Birth Doulas

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Doulas who support women through their labor and birth. Mom's who are interested in having a doula present for their birth.

Members: 378
Latest Activity: Feb 18, 2012

5 members like this

Started by Corie Keller. Last reply by Lori Wade Jun 9, 2011. 5 Replies 0 Likes

Started by Chana Swan. Last reply by Angela Torres Feb 12, 2011. 1 Reply 0 Likes

Started by Kassedi. Last reply by Tara G. Jan 3, 2011. 1 Reply 0 Likes

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Comment by jenna on September 23, 2009 at 9:50pm: wow michelle...
thank you for sharing. SOOO glad that you will be there with this family. your support is going to be so key however it looks. will pray for you and this family as well... and this precious life.

Comment by Kristina on September 23, 2009 at 5:33pm: Anna,

What I would suggest you do is contact one of the organizations that are out of state and ask them if you can host a training. There may be scholarships for the DONA training but I've not heard of them; sometimes you can work something out with the trainer for a payment schedule or something like that.

You have lots of options for training! Other orgs will sometimes let you attend for free if you'll do the publicity/find a location/etc. for a training session. The caveat is that you have to help fill it up, too. It's a lot of work and a big commitment but a free training is so worth all of it.

Good luck!

Kristina < -- DONA trained in 2002

Comment by Michelle Van Norman on September 23, 2009 at 4:51pm: Thanks Jenna. I actually am waiting to find out if my first mom is going in for a c-section tomorrwo. She is waiting on the amnio results. This is going to be a very hard day. The baby is 37weeks gestation but stopped growing at 30 weeks. Her fluid is low and her placenta is weak. The baby is also breech. The baby is most likely goingstraight to the NICU. This is her first baby and i feel so bad for her. But I think i can help them tremendously because i had a son who spent 3 weeks in the NICU so i can kinda help them understand what is going to happen and stuff. Try to make it a little less scary. She asked me to go with her husband into the NICU so i could tell her what was going on since her husband wouldn't understand. I just pray that she is healthy and can go into her mom's arm's I know how important that it. Wish Us luck.

Comment by Anna Kincaid on September 22, 2009 at 3:01pm: I have a question for anyone that may have an answer. I am located in Western WA are there any "free" or low cost classes that will help me become certified through DONA or PALS in the Seattle area? THANKS!!!

I attened my first birth Last month it was Amazing, beautiful and breath taking.

Comment by jenna on September 18, 2009 at 9:20pm: hey michelle...
welcome to the club! i have a 17 month old and a 3 week old and have been working on my certification slowly since last august... and yes, you can charge... i'm doing a lower rate than when i am fully certified.
i wish you the best. what an amazing thing to give yourself to as you raise your children :)

Comment by Cherylyn on September 17, 2009 at 9:39pm: Yes, you can charge even if you're not certified. The way I look at it, even if you're not certified you have put in time and work to get trained and attain the knowledge you have, and you are offering a valuable service. Your time is worth something.

Comment by Michelle Van Norman on September 17, 2009 at 9:25pm: I was wondering if you can charge for services as a doula even if you are not certified?? I am taking my time with the certification process because i have 3 small kids at home. The oldest 6 and the youngest 8months. My doula has already lined up 3 births for me. The first to happen on thursday via c-section. I don't want to neglect my family but i still want to follow my dreams of helping moms in labor. I would have to pay for daycare while i am at a birth so that is the main reason i am asking. Thanks

Comment by mim moran on August 16, 2009 at 2:32am: hi tina, thanks for your words of encouragement, as yet i personally have not have any mum with me with VBAC yet, its still very much controlled through fear. even though i do know many who have had VBAC homebirth but it takes someone with conviction to buck the trend.
im

Comment by Tina Coley on August 15, 2009 at 12:51pm: Hi Mim
I think we're pretty lucky here in England - so far every health professional I've worked with has been very positive about the experience, but I know that it only takes one awkward encounter to make them very anti-doulas. It's a shame that one bad apple can spoil things for everyone else, but it would just make me all the more determined to change their minds if I came up against any negativity! At the last birth I attended (a homebirth after caesarean) when I introduced myself to the midwives and started to tell them that I didn't plan to get in their way and was just there to support my client, they said that no, actually, it was the other way round! They wanted to leave us to it as far as possible and keep out of our way. To say I was shocked was an understatement. But they were fantastic.
I know that the VBAC stats aren't great in Ireland but I'm wondering what percentage of your clients are VBACs? Am in Dublin for my wedding anniversary weekend at the end of this month. I'll give you a wave as we land!
Tina
http://www.betterbirthdoulas.co.uk
UK RC for ICAN

Comment by mim moran on August 15, 2009 at 9:20am: hi, i am a doula in dublin, ireland, only a few of us here and we're up against a lot of negativity from hospital bigwigs (particularly whith hospital 'policy' being only one birth partner), but on the ground level, couples, singles and midwives all are eager to have us aboard. i feel much more positive when i hear of experiences where this has been overcome. thanks
mim