I need to find two more clients so I can get certified however I like to have the births in before the summer is over. So here's my idea. I was thinking of asking a doctor/midwife or the hospital if I could volunteer myself to a mom...so I could get in the my births I need. What do you girl’s think? or am I :loco ......Has anyone done this?

Susan

You could try, but I've never had any luck with it. Check if your hospital has a Mother/Baby Wellness Clinic and talk to the nurse there. They see patients prenatally and prepare them for birth at the hospital, so if you gave her a stack of flyers, maybe she'd hand them out for you.

OH!! Also.. go to your maternity stores in town! Especially the small boutique ones. I worked it out with one lady that she would put flyers by the cash register and I'd put a flyer for her store in with my prenatal info packet I give moms!

I agree with Tiffany - I haven't heard of anyone having any luck with asking a doctor if she could volunteer. As for a midwife - she probably wouldn't refer you unless she knows who you are and knows a little bit about you. I think you would get further with a midwife (i.e. homebirth), vs hospital birth.

I would start by putting the word out to family members, friends, etc - word of mouth can be your best advertisement.

Thanks ..I thought it be a crasy idea but it's been in my head for days and I had to let it out.


Susan

The way I got my certifying births (and even more than that) was to call the local childbirth classes and see who was receptive to allowing me come and talk about the benefits of doula support for 15 minutes or so. Have you tried that?

The way I got my certifying births (and even more than that) was to call the local childbirth classes and see who was receptive to allowing me come and talk about the benefits of doula support for 15 minutes or so. Have you tried that?


Yes, I have and the educator was great about me talking about doulas to her class until I heard her one day tell the class that doulas are only needed when are mom is alone.


Susan

Yes, I have and the educator was great about me talking about doulas to her class until I heard her one day tell the class that doulas are only needed when are mom is alone.


Susan
Did you try educating the educator on why/how doulas can benefit couples?

Try posting on craigslist.org. Thats what I did and I think I got 4 or 5 clients that way. I just wrote about what a doula is, and why I was volunteering my services. I got alot of responses. HTH

Did you try educating the educator on why/how doulas can benefit couples?


Well here the thing.....I took the childbirth class with her which cost me $50 ..The very first day she told me she was going to call me to tell me not to come ...then though the whole six weeks she was like "oh, you come back" and "oh, I forgot to leave out a chair for you" and when she was giving out hand outs she was like "oh, I don't have enough for you" and I paid for the class. However I was very nice I would show up to her class early to help her set up and took cookies to the whole class.....anyhow back to the point she told me at the last class that she wanted to be doula but she could not do it because she was nurse. However she thought doulas were great and that she had a midwife in two of her births. That is why when I called her to attend a class I was surprised when I over heard her...I had gone back to the class because I had forgot my bag...telll the parents after I left about doulas not being needed doulas.

Susan

Try posting on craigslist.org. Thats what I did and I think I got 4 or 5 clients that way. I just wrote about what a doula is, and why I was volunteering my services. I got alot of responses. HTH


Thanks,....I thought about doing it but was not sure if anybody else and done it.


Susan

How about your local teen mom classes or domestic violence shelter? I figure those women can really use a doula.

or a class not associated with a hospital? i am assuming thisone is because it's taught by a nurse.

let's see, you could also call your local wic office and see if you could come talk to a group of expectant moms in your wic does that.

i agree with the teens, too. try that. i like working with teens because they have so mnay unformed opinions, unlike 'grown ladies,' kwim? a lot of times they don't have a lot of preconceived ideas abot labor and birht.

Well here the thing.....I took the childbirth class with her which cost me $50 ..The very first day she told me she was going to call me to tell me not to come ...then though the whole six weeks she was like "oh, you come back" and "oh, I forgot to leave out a chair for you" and when she was giving out hand outs she was like "oh, I don't have enough for you" and I paid for the class. However I was very nice I would show up to her class early to help her set up and took cookies to the whole class.....anyhow back to the point she told me at the last class that she wanted to be doula but she could not do it because she was nurse. However she thought doulas were great and that she had a midwife in two of her births. That is why when I called her to attend a class I was surprised when I over heard her...I had gone back to the class because I had forgot my bag...telll the parents after I left about doulas not being needed doulas.

Susan
Well, I also had a very less than appealing childbirth class that I followed as well. The woman I followed didn't let me introduce myself, told me to sit in the corner and be quiet, didn't give me handouts and was quite rude to me. Like I said now I work at the same hospital that she does, but I don't think she is there anymore. I don't even recall her name, so I couldn't even find out. I could probably pull out my paperwork and pull her name off of it, but honestly I don't even want to know. I know she wouldn't let me talk about doulas because the hospital has a doula program there and once when someone asked about my services she shut them down immediately telling them that the program was good and they didn't need to mess with me or paying me a huge fee. I hated the class, so I know where you are coming from.

