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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

midwifery....doulas....complementary therapies in labour?

14 replies

midden · 21/05/2004 21:17

hello all - would be really grateful for your help here.

Since the birth of my first child I have felt that I would like to be able to help women in pregnancy and childbirth. My original plan was to do the three year midwifery course, but as time has passed and no 2 came along I have decided it is too big a commitment to take on atm. Ds is 4 and dd 18 mths and I don't feel I can be away from them five days a week never mind doing 12 hour shifts at hospital! Also don't have family nearby to help me out.

I am now hoping to train with the Doula training network but would also like to do another part time course - I have been looking at herbal medicine/homeopathy/reflexology - but unsure of what would be best.

Would love to hear from anyone who has had experienced benefit from a complimentary therapy during pregnancy/labour - what was it? Or what would you have wanted if you had the choice?Also from midwives/doulas who have training in one or more comp therapies - what do you find most effective?

Thanks to anyone who has taken the time to read this - even very short answers very welcome!!!

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Piffleoffagus · 21/05/2004 21:34

I'm going to train as a doula too!!!!!
I would probably go with aromatherapy as homeopathy is very involved... one day maybe one day....

Original poster

midden · 21/05/2004 23:10

thanks piffle - is homeopathy part of your course? What place do you think herbal medicine has in this context? All the best with your training!

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Original poster

midden · 22/05/2004 20:30

can anyone else help me with this?

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pupuce · 22/05/2004 21:15

Hi midden - I am a doula - I have attended 21 births and it was thanks to a mumsnetter's idea that I chose this line of work. I use to work in the city so BIG change... no regret but forget making any sort of decent money !
I also have a decent knowledge of homeoptahy, aromatherapy and massage in the context of childbirth. I am a BF counsellor too. I teach AN yoga too (though not at the moment) - this basket of competencies I felt was important for me... I use all of it with ALL of my clients..... didn't think that would be the case but I am always glad to have these "tools" in my doula basket !
If you join to Doula UK you will find that we organise specialists workshops on topics like massage for childbirth.
Feel free to contact me off line.... www.nurturingbirth.co.uk

Original poster

midden · 22/05/2004 21:52

pupuce thanks for this......great to hear from you.
I think I am picking up from your answer that is better to have your finger in lots of little pies rather than devote yourself to one? Is that right? I suppose it makes sense that different women will require different things during their pregnancy and births.
The course I was looking at was a four year degree course in herbal medicine. Do you think I would be better to do short courses in each therapy instead?

I have had a wee look at the doula UK site and thats how I found the course in Scotland.
Don't really care about making loads of cash am a sahm atm so anything will be a bonus! Just very enthusiastic and hopeful that I can help women in this area where matenity services are so poor. Very dissapointed in the level of care (more like negligence) I got when pg & birthing.

So glad I found this as I was feeling so worried about being crushed by the nhs system as a m/w - not sure if I could take that.......but do you find this is still an issue as a doula?

OP posts:

pupuce · 23/05/2004 20:29

You should do what you feel suits you best.
Maybe speak to other doulas.... use the Doula UK website and just ring a few doulas... I get calls from "wannabe" douals all the time !
The only thing that NO ONE can prepare you for is the on-call period... I am currently on-call for example....
I am in day 5 of the on-call (starts at 38 weeks) and can go past 42 weeks of course! You then have to be able to reach the mum any time of day or night within 1 hour or less.... so you can't go anywhere too far, you can't drink or you can't be without a car or 100% full proof childcare ! And most of all you need to have a partner taht supports this as it is hard on a family when you are away for 2 or 3 days to do a birth... as my last 3 were !!! (Well alst one was 2 days)... I am expecting this one to be shorter but 1st time mums usually call us very early on (way before they go to hospital) and you can be in their house for an awfully long time.
I love the job but this is something no one told me ! I am now use to it but when on-call it does get complicated for the whole family!

windmill · 25/05/2004 16:08

Hi midden,

I am complementary therapist and its great, I specialise in pregnancy and birth and combine lots of different therapies to help labouring women. I would love to be a midwife as well though, one day when I get round to it. I also have thought about being a doula but don't know where to train

pupuce · 25/05/2004 20:04

windmill - look here under About doulas/ becoming a doula

Original poster

midden · 25/05/2004 20:16

pupuce, as part of my course I need to contact a doula in my area and ask if it is a possible to attend births with her, how does this work? how will birthing women feel about having a trainee doula at their births (I wanted the least amount of people possible for my births!) and have you ever had a trainee with you? What if the doula I contact is not happy about this - don't think there are many near me!

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pupuce · 25/05/2004 20:18

Well I have been asked recently if someone could come with me... I have to say I am VERY reluctant as -like you - feel it's a matter of privacy.... I would envisage it with some clients but not all.... and then I am sure some clients would refuse !

Ask Lesley-Ann I am sure she knows doulas in your neck of the wood. Are you doing her course ?

Original poster

midden · 25/05/2004 20:28

yes, spoke to her today. Looks like there is one doula registered with doula uk in Edinburgh, although I do know of another who attended a friends birth a couple of weeks ago. My friends doula lives very near to me but I am wary of making contact with her on this as I know she has a place on the midwifery course this year so 1. don't know how often she will be practising in the future and 2. don't want her to think I am trying to take over her "patch" !!
So upset that I didn't know a doula existed when I birthed my two. It would have been just what I needed/wanted. Only know the one friend who had a doula for her birth - wondering how much work I will get!

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Piffleoffagus · 25/05/2004 20:42

sorry missed replying to this thread again!
Homeopathy is too involved to train for as far as I am concerned for now anyway.
I would do aromatherapy possiby massage and reflexology too, although in labour its use is negligible.
Homeopathy has every relevance in birth and healing, there are so many remedies that help with so many issues! Hence the need for qualified help. I am waiting until we move and get settled hopefully by September before I look at any trainng though

Original poster

midden · 25/05/2004 20:46

Agree about homeopathy and think I will see if I can do a course to back up. I had homeopathic childbirth kit but never got the chance to use it, but I know of others who found it invaluable.

OP posts:

pupuce · 25/05/2004 20:46

Piffle- we have many reflexologists and massage therapists who are doulas and use reflex before and THROUGHOUT labour !

I use massage, reflexo, aroma and homeo in almost all my births !

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