Do tou have to be a lentil weaver to become a doula?

[Lilliput]

I have started my course and I am worried I am not enough of a earth mother to do this.

I dont think so. I would consider a doula for my next birth, but the last thing I want is some hippy-dippy, natural birth, lentil weaver

I think a doula is about making a connection with women, engaging with them, understanding what they want and then being their advocate during the birth process (something men struggle with when faced with 'knowledgable' mw's) and women are not always capable of making decisions in that siatuation.

Just my opinion but thats what I want in a doula, a strong woman who can be my advocate.

HTH but there are a few doulas on here who can probably help you more

No, but if you can make a mean Lemon Drizzle Cake it helps!

lol!

I'm not a lentil weaver by any means. All you need is to mother the mother.

Who are you doing your course with?

My home baking is certainly one of my strong points .

Birth consultancy, Adela Stockton. Do you know her and the course?

I do and I do!

She's a lovely woman. She's no lentil weaver.

Enjoy the course and know that you will be providing such a valuable service.

Being a doula is fantastic.

I am in rural southwest scotland so I don't know how much work I am going to get once trained. I am really wanting to find someone to shadow at the moment. My dd has an appointment with the health visitor this afternoon so I want to ask her about helping out at breast feeding groups, sitting in on ante-natal and post-natal groups.

I want to wish you the best of luck with the course lilliput (I haven't bumped into you on here for ages!)

And Mars my dear, I am 38+5 today, and will you please watch out for me in the next few weeks - some cyber mothering would go down very nicely thank you very much.

I'm a bit of a lurker gingerbear

im not a lentil weaver at all!!!!

it is about helping and supporting the mum, doing your best for them and giving information for them to make informed decisions.

good luck with your course.

Carly xx

don;t think i have ever eaten a lentil, never mind woven one

why do you want to be a doula? I found my VBAC experience spurred me on to 'do something' with all the empowerment and positivity i felt

there must be something that has made you decide to take this path

i thikn if you want to support other women to get the best birth experience they can, and you have a nurturing side to your personality, then it will be a good thing

lillipit- Klaw is a trainee doula in scotland, i;,m sure she will be happy to talk to you, she did the adela stockton birth consultancy course, IIRC

I'm sorry I take back the lentil weaver thing . It was just a vibe I got from some of the recommended reading.
I want to become a doula because I had a fab home birth with my ds but a not so great hospital birth with dd but with both I was lucky enough to have my mum there as well as my husband and that really gave me a lot of strength. She was also able to speak for me when I couldn't and when my dh lost the plot a bit. I would like to do that for other women.
I'm also a breastfeeding fanantic .

i thikn you;ll do brilliantly then ! are you doing the adela stockton course?

my first birth client is due any minute now..am soooooooo excited !!

I am doing the Adela Stockton course although I have not met her yet. I am half way through reading Michael Odent's Primal Health at the moment. What do other doulas think of this book?

I'm not a lentil weaver. I shave my legs and everything.

By the way, being a doula is amazing, inspiring, a wonderful job and all of that. But it is NOT a cuddly wuddly job for people who like babies. It's bloomin' hard work requiring a high level of mental and pyhsical stamina, you also have to have truly good communication skills and be really good at dealing with people when they are tired, stressed, anxious and in pain. And that's just the Dad's lol. And by the way it will not make you rich. I am not saying this to be doom and gloom, I think we need more doulas and I think the demand is there - but I do sometimes feel that some people think it's all about cuddling newborns and giving footrubs. I don't know why I felt compelled to say all of that really, nothing to do with any of the posters on this thread, think I will get off my soapbox now. Thank you.

yoo hoo mrsm!!

i have not read that one, i have been mostly reading sheila kitzinger, ina may gaskin and janet balaskas

have a list to take to the library on friday to order!

Yoo hoo! You still planning on doing the CBI course my love? Do I owe you an e-mail?

Lulumama - Did you shadow another doula for a while before you took on your first client or did you doa course and then throw yourself into the deep end?

did my course, then threw myself in ! got first birth any day now, first client elected for c.s. so was not with ehr in the end...am very excited !

am on doula uk and DH made me a fab website

I've just looked at your website, it is truely fab!!