What You Should Know Before You Become A Doula
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October 23, 2015 | Become a Doula, Doula, Doula Certification, Doula Inspiration, Doula Training
Becoming a Doula 101
Become a doula and when you tell people what you do for a living, you’ll get one of two reactions:
- Where were you when I was having babies?
- That sounds amazing! I want to do that!
Those who wish to become a doula are amongst many looking to do something professionally, that feels good personally. Supporting a family during labor, birth and the postpartum period is incredibly satisfying, yet equally challenging.
You see, birth doesn’t happen according to birth worker’s schedules. We (and our families) live an “on-call” lifestyle.
At a moments notice, we are plucked from our own lives and dropped into the lives of our clients, for an unknown amount of time.
Now sometimes, that’s a great thing (Shhhh, lets keep that between us) and sometimes it’s not such a great thing. We leave birthday parties, social events, holiday functions, etc. when a client calls on us. Our families make huge sacrifices and we accept all invitations by saying, “I’d love to unless I’m at a birth.”
So why do we do it?
Why does one become a doula?
I’ll tell you.
- They feel either empowered or dis empowered by their own birth experience
- Their personal birth trauma leads them to wanting to help others by providing labor support
- Because they want birthing people to know their options
- Because they want birthing people to feel supported enough to speak up and feel “heard” during labor and birth
- Because they had to become a doula as a prerequisite for midwifery school
- Because they believe families should have gentle birth transitions and believe they can help facilitate them
- Because they are passionate about birth and want birthing people to have the best experience possible
Each doula has their own reason for wanting to become a doula and no two doulas are exactly the same.
The list goes on and on but all of the reasons seem to stem from a place of great passion. This is not work that people do “just because”. It is important work and it is incredibly rewarding to do it.
So, if you are thinking to yourself, “how do I become a doula?” this is what you should know before you dive in:
- Each time you are given the honor of supporting someone in labor, it feels like a privilege
- Doula clients are grateful and appreciative of the service you provide
- It is difficult to live life “on call” and you and your family will make great sacrifices in order for you to do it
- In addition to being paid well to do this work, you will also receive giant paychecks for the heart
- You must sell the services that you provide before actually getting to provide them
- You can work as an independent doula, work for another doula or own a doula agency
- You will need/want personal support with life’s responsibilities in order to be able to leave your life when a client needs you
- You will need/want on-going professional support in order to learn the practical and business sides of doula work
ProDoula is a doula certification organization that wants you to succeed.
Committed to the highest level of training and support possible, ProDoula is your doula, side by side with you along your journey to turning your passion for birth into the paycheck you’re worth!
