[Smalls181]

<p>I have a friend who is due with her second baby early February and she would really like to have a doula.Her DH may or may not be present due to military deployment and her family doesn't live nearby.  How do I go about helping her find a doula in training who may be willing to attend her birth for their certification?</p>
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<p>She lives 45 minutes south of Chicago.</p>

 

[Ravensong13]

<p>Try here: <a href="http://www.dona.org/mothers/find_a_doula.php" target="_blank">http://www.dona.org/mothers/find_a_doula.php</a></p>
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<p>A certified Doula would probably be able to point you towards those who are looking to be certified. I do know that to be certified, a doula has to agree to do some work pro bono and never turn a mother away because of inability to pay.</p>

 

[hippie_mommy]

<p>ToLabor shows which doulas are certified and which are not: <a href="http://tolabor.com/Connections/resultsdirectory.php?state=Illinois&search=Search" target="_blank">http://tolabor.com/Connections/resultsdirectory.php?state=Illinois&search=Search</a></p>

 

[momto9kidlets]

<p>If he is deployed she would qualify for a doula through Operation Special Delivery <a href="http://operationspecialdelivery.com/" target="_blank">http://operationspecialdelivery.com/</a></p>

 

[Smalls181]

<p>Thanks for the help, ladies. Im passing the info on to my friend.</p>

 

[dynamicdoula]

<p>I am a pretty seasoned doula who will take free clients if they can't pay. That being said- it is so much an honor to the service the doula is providing if there can be SOME sort of exchange of energies- I really wish this idea that doulas who are certifying must work for free would die a slow and painful death. If she wants a doula, she should interview every doula she can and let them know her situation so that the two of them can come up with a solution together, ideally. If not, can funds be rallied somehow? Even $50 helps offset the sometimes large amount of money these doulas lose to take on clients. I hope that information is helpful- it will definitely broaden her access to doulas if she just forgets about money and is honest with doulas she wishes to interview and asks for some collaboration. She'll get it!</p>
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<p>There is also Operation Special Delivery that might be able to connect her with volunteer doulas in her area if she qualifies.</p>
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<p>I hope this is helpful!</p>