So, from reading here I have seen that a lot of us are mutli-taskers when it comes to the services we offer.

I offer birth, postpartum, childbirth education classes, babywearing sessions, infant massage, some breastfeeding education, newborn care, swaddling classes, and working on so much more... I have chosen such a rounded selection because I have trouble going through life only focusing on one career (LOL!). This way it changes it up for me...

So, my way of working is that - although I am able to offer a lot of services to mamas who are interested - I deliberately tend to refer a lot of my clients out to other people providing the same kinds of care. I do this for a couple of reasons;


To prevent my own burn-out (it's a lot of work to basically be "employed" full time by a mama who wants all of these things from you), but most importantly:
So that the new mama is forced to seek out a support GROUP. not to just rely on one person (me) for all her needs and advice. This way, she has different people she can turn to for help and in the process learn the networking skills she will need as a new mama to find other women in the same position. I consider it a benefit that she will be able to use for the rest of her life...


So, my question to you other multi-skilled Doulas out there I suppose is this;
Do you package your services and help a client in all the areas that you are skilled in, or do you refer them to other capable people (for the same or different reasons)?

I'm just really interested in how other Doulas manage this kind of thing! :)

I am in Louisiana, and well as far as I know there are only a few birth doulas and they are in New Orleans, then there is 1 birth doula in Baton Rouge and well that is it for Birth. There is only 1 ppd I have found in the whole state.
1 IBCLC (private practice) and a few who work in hospitals. We have LLL meeting in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, but nothing in between. The childbirth classes are taught in the hospitals and from what I have found they teach you how to "manage pain" till you get your epi.
So there isn't really anyone to refer to

Awww, I completely understand! I am the only Birth & Postaprtum Doula for over an hour's drive (better than being the only one in the state/one of a small handful).
Most of my referrals have been to the local hospital LC's, because I have a great relationship with them and because they will help the mama for free during a 1-on-1 consultation (at the hospital), and some also offer breastfeeding mama support groups.
I always try and give mamas their options, so that even if they end up still requesting me to take them on, I feel better knowing they understand who else is out there for them.
When it comes to swaddling sessions, babywearing classes, cloth diapering info, and unbiased childbirth education, I'm pretty much it. I don't know of anyone else (outside of the major city) who offers hands-on "lessons" and advice (so, Doulas, there are some ideas for you to possibly incorporate into your services - they have proven to be quite popular for me here).
There is only one other person who does infant massage, but she does it as part of her services as a masseusse.
Slim pickings, but I like to present my mamas with all the information I can and then let them decide (obviously not possible in places that have NO other specialised services). :)

Do you package your services and help a client in all the areas that you are skilled in, or do you refer them to other capable people (for the same or different reasons)?
I'm just really interested in how other Doulas manage this kind of thing! :)
Well, honestly I don't typically have clients who come to me for multi reasons. Typically when a client comes to see me they are coming for one reason and I fit that need. Then they will take my business cards and hand them out as their friends need a service. Only once did I have a woman contact me for birth and postpartum services. In the end she chose to go with me for neither and then had a horrendous and tramatizing birth. After she got home she called me and begged me to come and assist her as a postpartum doula because her depression was so bad and her and hubby were afraid of what might happen. I was already committed to other stuff in my life, but did manage to give them a few hours a week for about three weeks. I actually heard from this mama earlier this week - baby is over a year old and she is still struggling with the trauma of the birth although it isn't as bad as it was.

I've been packaging my doula and belly casting services I guess, more just offering a discount and combining a prenatal with the bellycasting session. I do plan to combine postpartum services, breastfeeding education and support... I haven't really figured out how yet but I had planned on doing that once I'm certified. :)