Are you a doula? (Q about training)

[waterfield]

Hi there
I want to train as a doula and have found a few courses on Doula UK.
Does anyone know anything about them? Two likely ones are two/three days long and another (Demestia) is much longer and covers 4 births I think.
It sounds a lot better/more helful when you're starting out. If I did a shorter course, how would I find my first parents/births to attend? Do you just advertise (lower rate I guess) and hope for the best?
How did you get started?
Thanks

[3Ddonut]

Thanks Jofeb, that's what I was thinking if someone was interested in having me as their doula before any training was done, i could think of it as 'work experience'!!! Just wanna get started now!!!!!!

[jofeb04]

Hiya 3D

I still charge trainee prices purely because of the area in which I live. I also use holistic treatments for some clients as well, which can bump the cost up though!

A lady on our local yahoo group worked for a client before she had completed her training. She informed the client, and only charged for expenses only. She was at the birth, and afterwards said that being a Doula is definatly for her.

As long as the client is fully aware, it does not matter.

HTH

[3Ddonut]

Hiya lula and my 'doula guru's'!!!! Lulu, I was looking at your site and saw you are still asking trainee prices, surely you've done more than 4 births now? Are you keeping your prices low to attract people?

What are your oppinions on taking a 'doula' job before doing the course? I'm thinking that when I tell my pg beautician of my plans she will be interested for her own delivery but I think that she is due before the course date and also Pecka (where are you?!) asked in a roundabout kind of way.....any ideas?

[MarsLady]

Well done 3D!!!!!!!!!!

[lulumama]

i am lucky, and we don;t rely on my doula income, which is a good job! so i intend to take the childbirth educators course with childbirth international and teach antenatal classes, which will be a steady and regular income. it will work out, even if it is alongside other work for the time being

[3Ddonut]

Thanks lulu (again!) I better get writing, I really, really want to be a doula, it is all the bits of my job that I love and none of the bits I hate! I'm just so sad that it's took me so long to discover! I still have my reservations, but it's nothing to do with the job it's more cash flow and committment issues (to do with the fact that I rely so heavily on my income) I'm going to read a selection from those titles you suggested, apply for the course and try to teach some antenatal classes or do some breastfeeding support and try to make up the rest on the nurse bank.

[lulumama]

you don;t need to do a course to be a doula, but a lot of doulas do a recognised course for the credentials it gives, and so you can join doula uk.....

when you apply for place on NB, you have to write about why you want to be a doula, before you are accepted on the course....

i think that being a doula is one of those things, that if you want to be one, and have an understanding of what it is, then you will end up being one...IFYSWIM

once the course is done, it is up to you to find work, but being on DUK has brought be all my enquiries and clients, bar one, who i know thorugh the NCT

[3Ddonut]

Thanks, it's always good to hear from real people who have actual experience of these things rather than just reading their websites, I'm so glad I found mumsnet!!!!
Was the course enough to set you off doualing, or did you need to do something else before you could claim to be a trainee doula? Did you need to be interviewed prior to starting the course, to see if you have 'what it takes' to be a doula?

[lulumama]

i did the nurturing birth course, you get a great manual, and also they have an online forum for doulas, so you can get lots of advice and support. they are really very helpful, and quick to answer any queries about doulaing

cannot recommend them highly enough

[3Ddonut]

Thanks lulu, I will pay them a visit tomorrow (they're shut today) armed with a list!! Have taken the plunge and requested an application form for the nurturing birth course, that's the one you did isn't it? It looked like the best introduction, covered most topics than the others, but there's so many to choose from!

[lulumama]

definitely !

also, sheila kitzingers pregnancy and birth book, birth without violence by frederick leboyer, active birth by janet balaskas have been ones i have really, really enjoyed....Ina May's guide to childbirth is excellent too....

my local library is tiny, little village library, but they have ordered me all sorts of books....your library should be able to do the same, as another bigger library in the borough will have them..

you won;t love or even like every book you read, but you'll always learn something

[3Ddonut]

I'm about to order spiritual midwifery and birth reborn, good start? Any better? I don't think my library would stock these type of books...I'll have a look, sounds like I could do with my own copy of spiritual midwifery though

[lulumama]

i;d get books out of the library for now, and if you love them, and value them, buy them when you know they are worth it

my copy of spiritual midwifery is battered, covered in notes and higlighter, and it has become my doula bible, i hope you find a book that does the same for you !

[3Ddonut]

Thanks again, I will apply for that course now, and start putting some aside (it's not really that long before the course starts it's only 2 paychecks........ I've had a look on Amazon for some books and found a few I like the look of but are there any you would positively not reccommend? Don't want to buy anything that is useless and going to give conflicting info.

[lulumama]

I paid the £300 over a couple of months..they were really flexible about that, as long as the course fee was paid before the course started, so you could start paying for it now, and you have lots of time to pay before october

i read Spiritual Midwifery, Ina May Gaskin, as i found that her philosophy of birth was one that i could relate to...best to read a fair bit, and you will find an author or two that you really 'click' with..

[MarsLady]

And anything by the Klaus(es). They are rather fab and we all quote them on our websites about the effect of having a doula.

[DaisyMOO]

I would also recommend books by Michel Odent - The Farmer and the Obstetrician is quite upt o date and interesting, Birth Reborn is quite old but still good.

[3Ddonut]

Thanks! That's helpful info, so is that book the 'bible' of doulaing? Any other goodies, the course doesn't start until October....

[DaisyMOO]

Don't forget the £300 is tax-deductable as a business expense

[MarsLady]

I think that hosting it is the only way but why not email val via her site and see what she says!

Read Ina May Gaskin... Spiritual Midwifery!

[3Ddonut]

Jofeb, or anyone else who know about the nurturing birth course, is there anything I can be reading now to prepare me for the course, or what is good to read in general and is there any way you can get a place on this course for less than the £300 that doesn't involve hosting it? Thankyou.

[MarsLady]

Good girl! If you need any words of support or encouragement shout me here or email me via my site!

Now to drink wine and watch Criminal Minds!

[3Ddonut]

Thanks Mars, you're right of course, it's just a case of seein1g what I can do and when but I WILL do it!

[MarsLady]

Do the training for both!

Then work out what fits best with your life just now.

Take it a step at a time. It takes a while to build up but you can do it. You might want to consider teaching some postnatal classes as well.

Thank you for your lovely comments!

[3Ddonut]

Hi Mars - had a look through your website the other, was stuck by what a happy, smiley person you are!

I know that I will love it, I'm soooo excited to get started, I know it's what I want and what I've been waiting to find but I rely heavily on my income, I'm in a lot of financial trouble, and can't afford to just give up work so I'd need to 'fit it in' for now, at least the next four years....I know that I can't get out of work at the drop of hat to attend a birth and will therefore need some backup, which isn't ideal, I've thought about being a post-natal doula for the time being (as it's more predictable) and topping up with teaching antenatal classes and breastfeeding support etc, but it's a risk for me at the mo just want to get started!!!!