Doulas: How'd you find your mamas to fullfill the brith requirement

[Lizzo]

Basically what the title says :love

[Gray's Mommy]

I sent an email to every single woman I knew advertising my new doula-status. I asked if they were or knew of someone that was pregnant who may be interested in doula services for a huge discount. I had one person respond & she hired me; then my 2nd client got my name through DONA & I shadowed another doula for my 3rd.

It worked out very well for me. Good luck in your new path; I hope you love it as much as I do :love

Mary

[Mamajamz]

I found some wonderful midwives who were teaching a childbirth class and attending as a doula, and then volunteered my services. Other than that, I also tagged along with a midwife and, again, volunteered. I also volunteered for a friend. I also went along as the second doula with my doula trainer. Anything to just get out there, get busy and get known. Do your very best every second and you will become known. Word travels fast when you have some good birth professionals who will recommend you. Get hooked up with a birth center and/or midwives or childbirth educators. YOu have to be willing to pay your dues at the beginning and learn all you can. Good luck and have fun! :D

[indie]

I once saw a doula in training offer her services on freecycle and she was overwhelmed with responses.

[doulanichole]

I got 2 of my certifying births from the cbe class I attended as part of certification and the other was a friend. I highly recommend going to a cbe class and introducing yourself (and of course stay and observe). I know several people that not only got their cert. births from there, but continue to receive referrals from the cbe. Good luck!

[Lizzo]

Thanks mamas!!!
I had thought to take adavntage of the sitting in on a CB class. And I just posted at Freecycle in my area...wish me luck!!!! :love

[Dwmama]

I was on call at a birth center and a friend asked me to do one of her births :)

[Lizzo]

That's cool! What were you on call as? A nurse? Osunds like a stupid question, but some hospitals and birth centers have on call doulas....which you all probably know BUT I find it really amazing and wonderful!!!
ANYWHO! I've gotten SO many responses. And the best thing about it, even better than me fullfilling my certifictaion requirements- about half are women who want to BECOME doulas!!! That makes me so happy! This country, ESPECIALLY my town is so in need of doulas!!!!
:love :love :love :love

[Levatrice]

If I were you I would find some midwives! I know my partner and I would LOVE to bring a doula along, in fact we have discussed contacting doulas who are needing births and matching them with our clients.

[my2girlsmama]

I got 2 of my certifying births from the cbe class I attended as part of certification and the other was a friend. I highly recommend going to a cbe class and introducing yourself (and of course stay and observe). I know several people that not only got their cert. births from there, but continue to receive referrals from the cbe. Good luck!


That is great info! I'm hoping for that as well in my bf classes to cert as cle. Great ideas!

[gemasita]

Yep, I went to the childbirth classes that are required for me to get my cert and had two couples ask me about my services! It's so convenient for them to have a doula in the room. I definitely plan on sitting in on other classes and maybe being kind of a "guest speaker" if the instructor doesn't mind. It's a GREAT way to get clients! If people haven't previously thought about using a doula, the fact that it's free (I am not charging until I get my certification) really encourages them to try me, I think.

[Lizzo]

Can I just say one more time...FREECYCLE!!! I am getting invites to things, childbirth educators are asking me to attend their classes...I had NO clue my commuinity was so awesome!!!!

[my2girlsmama]

Can I just say one more time...FREECYCLE!!! I am getting invites to things, childbirth educators are asking me to attend their classes...I had NO clue my commuinity was so awesome!!!!


Is it secure? I mean do people take you seriously?

[loveslabor]

deleted

[arwenevenstar]

Well for some reason, my local freecycle is not allowing my post. Why? I am offering a free service and there is nothing illegal about it??

Where else can I try. I don't have a craigslist where I am.

[Lizzo]

Hmmmm. I worried mine would do that too b/c it's "freecycling yourself" technincally.
Here's what my title read:
Offer: Doula support at your birth
I then explained in the post that I am a doual in training and who with and I kept it very simple.

