Advice on new career with pregnant women and new mums

[Pupuce]

All right.... I need some advice. Some of you know that I am going to be out of a job in a few months (other thread) and I am seriously considering a change of direction...
I love the subject of pregnancy and care of babies... and whilst some of you believe I regurgitate GF stuff only I am much more open minded than that.
What sort of training are you familiar with (I read some of you have worked with Michel Odent) that might help me get more professional experience in these fields (I don't mind retraining) - I am not sure what sort of job I would do (yet), but it would have to be with pregnant mums and with mothers of young children... Any suggestion/experience/advice MUCH appreciated

Alibubbles - I have been doing a lot of web research on doulas over the past 3 days... did you follow the paramana course or was Michel Odent via Top Notch ? Also have you heard of the Demestia course (much more lenghty)... Any thoughts ?
Leese - When I said "hands-on" I actually meant I am not sure I want to catch the baby... don't mind watching (fear of the unknown I guess!)
SueW - just FYI the NCT number for teaching/training inquiries : 0870.770.3236 (in case anyone else feels like going down this route).

Hi Motherofone, I've got a few questions spinning round my head, so I'm sure I'll be starting some thread to do with redundancy related subjects soon. If you want start one now, do go ahead.

Pupuce, I did it with Michel Odent through Top Notch, It was the very first course they ran. I haven't heard of the other two

Tigermoth & Motherofone good luck with your new found freedoms, I hope the clouds are silver lined and bring you the space, time and opportunity to do the things you want to do in life...

Thanks Winnie!

Pupuce, Have you considered teaching yoga/ relaxation (pre and post-natal), baby massage etc? As someone who benefited enormously from being on the receiving end I should think it is pretty rewarding. My teacher trained with the Active Birth Centre. I know she had more enquiries than she could cope with, and had to keep starting new classes to meet the demand.

Thanks Faith - I too went to yoga classes with both pregnancies... DH is a yoga teacher so I could learn from him - though he does not specialise in pregnant mums.
I am envisaging organising such classes but I am trying to find out if my teacher has stopped her class (I think she might have).
My current frustration is that I am looking into becoming a doula and have written e-mails to doula organisations and doulas themselves... and have yet to receive a single reply. Thanks to Alibubbles I have more info but I am a bit impatient and wished people would reply to my e-mails. Samething with NCT to whom I have left 2 messages on Monday - I have yet to hear from them !!! Same for Active birth centre... OOOOHHH SO FRUSTRATING

I am waiting for a specific lady from the NCT to ring me back actually (not waiting for the pack which I got a few months ago)... but it is dissapointing that people show so little interest or in some cases business sense !

Pupuce, the Active Birth Centre is just a 10 minute drive from me so if you want me to pop in and get some details I'd be happy to - are you looking for info on the Doula course or trying to get in touch with Michel Odent? I did yoga there and loved it and Janet Balaskas does do a 'teaching pregnancy yoga class' course, or used to, do you want me to see if they know of anywhere else that does it? Your husband gave me loads of great tips on training as a yoga teacher so I'd be happy to repay!

Hey... Janus... that would be great !
First DH has more info and he has been meaning to send it... so I'll ask him to do it tomorrow !
Second, I could use your help.
I hope you don't mind if I e-mail my request seperately.
I am definitely looking at becoming a doula and an ante-natal class teacher (2 years minumum of courses)... yoga class for pregnant mums as well.
So I am baout to jump off the big corporation boat !!!!!

Good luck Pupuce. I applaud you for courage to jump off corporate board. I am also thinking about it at the mo' & am in dilemma - would love to get your thinking on this.

Might I just add that I think the ante-natal yoga is a brill idea. I did yoga right up to delivery. My yoga teacher here in Singapore was a disciple of BKS Iyengar himself. Her style is what I'd term as the "tough love" school of yoga - i.e. don't expect soft & gentle, she pushes you hard i.e. I got pushed & pulled during pregnancy - while everyone else in the class probably gasped & went "yikes - she's preggers! but it helped alot with the indigestion & back pains.

She believes that the yoga may have helped her preggers students give birth to babies with strong necks & backs - now I don't really know whether to believe her or not but sure enough ds & another classmate's ds both had strong neck control by month 1 (so 2 data points there).

Do you mean you plan on doing it as well ? are you going for the NCT one as well ? I am trying to get a hold of my local tutor who happens to be a doula but she is always on the phone and doesn't reply to e-mails.
I think the biggest challenge will be the cultural shock of leaving the busy London/Big company thing... as I find it "unbusiness-like" to not reply to an e-mail within 24 h !!!! And in my quest for info on courses I have had to be VERY patient. Maybe I'll enjoy the slower pace- in fact I know I will but I am so impatient because I want to get going.... And I have also just found out that the doula course I was planning to attend is sold out (it wasn't 2 days ago) and if they had bothered to reply even within 5 days this wouldn't have happened.
Rant over

Good luck to you both Pupuce and SueW, what exciting and worthwhile endeavours!

Good luck to you Pupuce and Suew!

During pg number 1 I did pre-natal yoga and found it the most helpful thing of everything I attended or read!!! Useful both for relaxation/breathing techniques (resulting in drug-free, if you don't count induction, labour) and exercises/stretches for backache, sore hips etc.

I am sure you will have wonderful new careers in the fields you are choosing!

I need your creative minds - and as we are looking for things to distract ourselves from some of the recent turmoils....
I am looking to find a name for my new business described below (which hasn't started yet I know) but which will offer doula, ante and post natal classes, yoga classes for pregnant mums and breasfeeding counselling....
It has to be name I can do a ".co.uk" to... I'll worry about checking wether the domain name is still available !

THANKS !!!!

some ideas - mwana, mtoto which in Swahili both mean child.

Pupuce, I haven't any ideas for names I am afraid but just wanted to wish you luck... sounds like a wonderful idea...

Thanks to both of you... I'd given up on getting some suggestions from Mumsnet on this ! Interesting suggestions.... does anyone know greek or latin words referring to motherhood or Godess of fertility ???

More traditionnally, I am thinking of
Nurturing mothers
Mothering mothers

Anyway I am progressing.... I have found 2 good doula courses (not sure which I'll go for yet), I will also study as a bf counsellor and will take a course to teach yoga for pregnant mums....
I hope to start my business soon but I have yet to go on a "start your own business" course.... which I think will be useful.

Here's some more - I like the last one.

Priapus is god of fertility in Roman/Latin
Hestia is goddess of fertility in Greek
Vesta is goddess of fertility in Roman/Latin
Luna goddess of moon
Lucina goddess of childbirth

Pupuce. sounds like a lovely idea I love the name Freya (found this on a website:
"Freya or Frayja is the goddess of Love and Beauty, also; fertility, war, and wealth (busy woman!).The daughter of Njord, and the sister of Frey.