Did you become a CBE or Doula First?

patricelondon · 05-22-2008, 05:41 PM

Hi, I wanted to know how some of you went about your training. Did you study to become a cbe first then doula, the other way around or simultaneously?
And why did you do it that way?
I'm having a time deciding what to do first. Mostly because I'm not done having children and my girls are 9, 4, and 11 months old. Being a homeschool mom with a workaholic dh (air traffic controller/tax preparer owning two different offices), I'm not sure what I'd do with my girls when I'd be at a birth. We don't live near family (they're about 200 miles away) so that's not an option.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Also, how does one become a book club member?
Thanks again!

doula Michele · 05-22-2008, 06:21 PM

I became a doula first, but my children were teenagers. I became a CBE last year, but doulaing is still my favorite, and I prefer to only teach prenatals to my clients.
I am now studying massage, and am thinking I will carry on to become a natural health practitioner.

MothertheMother · 05-22-2008, 08:00 PM

I became a doula first and quickly discovered that my clients had no good options for childbirth education. It only made sense that I become certified as a cbe and offer that service as well. Now, the cbe certification is probably going to take me the rest of my life but I'm going to complete it!

AmandaB · 05-22-2008, 08:48 PM

I became a Doula first but with BIG aspirations!!

I became a CBE and Doula Trainer last year and I love teaching!!! I love going to births, but not as many as I have been in the past 3yrs. I think as time goes on and definitely mat leave will give me that option, I will take fewer births a month and hope that I get some repeats.

patricelondon · 05-22-2008, 10:59 PM

Yeah, you all sound like I feel at this moment. My heart ultimately says doula but I can't see not being a cbe as well. I think it'll take a lot longer to certify as a cbe but that's the thing that I could easily incorporate into my life schedule wise right now.

b'earth angel · 05-22-2008, 11:19 PM

Doula and I definately see the need for the CBE as the only CB series are hossy based "be a good patient" type educations.

IslandDoula · 05-23-2008, 10:30 AM

I am training for both; I imagine I will become certified as a doula first because I've completed all my work and training except for two births.
I have three children, ages 8, 3 and 2, and my family. although very close geographically are not overly involved. So, I imagine I will be able to doula on a limited basis at first and hopefully be able to do more in regard to childbirth education.
I don't presently homeschool but am planning on starting.

patricelondon · 05-23-2008, 11:22 AM

Oh wow, MichelleS, your situation is very much like mine then. That's good to know. I'm beginning to see more possibilities. I have to know I can manage before I get into something.

syncreo · 05-23-2008, 04:46 PM

I had aspirations to be a doula and a cbe at the same time. I had spent the 10 yrs prior to that facilitating and developing workshops so CBE was a natural fit for me. I decided to become a doula first as I felt the experience of attending births was important to being a great CBE and I feel that I made the right choice for me. I also am a doula trainer and I enjoy that a lot as well.

I love attending births but it is difficult with my young kids and I just don't have the emotional capacity to attend multiple births a month so the CBE stuff keeps me going and along with one birth a month and a few doula trainings here and there, I am as busy as I want to be.

Good luck with your journey.

sacredma · 05-23-2008, 05:44 PM

i became a childbirth educator first, as it was easier with very young children and then did my doula training.

aurorabirth · 05-24-2008, 12:09 AM

I did the doula first because, honestly, I didn't know about CBE. I thought all "prenatal teachers" had to be nurses...

patricelondon · 05-24-2008, 06:01 PM

Syncreo, I totally identify with your post. I can definitely see myself doing what you are doing. I'm busy as at is with homeschooling and all but this is a desire that just hasn't gone away or lessoned over that past 5 years. It's good to hear from some of you who make it work for you.
Thanks!

swissmiss · 05-27-2008, 01:14 PM

Doula first, probably will NOT CBE. I wear a lot of different hats, and right now I can't see adding even one more to it. I own 2 different business other than my doula business that keep me busy on a regular basis, but offer the flexibility of being a doula when the call comes in. However, the time commitment to prepare and commit to those three endeavors, plus be a mom, a wife, a home improvement specialist (we bought a fixer-upper and are doing all the work ourselves) leaves me little to nothing to add right now. I am open to CBE down the road when/if things change, but for now, I'm maxed out.

Christina · 05-27-2008, 10:23 PM

I always thought that I would do the doula thing first, but I have five daughters (ages 12-3 months) and homeschool, also. Childcare has been an issue as my husband does not have a job that enables him to take off work without notice. So, I decided to start down the road for CBE certification and eventually do doula work. This will be much easier to facilitate a schedule around and I will attend all the births that I can manage, but no paying doula clients, just friends that know I might not make it. My oldest daughter will be babysitting age before too long and has already said she can't wait until she can start babysitting and making money. So, maybe I will have in house childcare at some point and then doula work will be more feasible.

Good luck on your journey! We seem to be in very similar situations (with all girls, too).

Shannon K. · 05-27-2008, 11:09 PM

I was bit by the doula bug first, then recently became a CBE. My kiddos are grown and out of the house, but I do work fulltime with limited flexibility, so my doula jobs have to be well-chosen to coordinate with vacations and time off. But as soon as I retire......