I want to work with women during pregnancy and maybe post pregnancy to - what can I do?

[Bky]

Hi

I am just about to go on maternity leave for my second child. After never knowing what I want to do job-wise and just working to pay bills I feel like I really want to work with women during pregnancy and post-nately as well.

I couldn't be a midwife, I am rubbish with needles and couldn't do all the blood taking and things like that.

I love the idea of a doula but due to my own family commitments and partner working long hours I can't see it being possible for me to be on call as such for the birth.

I would love to be able to offer support, someone to talk to and advice in a non-medical capacity. I had a difficult birth with my first baby and would have benefited hugely if there was someone available to be able to give me the chance to de-brief it all with, just someone there, just for me to talk to and to listen.

I would love to be able to do this, is there any such job out there? Is it possible to work in a doula like capacity but not be present for the birth?

Any info anyone could give me would be great.

doula comes to mind

sorry should've read post first! you could try volunteering in a mother and baby unit, or even do part time work as a maternity assistant, get you into the profession and then see whre it takes you

sorry lots of thoughts keep coming as i'm eating my toast. could you doula with someone else? share the care as it were

doula, as part of a team, if you are down south, that should be easy to do. train as an antenatal teacher/ childbirth educator, breastfeeding peer supporter, volunteer at local hospital , as Bealcain has said. Set up a birth choices support group with like minded women?

A post-natal doula, rather than a 'birth' doula? I think some people do offer this service?

You could become a post-natal leader with the NCT. I'm doing their antenatal training and am really enjoying it