Found a trainee Doula - should I go for it?

[flightattendant]

After reading Lulumama's links this morning, I've found a local doula and called her. She's on mat leave herself but has a friend who has had sme training, but never attended a real labour except her own.
The lady I spoke to said this woman would probably be able to attend free of charge, if I was happy to use her - she teaches yoga for pregnancy, and helps at a breastfeeding class - but isn't an experienced doula as such.
I remembered that if I do have a home birth, I'll have two midwives there at the end, and one there all the way through, so what will a doula be able to offer in addition to the midwives? (sorry to sound dim but I'm just not clear about their role)
The idea of two midwives AND a doula there when I'm giving birth, seems a bit greedy!!
Won't they all disagree potentially about what's best procedure?
Also if I am transferred to the hospital for any reason, would a doula still be able to come with me and help?
Thanks for any suggestions

Hi,

To answer your questions: yes a doula would still be able to attend the hospital with you. no, it doesnt seem greedy, you want the support and she is there for you and your partner, not to unertake a medical task. if this lady is willing to work and help you for free, then to be honest id jump at it, she will gain the experience as a trainee and im guessing she has done some doula training, plus her own births would make her experienced to help you.

Good Luck,

Carly x

i'm a trainee ! you'd have me ,no ? i will be transferring with my home birth client if needs be

doula can do the emotional bit, the back rubbing, brow wiping, general supporting and nurturing and get you bathed and settled after the birth

Hooray!!!

Well if you're a trainee Lulu, I'll take a trainee any day! You know EVERYthing!!!
Brilliant.
Thankyou.
She's got herself a job!

yay!!! sometimes, what we trainees might lack in actual birth experience, can be made up for in enthusiasm ,also, i would say all the doulas i know, trainees or otherwise, are doing this because they have a real passion for it, a desire to really help support women in getting the best birth experience, when something comes from the heart, i think that is very important in a 'job' like doula-ing! if that makes sense

I'd go for it - I'm not having a HB but I am attempting another 2nd VBAC - after having a horrendous time with my first VBAC. I've got a trainee doula (which Carly (hertsnessex) helped me find waves at Carly) she has attended a few births already though so not completely new to it - but I'm still totally comfortable about her being there to support DH and I.

I think you have to meet her first and see how you get on with her.

I have met doulas and midwives I would want by my side every step of the way. And I have met some I wouldn't. I even refused to let one midwife into the room when I was in labour as she had upset me so many times during pregnancy.

sorry to hijack the thread but Lulumama do you think that doula'ing will be profitable for you? Financially worth doing? It would be a lovely thing to do and I would love to train, but I am concerned with the finance side, so is DP.

Flight Attendant -If this lady is willing to come and give you some support prenatal and post natal free of charge - go for it, support with breastfeeding could give you a real help, also - there is never enough people to make tea, rub your back or retrieve your DP out of the out (if he's like mine)

Good luck -
let us know what you decide
x

oh that was supposed to say retrieve DP out of the pub

Hi fannyannie! Hope you are well.

Emilyand lola, i know you asaked lulmam, but from my point of view, doulaing is not about the money at all. I have helpd a lady for free. but bills etc must be paid. If you can take on lots of postnatal work, then yes, it can make money, but from the birth side, you certainly dont make alot, and if you work out your hourly rate after a long birth, id be better off working in a shop ( just an example). i do it because i want these women to have the best experience they possibly can, i aim to give them information so they can act upon it before and support all their decisions in labour/birth and beyond.

Cx

i don;t think it will be profitable no, i think it will be immensely rewarding and satisfying and heartwarming

but i think a doula driven by money is starting from the wrong foot, as it were

not saying that there is anything wrong with making a living from it, not at all, but it is the sort of thing where you need to really want to do it

i am going to be on call in may and june, i will miss two weddings, as they are too far away from where my clients are, and there is a chance i would miss the birth if i went

so i think you really have to want to do it, for more than money, as it is a big commitment

basically if my DH was unable to support us, i would have to get a more reliable job.....

i intend to train as an antenatal teacher, which will be a more reliable source of income

doulaing will bring some pocket money, but it is not a living wage for me at the moment, especially as where i am, doulas are only really starting to get known...

post natal work,as herts has said, is certainly more profitable on an hourly basis than being a birth doula

lulumama, you're a trainee? . But you know EVERYTHING!

LOL!

basically, i started looking into pregnancy and birth when i was pregnant with DD, who is 21 months old, so that is a long time to be learning about things !

becasue i wanted a VBAC, i really educated myself, and loved learning about birth, i had heard about doulas, and it really clikced with me, and when DD was one , there was a course in my town to start training as a doula!

i read something pregnancy and birth related every single day ! can never stop learning,and very much hope to train as a midwife when the children are older

i have had one negative and one positive birth experience, and they have both shaped my life in different ways, and i am passionate about women getting the best experience they can and am so glad to have found a way to do that !

flightattendant,

I say if you meet her and get along go for it. Check your hospital policy on doulas though, in case you need to get transferred. Our hospital (in the US so don't know if it makes a difference) welcomes doulas, but they do need to sign forms saying that they will not interfere with the hospital staff etc. Just call the hospital and see if they have a policy that you may need to be familiar with.