three births. However, if you're paying a mentor to back you up, you can pass that fee onto them. Most doula services who have an apprenticeship program charge about half what they would for a certified doula, but the apprentice does not get paid.

Just curious, are you doing your own website? Would you mind sharing some info w/ me? Did you buy special software or are you proficient in HTML? Feel free to email or PM me with any pointers! I'm just getting started in my postpartum doula business. I've designed a brochure and business card, so the website is next. The Staples salesman suggested doing it myself (vs. my idea of hiring a college student) and spending about $150 for the software that will ensure no glitches. What do you think?

Best Wishes to you,
Keep that spark going!
~Paula