It really is sad when we get hooked up with someone that is rude to us because reality is they never know when we might end up being employed with them LOL

You could ask if you could meet with a midwife (lunch meeting?...you pay) in order to introduce yourself and your services to her. She might then be comfortable enough with you to give your name out to her clients who ask about doulas.

I have midwives who put my information in all of their educational New OB packets and explain what I do to every client. Before they offered to do that, however, they would refer their clients to me only IF they were first asked about a doula. They didn't offer doula info unless first asked until they got to know me better. Now....I have an "in" with them and they routinely give my information to every client at their first prenatal visit (I know because I put the New OB packets together myself when I help out with reception there once a week! ;)). They have also allowed me to display my business cards and flyers in the waiting room. The moral of the story is: get to know the midwives in the area! Take them out to eat and befriend them! :thumbs You could potentially be a great asset to each other!

Man, sometimes I hate Las Vegas...we are sooo behind the times but then I read posts about other communities where midwives, CBE, and doulas are not on the same page and am glad I am in Las Vegas. The homebirth midwives will put anything out you provide them. I have been to many births because I just called them and said, he if you need some extra hands would you call me. The doula's and CBE are all in an organization together CELA (childbirth educators and labor assistants) that meets quarterly to interact, share, etc. Plus we usually see or talk to each other on other occasions and are willing to share tips, handouts, tools, etc. We have the Birth Year Network...for the most part we have to work hard to educate but I like that we are all united in doing it. That sucks that is not the case in many places...it doesn't make sense to me...kwim?

I gave my name to the midwives here who do homebirth/birthcenter births, I recieved 2 replies that way and quite a few replies from bellywomen.net I also just happen to live in Seattle a) a big city b) big birth scene here Definitely get in contact with CBE and try craigslist, craigslist will be my next step, heh.

Also contact WIC and possibly planned parenthood to see about volunteering your services.

Try posting on craigslist.org. Thats what I did and I think I got 4 or 5 clients that way. I just wrote about what a doula is, and why I was volunteering my services. I got alot of responses. HTH

Wow, I didnt get any response from craigslist. Nor did my dr take any cards. Thankfully a lot of my friends and their friends are getting pregnant. I will be taking my brochures to local stores and my friends who are pregnant said they would drop off some brochures in the waiting room at her OB's office. Hopefully that will get some response.

Jackie, did you make your own logo?

I don't know if it will work, but even if it didn't, I don't think it's crazy to try. :D

I have had great success in finding mommas by putting up an ad on craigslist.org in my location appropriate section.

Also, someone gave out my name at a local mother's group. I have left a few cards at my local cafe as well.

Good luck!

What I've decided to do is this (now, whether it works or not is another story). As soon as my flyer and business cards are finished I'm going to call all of the office mgrs of all the OB offices in town. I have TONS of freebies I've received from different companies and bought a bunch of those white lunch bags which I'm going to fill with goodies and stick my card and flyer on and see if I can leave them there for patients. Also, to butter them up, I think I'll take homemade cookies to the office/nurse staff...I know that always makes me like people here in my office. Lol Also, we have 2 teenage/crisis pregnancy centers here where I will do the same but also send a letter saying I will offer my service to those mamas for free if they agree to the evals, etc for certification. Anyway...hope this works! I'm also going to carry flyers EVERYWHERE with me...places where families go...there are several restaurants here with bulletin boards. Plus, health food stores, chiro offices, etc. I hope it's all a success!

I think its a wonderful idea! A local hospital here has a doula volenteering program so I can get in births that way but I am also attending a teenage childbirth class to try and volenteer for the teen's too, since they are mostly the ones needing the most support.. Maybe even trying to talk to the head of the maternity floor at the hospital or getting an interview with her to see if you can get something started would be great too. GOOD LUCK!! :)

Thanks, For the tips girls...I will try them.

Susan

she wanted to be doula but she could not do it because she was nurse.

I am curious about this. How could that keep her from bring a doula? I am a nurse and a doula.

I think everyone has given great advice, I got some great placements by working with the local WIC center, crisis pregnancy center and thru fliers placed in places pregnant Moms visit.

Also, some OB/GYN/s will let you have a spot for pamplets, and midwives too...

Good luck!

I am curious about this. How could that keep her from bring a doula? I am a nurse and a doula.

I think everyone has given great advice, I got some great placements by working with the local WIC center, crisis pregnancy center and thru fliers placed in places pregnant Moms visit.

Also, some OB/GYN/s will let you have a spot for pamplets, and midwives too...

Good luck!


The number one reason she give was because she said doulas do not make money and two because she would not be able to get out of work if a mom went inot labor.


Susan