Question for Pupuce or any other passing Doulas....

[Oakmaiden]

Hi Pupuce. I wanted to ask you a couple of very nosey questions about the technicalities of being a doula, if that is OK. As you may (or may not) recall I partly trained as a Midwife, but had to leave because of family commitments. I am now wondering whether becoming a doula might be the right way for me to go (since it was always the support side of midwifery that interested me), but am unsure how one would go about mangaing one's time whilst doing this.

So my questions are:

What qualifications are there available - is there a preferred qualification amongst the Doula community, or a generally accepted minimum? How long does it take to train sufficiently? Is it expensive?

What would you consider to be the maximum number of bookings you could accept during the course of the year? Presumably postnatal "doulaing" is a bit more flexible as far as numbers go? How do you actually manage your time? Are your children young, or schoolage - is there an issue with childcare there?

That is all I can think of at the moment. I would be really grateful for any help you could offer.

Hi Oakmaiden.... first look at Doula UK website's training section for all the basics.
I presume your interested in being a birth doula...
Well qualifications vary from one doula to the next.... because it is NOT a clinical role but more of being a reassuring presence so one's definition of training varies. Also some have more knowledge to start than others. The best training around is Michel Odent's - it's some £250 for 3 days.... and if anything listening to him (as you know I am sure) is fascinating.
Please feel free to contact me to get more info on courses as there are others I would REALLY advise against but can't do so publically.

A very busy doula in London (i.e. experienced and with a good reputation, lots of word of mouth) can be as busy as 2 births/month (we don't take more as we guarantee to be there....). Outside of London most very experienced doulas that I know have 5 to 8 births/year - so you can struggle. The pay is crap too
A birth is between £250 and £500 and includes usually 2 or 3 at home antenatal visits, calls, e-mails, the birth (and that can be very long for a doula as we are OFTEN there before the MW!) so we can be stuck for 1 or 2 days away from home. We then have 1 or 2 postnatal visits.
I don't think that I could be a birth doula with a baby that I was BF as I am not sure how long I'd be gone for. Also you need to be available 24/7 (no booze either) for 2 weeks before and after EDD. You can always try to work with a backup - which is what Ind. MW do.
But if you rely solely on being a birth doula - 5 births a year which is a lot for a new doula is going to bring in £2000 or so (here in Kent most new doulas last year had no work.... down to not advertising efficiently IMO as I am new and had loads of work).

I work postnatally too as this is what actually pays my bills. Yes you can be far more flexible. A PN doula charges between £10 and 15/hour. Most mums are keen to have someone from 3 to 6 or thereabouts as it is when baby is most "difficult" and if there are other children it cna be chaotic and the experienced help of a doula is a great bonus (ask my clients ).

My DS is 4 and DD is 2 1/2 - DH works very little and when he does kids are at childminder (2 short days a week) so I am ALWAYS available.

This is a job you do because you are passionate about childbirth and wanting to help women have really positive births and PN period.... not to get rich.... believe me !

Anyway - ring if you want to talk - no problem !

Thanks Pupuce. NOw I have some thinking to do....

Incidentally the local Breastfeeding COunsellor has asked me to train as a "Bosom Buddy". I think it is the ABM course which she is wanting to shepherd a few of us through, cos she is setting up a new support group locally. I'm quite excited.

You know I am a BF counsellor with the ABM don't you?

Yup - that's why I mentioned it.