Wanting to become a Doula.

[jules27]

Hi everybody, not sure if this is the right place to post ,but will give it a go to srart with . I am looking at becoming a Doula, I have looked at the Doula uk site and have sent off for a Application form to atttend a course.
I am a full time mum to my own two, plus my step daughter. my eldest is in college and my sd is in her final year at school , my son who has Special Needs is in high school.
I am also a NNEB nanny with over 25 years od experience of both being a nanny and a maternity nurse. I was wondering if any Doulas out there can give me advice on the right type of couses to take and also if this is the right direction for me to go down. Any advice welcome , i want to be able to share all my experince of both being a mother and a nanny , and hopefully this type of work is right for me.

Well, becoming a Doula is definately something I would love to do, one day, that is for sure, and even the better if it would not have to be a 2 year training course....!
I could not imagine becoming a midwife, I don't think I could cope with it, but Doula is a whole different side to it all, and must say I whish I had a doula wiht my last ds, probably would have had a better time of it.

i think it is one of those things, you hear about it, and it clicks with you, if it does, then you know you are looking at the right sort of path ! TBH, since i was pregnant with dd, there has not been a day i have not read or watched something about birth!

3and... is that course accredited/recognised by DoulaUK? If not (and I only say cos I haven't looked) then you would still have to complete a different course to be registered with them before you can do the assessment/recognition process.

yoo hoo mars ! how are you and did you get the card? x

currently these are the courses that are recognised by DoulaUK

I did lulu! I meant to email you but I was partying in Kent. What a fab card! Absolutely gorgeous!

Partying in Kent ????????

And just what is wrong with Surrey ??

Not enough champers or salsa dahlink!

all the courses mentioned on the thread seem to be on that list....but the 2 year course would set you back a bit more....like £1700 more then the shorter 3 day versions....

no worries mars ! our post is notoriously unreliable !!

glad you had a lovely time in kent !

Personally I'd go for the shorter course and then (something that DoulaUK encourage) go on study days and be continually reading and keeping up to date!

just realised that it is the Demestia course but rebranded!

it is tres expensive!

sure it is very in depth though !

Going back to the clary sage,I wouldn't practice it with clients personally,but if someone asked me whether it has been known to stimulate labour I would tell them what I know and yes also the cons with using oils.I am not an aromatherapist and certainly don't claim to be.I will say when I completed my nuturing birth doula course,the course trainer said she actually uses it with her clients and said it has been successful at times,it was suggested as something a doula could carry in their bags?
This like many of the old fashioned remedies to induce labour don't always work for everyone.Sometimes no matter what you do, be it sex or a curry ,baby will come when he/she is ready.

agree with that!

also, i hated the smell, which cannot be good to help it work ether !!

For those who plan on using Clary Sage, beaware of the side effects during birth. There are a few, including drowsiness, euphoriac, andcan make things a little to spaced out! This with Gas and Air or where a General Anasthetic is needed can cause problems.
If you want to know what oils are suitable, just email or CAT me.

Also remember, that using any oil in a birthing pool could touch the newborns skin (or worse, his eyes), as oil does not easily mix with water.

Those who already are Birthdoulas...can I just ask what the reality of the job is like?
I mena, I assume you are pretty much on standby with your women, how do you find this with organising childcare with your own children?
Also, say a possible client contacts you, what do you do if it "doesn't" click between you?
Do you tend to be more with women at a Homebirth or a Hospitalbirth (as in planned now....I mean)

3andmore,

You would meet with someone before you book with them, and if the vibe isnt there u usually both feel it, and dont take things further. If she wants to book you dont have to take the booking if you feel its going to be a real problem.

Re childcare: i make most of my appt at weeeknds or evenings. When a lady goes into labour I have a list of possible minders for the boys (aged 2 and 3). you can easily rotate your list, so even if you have 1 booked every month for a yr, its unlikely youll have to ask the same person twice in a row.

Also, when ppl know its your passion, not just a job, they are happier to help.

Cx

Thanks for your reply

not had any births yet....am working on it ! have had another enquiry today ! anyhoo.. i have a list of friends and family, and an emergency nursery place available for DD..DS is 7 and at school , so no trouble to send him home with someone from school until DH gets home...

lulumama...yeah, I suppose if your dh has a regular job and all that....my dh is in the armed forces, which just complicates things a bit, as well...you just never know where they are, when and when they will be home....found it hard to organise childcare with a regular job and only 1 child back then...so, with 3 I just don't know...don't think it would be possible...sigh...one day...dh won't be in the army forever...

Hi ladies and fellow doulas - I've joined this thread rather late but thought I'd add my bit. I did my training with Nurturing Birth (great course)last year and attended my 4th birth last week.

It is difficult to juggle this with also working 3 days a week and having a 3 year old and a 2 year old but it's all worth it when you see a baby breathe its first breath and see the total joy on the parents faces. It helps to have a supportive network of family and friends - well, couldn't really do it without them as you never know when you're going to be called to a birth (usually the middle of the night!)or how long you're going to be there.

Lulumama - I too sometimes think I want another baby, just for the experience of giving birth again - strange really, when that's the bit most women want to avoid!!

Hi LittlemamaT - i am still trying to get my first birth !! the course is excellent isnt't it? whereabouts are you? i am in merseyside...so you must have your assessment soon?

Hi Lulumama,

Sorry for the late response to your message - haven't been near the computer for a few days, too busy writing up my last birth for my assessor. I'm just outside Brighton - we don't do too bad for clients down here but it's like buses - nothing for ages and then loads altogether. Have you done any advertising? I hope you get your first client soon - you seem to have a lot of knowledge and a great attitude so I'm sure there's a very lucky client out there just waiting for you!!