[HeatherE]

I sat in on a Bradley class and almost everyone there hired me, I offered to do it for free. Also, after I was certified, I went and spoke at the class for maybe ten minutes and gave out handouts and a coupon for $25 off for Bradley "Grads".

[jraohc]

I found mine from a flyer in my midwives office.

[MamaEm24]

I posted my services through freecycle last month and was bombarded with 8 births righ toff the bat. I am thankfully booked and just about certified :) good luck to you !!!

[havecutekids]

I hooked up with a social worker at a local crisis pregnancy center. They would call me with names, and the women were in real need. Pre-screened!

Stacey

[mosaicmama]

I too think the CB classes are great. Especially if you can take a natural childbirth class. Also calling any pregnant teen groups or schools. I also did a birth for the refugee center. I love the freecylce idea- that is great.

[wildflowermama]

I posted to freecycle and they deleted my post because they don't offer services.

I am going to try volunteering at local hospitals and calling the local crisis pregnancy center.

[tinyscrafts]

women's Jail Doula program

[AugustLia23]

To those that posted to freecycle with no problems, what specifically did you say. I'm having some trouble convincing them to allow me to post it here.

TIA!

[pfamilygal]

I'd love one if anyone is here in the DFW area!!!!

[indie]

To those that posted to freecycle with no problems, what specifically did you say. I'm having some trouble convincing them to allow me to post it here.

TIA!


Our freecycle will sometimes let services through if you contact the moderator first and explain the situation. If you emphasize that you are doing it to certify and NOT as a gimmick to get clients then they may let it through.

[Sondee]

My DONA trainer happens to be a local birth resource (it comes up high in search engines like google) and my clients were all refered to me through her website.

[nrperez]

Pfamilygal -

I am in the DFW area & starting out. I have apprenticed with a local midwife and have had a wonderful homebirth experience with my son. You posted in Feb 2005 you were expecting in 04/2006 - could be a mistake, but let me know if you're still looking. nrperez03@hotmail.com

[doula and mom]

I am a freecycle mod in my smallass town, and we wouldn't allow it, but maybe if you posted it as an O/T thread, they might? Email the moderators directly and see if you can get their symapthies. It's not usually the moderators who have a problem with it, it's just that once someone posts offering services, 64323 other people want to post with their Avon, Beauti-Control, etc etc offers.

At any rate, I put my fliers up at a yoga studio, the YMCA, the library, and I advertise in the local MOMS Clubs here.

I'm doing ALACE and I need 6 births total before I'm certified. Right now I have 5! Soooooo close!

[courtenay_e]

I posted on three area freecycle groups. Two removed the post, and one left it on. That said, from the two that deleted the posts, I got four of my scheduled births...those with individual emails get the post. When it's deleted, it's removed from the board, so my mamas got it before it was removed, and responded. Also, I got responses from two women who weren't pregnant, but know people who are...a CBE in the area, and a support group leader. These women are always looking for resources in our area and have kept my name. They also got my name from the two freecycles that removed my posts. THAT said, I didn't go into it knowing that the posts would be removed but that people would see them even if they were removed...it just happened that way. As it's a free service, and I think it's following the "rules"...no it wouldn't end up in a landfill, but it IS something that builds community, which is one of the stated points of freecycle, it didn't make me feel guilty at all to try to post my services as an offer.

[dace101]

Because the true spirit of freecycling was originally (and should still be) to recycle things so that they didn't go to landfill, I can absolutely understand why many will not allow services to be advertised (even if they are "free" - this is still not what freecycle is about :wink ).

Try childbirth classes, print cards/fliers for ob/gyn waiting rooms (if they'll let you - mine did), daycare centers (again, if they don't mind), leave your name with lactation consultants and midwives, I even printed a few leaflets for the child services area at our local library. Craigslist can be a good option if you have a thriving "chapter" in your area. Basically, anywhere that pregnant women and parents tend to frequent is a great place to get your services known.

Good luck, you should be certified in no time! :thumb

[doula and mom]

LLL Meetings! :thumb