Interested in becoming a Doula. Need to change my life.

[princessmel]

Hi,

I need to change my job. I've done the same thing for over 10 years and need to move on.

I really like the idea of being a doula. My friends always say I'd be good at it. I'm friendly and get on with people. I love babies and all things birth related etc.
(when I was pg with ds I got a bit addicted to discovery home and healths birth programmes)
I'm a qualified NNEB nanny and have done my CM course.
I'm a keen bfeeder. Still bf dd at 20m.
Had 2 babies.

I hope that It would fit in around my family life.

I've read an old thread and clicked on the links for Doula UK and Nurturing Birth and some others.

I think hertsinessex, lulu and mars are doulas is that right?

I'd like to know

1. Is it really hard to complete the courses?
2. How much work do you get? And how often do you work?
3. Would people think I'm too young? . I'm nearly 29.
4. Um not sure about a 4th!

I'm not really very Lentil weavery, does that matter? I like Heat magazine and Primark!

Thanks for helping me. I'm so fed up at the moment I'm finding it hard to smile today.

I am not a doula but I have recently used one for my birth and also as a post doula. Financially the post doula work was much more viable for her. I definitely feel that there is a need for this sort of work and support. I don't have any family around (I am a Kiwi) and have older children plus a very busy life due to running our own business so it was vital that I had help. It was wonderful (actually still is - she is still visiting ) having someone to help that knows me, knows my baby and my family and will do anything to help me. This was especially important to me as you are quite emotional after giving birth and I wouldn't have felt comfortable with say a cleaner as my help. I think that if you market yourself correctly there will be a need out there. Lots of people I have told have said what a fantastic idea. Although not many people know about them - including the Health Visitors.

don't know mel, maybe they are waiting for the right time in their lives

before i did the course,i was a SAHM, with nothing to look forward to , no job to go back to, nothing that was for me !! and then this has given me such a positive focus, i have something that is separate from being a wife and a mother, and people seem to like me, and have faith in me! which is lovely. and i still get to be with my kids

I'll look at that Klaw. Maybe a little lentilly though when I had a quick look at the website.

Are all the nurturing birth classes done by the same lady?

Going to push my ds on the swing now.
Back in a bit.

good point zazas- a post natal doula can be so flexible to your needs as a new mother, aswell as cleaning and cooking, she can nurture you too !

also, i went to see my HV and told her all about the course, and she thought it was great, she took some of my cards too ! i also joined the MSLC, which has enabled me to meet the head of midwifery , sure start midwife and consultant midwife,all very positive and all useful to know!!

That post was lovely lulu.
Zazas glad you had a lovely experience with your doula. Did you find them on doula uk?

Klaw - I'm near Motherwell

I'm ttc no 3 myself just now but after that would love to do something like a doula/breastfeeding counsellor, I would see it as a vocational and earning any money out of it would be a bonus, my only concern is that I would have to pay for childcare so maybe it's a good few year off for me yet

Sweetkitty, childcare is an issue for sure! I'm doing my doula course just now but also want to ttc no 3 soon. Also want to add bf councelling to my qualifications, it's part of the 'job', isn't it!

so hold on to that dream!

BTW, I'm up in Angus.

hi pricessmel. So glad you started this thread . I have just finished the nurturing birth 3 day doula course and it was fantastic. It is quite emotional because you look at your birthing experiences which can be traumatic but I knew as soon as the course started that this was absolutely what I wanted to do. I order about six books on from the recommended list when I came back from the course and have been held up from completing my post course assignment because Amazon still have not delivered them after two weeks. grrr. I am really determined tho that I am going to make a success of this. When I went back to work after the course I spoke to my boss and agreed a reduction in my working hours so that I can spend more time setting up my doula business. I knew that I couldnt afford to stop and have no money coming in as the work is something that has to be built up.On the course they said networking was the most important thing and so I came on Mumsnet and asked people to give me advice (just like you did) and I also wrote to people in my area from the Nurturing Birth find a doula section. I cannot believe how friendly and lovely all you ladies are. I thought people would be reticent to share their knowledge, particularly those living nearby, for fear of taking away your business. As your thread has proved you just get all these lovely people coming on and sharing their knowledge and experiences. Go for it, would be great to hear how all us newbies get on.

i think forging good links with other doulas in the area is paramount, you can do shared care and back each other up, and thereby help more women !

the nearest doula to me is about 15 miles away//

where are you dizzy ? have you joined the nutruing birth forum and doula uk?

Lulu, I am in Fulham, South London. I joined the Nurturing Birth forum yesterday its very new isnt it. Havent gone on it yet tho only registered. I dont think I can register with Doula UK until I have done my assignment and I am still waiting for wretched Amazon to deliver!! Where are you?

that is true about DUK, actually ! i joined NB forum and posted a bit yesterday, first day i think..i am in merseyside!

am on call for a birth, and leaping into the air when my phone rings!

i got all the books i wanted out of the library, and if i loved them, i bought them ..

I went to my library Lulu and they said "no sorry we havent got any of those" that's why I bought them.

How exciting. Will you let us know how you get on. It's a scary prospect isn't it?

really !! my library ordered them in for me !! and this is a small village library !

am excited, nervous, scared but quietly confident, that it will be ok, my lady is so together and chilled, she will cope beautifully, i know she will !

really !! my library ordered them in for me !! and this is a small village library !

am excited, nervous, scared but quietly confident, that it will be ok, my lady is so together and chilled, she will cope beautifully, i know she will !

I am just wondering whether I need to do something other than just the nurturing birth course. Lulu, have you done a massage course, yoga, aromatherapy or anything else to complement you skills.

Lulu, what is MLSC?

MSLC- maternity service liasion committee

i have not done anything else yet, as i would like to do my trainee births, then work on adding to my repertoire, without having to spend money i haven't got at the mo, on more training...also, there are a number of holisitc practitioners around here, so i have a list to contact, to see if we can do some reciprocal recommendations

Princess, yes I have kids. 2 (and number 3 on the way!)

I have changed the way my childminding works since I started Doulaing - Im more a flexible, adhoc childcare provider now rather than anythign regular! (woohoo, I MUCH prefer being a doula to being a childminder)!

Where did you ladies who have already done a birth get your leads from?

I've also got involved with my local MSLC as I saw it as a good way to let the mw get to know me before encountering me professionally and to find about the local services and also to be able to have a say in them.

This is fantastic! We do need to network, wish there were more near me, think I'm going to be the first in my area.... Blazing trails, me!

Hi Klaw, I emailed you from the other link about lentil weaver to ask if you would send me the tips document, hope that was ok.

What a brilliant idea re the MSLC. I think thats one of the thing that scares me the most that I will arrive at hospital with my client and the staff will be "hostile". I have an appointment in a couple of weeks to become a volunteer at my local hospital but I dont know yet whether when I say I only want to be on the labour or ante/post natal wards they wont be interested.

Hi dizzydo,
I'm glad I startee it too. Its given me lots to think about.

Thanks pekka, just wondered as I'm sure it says you don't have any on your profile

Think I clicked the wrong thing when setting it up

I can't get my profile to go public...

Must be down to my archaic computer system...