offering free doula services for cert

[hippiemom]

Has anyone done this? I have to observe 4 births this school year (which will soon be over) to earn my childbirth educator certification. I have checked out the local midwives, doulas, and hospitals, none of which seem open to letting me observe their work (I live in an excessively conservative area of our fine nation..). I am set to start teaching my classes in June, cert'ed or not. I got the idea for a classmate who is a doula of offering free birth doula services. I have attended women in labor and birth before (for the birth of one nephew and the stillbirth of another..) and have naturally birthed my own 3 kids, one in a trad hospital, one at home, and one transport to a family birthing center, so I have seen a few of the settings and I LOVE attending births. I would not care about not being paid, I would consider it working for credit like grad school or something... I would not feel right charging until I was certified actually. Any thoughts?

merci!:wink

[Melaya]

I see soon to be doulas offering their services free all the time. It seems to be a good, quick way to get your required births done. Plus it starts the whole word of mouth thing that ends up being great for you in the long run. If I knew someone who needed to attend a birth for credits, they could certainly come to mine. Seems to be a win-win situation for everyone involved. :)

[Zoo Loo Naturals]

Oh yes!

You can advertise free services at your local health food stores, in the small local papers, Free Cycle(some), through Doula groups, through Midwives offices, through hospitals, at LL League meetings, toddler play groups, Waldorf schools, homeschool groups, and word of mouth for sure.

[Noelia430]

I offered my services for free for my first few births. It worked out really well and I got my cert. births quickly. I say go for it!

[amybw]

Maybe let us know where you are located and we can help you out ;)

:)
Amy

[Lizzo]

What I ddi for my doula cert births is posted on my local freecycle. I got a lot of responses and it's worked out wonderfully!

[courtenay_e]

I posted on three local freecycles (two removed the posting and one let it stay, however I got three scheduled births from the postings that were removed before they got taken off!), I emailed my local mom's group, and I sent an email to every woman I know asking them to forward my letter to everyone they know. Within two weeks I was fully scheduled for my 6 required births...and now a bunch of people know of my existence. So, yeah, it's free, but the sooner I get cert'd, the sooner I can start earning some cash for the services...although I'm a bit of a birth junky. My husband may not appreciate the "experience" as much as the paycheck, but I certainly do!

[ZeldasMom]

I think this is a good idea. I personally wouldn't want somene at my birth who is just there to watch. To me, even being watched while laboring is an inervention of sorts (my preference is to not even have the midwife there until lae in the game) and if the persn isn't there to help, what am I getting out it, KWIM?

[susan1]

I too would like some ideas. I need two more moms.


Susan

[hippiemom]

WOW, thanks!!

I am excited to do this, and hoping that some people who otherwise would not choose a doula b/c of $$ will call me.. I agree it is invasive to be an "observer", as a mama of 3 I would not have allowed a 'passenger' at my births who was just there to watch, weird. But I would love to attend actively :) Yes we have health food stores, mom groups, LLL etc and sliding scale clinic nearby that does prenatal care. I am guessing once I get started it will not be hard.

thanks again for the support:D

[courtenay_e]

I have found that to be very true, hippiemom. Of the six births I have scheduled, at LEAST three of them would NEVER have been able to afford a doula without my being free. And those three HAPPEN to be the ones who, for various reasons, have the greatest need. Had I not gotten the hits I got from freecycle, my next stop would have been the Problem Pregnancy centers in my area. Also, I didn't only get responses from moms. I got one response from the leader of a Downs Syndrome support group who asked whether I'd be willing to send her a few cards to have on hand when one of the moms in the group was pregnant. And another one was from the owner of a CBE program (who is also a L&D nurse who is VERY pro-natural birth) at a local hospital. She often gets moms, both in L&D and in her classes who are without partners/coaches/labor support and she was hoping that I'd let her refer clients to me. !!! So, get your name out there, and do your darndest to meet people in the childbirth community...people will end up referring people to you, you'll be surprised!

Something I also told the CBE at the hospital was this: Even after I start charging full price (when I'm fully certified), I will be offering one "freebie" per quarter. I was taught that everything we have (talents, things, etc.) is gift and that we're to give some of that back. I really feel that this way, I am truely going to help those who are often in the greatest need of support. I also think that she'll be more willing to send me paying clients if I'm helping her out by taking those for whom she cares who can't afford my services.

[hippiemom]

Thanks Cortenay e... I hear you on that. The family practice I got to for my healthcare caters to many young parents who do not have $$. I will reach out to that community regularly. I too was young and poor when my first baby was born, and some kind hearted folks helped me back then, I have not forgotten that.

Yes, off this weekend to plaster my community with fliers! BUT first to Boston all day to give a talk on "second stage", eek!

:thumb peace, happy weekend

[Birth Junky]

Check out www.bellywomen.net; it is a nationwide referral service for (free) doulas. I had a listing up there for awhile and got quite a few responses; had to take it down when I got too pregnant to attend births anymore! :)

[BCmamaof6]

With my last baby a friend needed a few births for her cert. & I welcomed her to attend mine. She also attended births through a local teen parents/pregnancy outreach program (for free). You might try that...posting info at an outreach type center.