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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Any doulas out there? Anyone want to give advice on how to become one?

26 replies

3Ddonut · 28/07/2007 00:30

I am desperatly seeking a change of career and have began to consider becoming a doula as a favourable option. I am currently a nurse (not in maternity or gynae) and have been turned down to study midwifery twice (not enough evidence of academic work - too busy having my own babies) I have been turned off midwifery due to the stories I've been told of how hard it is to develop a professional relationship with a labouring mother and also the very technical side of it. I would dearly love to work with new Mum's, Mum's to be and newborns however. I feel that becoming a doula would tick the right boxes and avoid the areas I'm not happy with if I followed the traditional route of midwifery. I have three of my own children. Anyone got any help, ideas or advice for me???

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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hertsnessex · 28/07/2007 00:36

im a doula - www.primalbirth.co.uk - i trained with nurturing birth and i am a recognised memeber of doula uk.

www.doula.org.uk:

they have a list of their recognised courses, but you can do any course you like.

i just found working under an 'umbrella' is great for support etc.

email me if you want anymore info : [email protected]

good luck!

Original poster

3Ddonut · 28/07/2007 00:39

just a quick question, as I'm going to be relying on this as the household's main source of income.... do you get enough 'clients' to maintain a decent wage and how long does it take to train?

I will look that website up maybe tomorrow, when I'm a little more awake!

OP posts:

hertsnessex · 28/07/2007 00:42

training time depends on the course you choose. the actual practical part of my course wass 3 days - but with lots or pre and post work and then a trainee period.

as a doula you will make some money - but it would not be enough to support a family on - at least not a guaranteed regular income. maybe adding other things - like antenatal classes etc could help improve your income though.

TippiHedren · 28/07/2007 00:44

3D, sorry to kind of hijack but i am thinking of training to become a midwife, am ed that you have been turned down. Would you mind going into more detail on this for me please as would be really interested to know what to expect.

Original poster

3Ddonut · 28/07/2007 00:50

Thanks for the advice Herts.

I would like to be a doula in my 'spare' (haha) time, but I'm concerned about not being available for the labour, I have my own kids to care for and work three nights a week.

Tipi, are you a trained nurse looking to dual train or starting from scratch? I'm a trained nurse and as such, can add on18months training to become a qualified midwife, however, I've been trained for 8years and have done no (shameful) formal training in that time (and remember, as a 'professional' should be doing life long learning) but tbh, hate the job and am busy with my young family, have been rejected from midders training because I have not demonstrated the appropriate committment to academia, if you're starting from scratch, it'll be totally different for you.

OP posts:

hertsnessex · 28/07/2007 00:51

working with other doulas in your area works well as you can back each other up if necessary etc.

mail me if you need to ask anything else - must go to bed before client calls and i have to leave again in an hour!

Original poster

3Ddonut · 28/07/2007 00:52

g'night!

OP posts:

TippiHedren · 28/07/2007 00:56

Would be startig from scratch. Cheers £d, night night.

hertsnessex · 28/07/2007 00:59

night!

quokka · 28/07/2007 01:45

I also want to become a doula but have just moved to S'pore. Was thinking how I could do it here? The internet is crap and have googled doula training and get nothing ?

SueW · 28/07/2007 07:13

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

harpsichordcarrier · 28/07/2007 07:39

would you think about becoming an antenatal teacher? the training is with the NCT, part time distance learning. you need to be sponsired by your local branch. it is a good way of getting to know more about mums and babies and spemnding time with pregnant mums.

DaisyMOO · 28/07/2007 08:36

Tippi, if you're still reading this have a look at the student midwives site for advice on how to get into midwifery. I found it very useful coming from a non-nursing background and was offered a place for this September, although I've turned it down as I feel the committment is too great whilst I have small children. HTH

Original poster

3Ddonut · 28/07/2007 12:21

Thanks for the advice Harpsi, I think thatif I want to do this full-time I may need a more regular income too! I had never considered that you could run classes without actually being a midwife, I will certainly look into it!

OP posts:

quokka · 28/07/2007 13:29

thanks suew!

Original poster

3Ddonut · 29/07/2007 21:50

anyone had any experience of a doula? Anyone consider using one?

OP posts:

hertsnessex · 30/07/2007 11:48

3d - quite a few ladies on mn have used doulas - shout for marslady, she has worked with a few mn'ers and i have helpd find doulas for a few and i am working with one at the moment. im sure youll find a positive response out there.

Original poster

3Ddonut · 30/07/2007 21:21

Marslady are you there......

Pupuce are you there......

I've been told to ask for you for your insights!

OP posts:

MarsLady · 31/07/2007 22:34

I'm here. Try me on lovelymarslady at aol dot com if you don't find me about the site!

Original poster

3Ddonut · 02/08/2007 09:27

Hello Marslady...didn't see you there! I apologise in advance for sounding dim (just finished a loooonggg night shift) but could you (or any other doulas) answer me a little question? How do your families react to you up and off-ing at a moments notice? I'm sure that my hubbie would soon get sick of it, and not sure how I'd cope with childcare...any advice???

OP posts:

lulumama · 02/08/2007 09:28

i use friends, family and 2 childminders.. ! all worked so far ... need to have lots of contingency plans

Original poster

3Ddonut · 02/08/2007 09:34

Thanks lulumama I was hoping to bump into you around here! How long have you been a doula for? How busy are you (with your doula-ing) if I may be so bold?

OP posts:

hertsnessex · 02/08/2007 09:36

i also do the same as lulu.

lulumama · 02/08/2007 10:34

i've been doulaing since february... am busy enough ! i was the only doula in the area, so i have had to turn a fair bit of work down, but just made contact with someone who has started doula training who lives here, and we are getting together to work as a team ... i have been pleasantly surprised at how much work is out there!

Original poster

3Ddonut · 04/08/2007 09:14

How are you enjoying it? Which area are you in? My area is not known as affluent.... I was thinking about asking a friend to train with me with the intention of setting up as a team, I've now made up my mind that this is what I want, I'm currently a nurse and I hate it, I wanted to be a midwife and knew that there would be bits of that I'd hate too, to be a doula gets the bits I'd like and none of the bits I dont but I can't doula and not work and I can't do both (otherwise I couldn't guarantee to be at the birth and that's a pretty big part of it!

OP posts:

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