business idea

[Isyhan]

Can I sound out some mumsnetters please. Im a nurse, also a childminder and I'm studying a post grad diploma in Health Visiting. When I finish I would like to start up in business giving advice to mums about sleep, feeding, baby products etc but do it on self employed basis. I thought about offering a package where Im also on call for a short period of time post birth for sleep and feeding problems. I wondered if there may be a market for this. What do people feel?

All ours are off on long term sick!

I have seen an advertisement for a service like this in our area. I think you need to be in a fairly affluent area and I should imagine that it is something that you would need to do in addition to your day job as it would probably take quite a bit of time for the business to take off.

Being a doula doesnt just involve rolling up 10mins before a birth and saying PUSH!!!!!!!!

As Marslady says, we have training, and it never stops.

As a doula how many mums to be would you whats the word? care for, help? escort through childbirth? a month?

As a birth doula (if you dont have a local back up) then one per 28days. you go on call for them from 38-42wks, normally only booking one incase of a clash. but its upto you.

you can work as a p/n doula whilst being on call for a birth, so couls also be worknig 4hr/day or something like that.

It cant be very well paid then as websites quote a charge of £350-£600. So would you really earn only £350 per month?

Its not a 9-5job, so you can fit it in around your own children if you need to. No-one is a doula for the money, its not a money maknig scheme. It is something you believe in so strongly, that you have a genuine desire to help woman. Plenty of doulas also work for £0 in certain cases, (i am at the moment). I also advise some clients with sleep issues, i am on call and no doula would ever refuse a client in need at 3am with a screaming baby. It just depends if you feel you want to 'charge' for offering someone a service they 'possibly' may use, and i think this would get the client more concerned about how things would be after the birth. My clients know im there if they need me (whether im on call or not).

Sounds like doulaing isnt for you. maybe go down the HV route.

Yes I agree. I think you are either incredibly altruistic or incredibly well off. Most of us need to pay the bills otherwise Id probably be out there doing charity work or something.