Hey everyone! I keep getting pulled into the direction of become a CBE/doula.............and I'm pretty certain I'm wanting to go through CBI. I'm actually considering doing the labor and postnatal doula courses, as well as the CBE courses....but I'm just not sure which order I want to do it or if I'm really even ready for this step!
I'm a SAHM who is needing a few hundred dollars monthly to make ends meet ............ so I've taken on a part time job at Old Navy (lol) but will be doing part time massage therapy after the holiday season is over at a new salon instead of the Old Navy gig........... ANYWAY, so the salon offers all kinds of massage, including pre/post natal massage (which I *LOVE*!!!)
I have 2 young children - one is 2 1/2 and the other is 10 months (and nursing). I had an attempted free-standing birth center birth with my DD and it ended in a transfer and C-Section....total labor was 42 hours (30 were unmedicated) and she was posterior and her head was malpositioned as well. She was 9lb9oz. at 41w5d
My son was a planned HBAC and he was 10lb1oz - position made ALL the difference!!
He was born on my birthday, which was just one day before his "due" date.
Anyway, I'm a birth JUNKIE and LOVE LOVE LOVE birth! The midwives that I use are fairly anti-doula, but there is another midwife close by that actually has some on staff with her...... There are also 3 local hospitals around here.
I think that being able to massage on mothers prenatally would be awesome as a doula - I'd love to offer a significant discount to my massage therapy clients that also want me at their births since I'll already have an idea of what they do/don't like, etc.
ANYWAY, now you know more about me and my situation - help me make this decision!!!! I am ready to go full force into this direction, but financially I have to do it one at a time probably and I know that with my young children and a DH that works full time, this may be quite a challenge! The massage therapy wouldn't take up more than 2 hours M-F and at a maximum maybe 5 hours on a Saturday (and there are 2 other massage therapists that have been hired on so it's not like I just COULDN'T leave if I had to attend a birth!)
CBI is an excellant way to go if you want a distance course! It sounds like you're READY! If you're looking to combine doula-ing and massage therapy than becoming a birth doula, then post-partum doula, then CBE is probably the best "order." Congrats and good luck!
I ordered the CBI doula/CBE course in October. I opted to make 6 payments, so while I do not have my manuals yet, I had access to everything online immediately. My situation changed and I had to change my program to just doula for the time being; they were wonderful to work with! I made my final payment and my manuals should be on their way to me now. The trainers, from what I have seen, are very responsive and the yahoo list you are put on when you order is a fantastic resource. I say go for it!
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Brandy
Birth Doula in Training (CBI)
PostPartum Doula in Training (CBI)
DH (11/26/00)
DD (8/15/95) * DS (9/11/01) * DS (6/24/03)
I am also looking at CBI for my dive into doula-ing. I found this website on here- http://www.childbirthinternational.com/ and it was very encouraging and helpful, especially to compare side by side.
rock! i do not think you will be disapointed! its such a fantastic program, im in the birth doula/CBE programs and tommorow i'm going to sign up for the PP course as well.
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Birth & Postpartum Doula Childbirth Educator
Natural Family Consultant and Student Midwife!
Mama to DSD Yule(7yr) DS Loch (4yrs) and Asher (1yr) UBAC!
CBI Student 
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Woohoo! Congratulations! 
Mama to DSD Yule(7yr) DS Loch (4yrs) and 
