Being paid to shadow?

GentlerBirth · 09-11-2007, 05:46 PM

Just wondering if anyone has ever heard of or done this: Pay a brand new doula who accompanies you to a birth. Their time is certainly valuable, but as a new doula, I almost would have considered paying if anyone had allowed me to shadow them... no one ever did. What do you all think?

dorothyh · 09-11-2007, 05:50 PM

If a brand-new doula wants to shadow me, I am the one doing her a favor. I would not pay a new doula to shadow me; that makes no sense.

doula Michele · 09-11-2007, 05:55 PM

My daughter has shadowed me for a few births. I pay her $50.00 a piece...she does work though,she does counter pressure, she gets juice, ice, water etc...
But I think I probably only pay her because she is my daughter... KWIM?

MothertheMother · 09-11-2007, 07:27 PM

Nope...wouldn't do it and wouldn't ask for it. If a new doula wants to be paid for shadowing she should set up the client, get paid by the client and ask the experienced doula to accompany her. Even with that I think the new doula should pay the exp doula something for her time (aka most of the fee).

dorothyh · 09-11-2007, 07:38 PM

You know what, now that I think of it, I DID get paid when I shadowed! But I never asked for it and certainly never expected it.

I shadowed another doula for 3 births. I did not ask for money, nor expect any; I was just thankful for the opportunity!

After the third birth, the other doula gave me a check for $200 and told me that it was well earned. It was totally unexpected and I was shocked!

betterbirths · 09-11-2007, 07:41 PM

I am getting ready to start working with a group of Doulas at a hospital and I will not get paid to shadow the more experienced Doulas. I have to do the until I get all of my cert births and then I can start getting paid.

sister · 09-13-2007, 08:06 AM

I just finished shadowing with a more experienced doula. I was EXTREMELY thankful to her for allowing me the opportunity...if I was in a better place financially I would have paid her a fee to acknowledge her time, effort, and willingness to share.

I never thought about getting paid but if it works for someone else it doesn't bother me

fearlessbirth · 09-13-2007, 04:21 PM

I had never thought about a shadowing doula getting paid. You're getting a free education and a fellow doula is going out on a limb to help a sister out! If I'd know you could get PAID to shadow I would have gone that route instead of finding my own clients I did for FREE.

nocomparta · 09-13-2007, 05:48 PM

I wouldn't expect to be paid as a shadowing doula, but if I had a student who was especially helpful I might give her a portion of the fee, but only if my job was easier because of her presence.

1stimestar · 09-18-2007, 11:37 AM

I paid the girls who apprenticed with me. They were required to go to all prenatals, go on call, go to the births, and actually work at the births. So I don't consider it shadowing, I considered it working. They earned their money. They made my job easier. They are now really good doulas whom I do not have to worry about acting unprofessionally. One moved away but the other one is now my back up. I told them both to not do free births so then why would I expect them to do them for me? I think I paid them a third of what I got. Seemed fair to me.

MothertheMother · 09-18-2007, 01:22 PM

I just wanted to say thanks to the ladies who responded to this thread with a completely different view than I have. I appreciate the opportunity to see others views that help to change my mind a bit. I still don't think a new doula should expect to be paid for shadowing but I do like the model Georganne laid out. Often when I hear the word shadowing I think of a new doula just showing up for the birth so she can observe another doula hands on. This "training" is obviously much more intensive and I can see where it makes sense to compensate for it.

1stimestar · 09-18-2007, 04:12 PM

Yes Christy, I think the word shadowing implies just showing up and hanging out in a corner watching. I wouldn't be comfortable with that nor would I expect my clients to. My purpose in taking on apprentices is to give some hands on training, see what I cover in my prenatal and postpartum meetings, give them an idea of how to address certain issues and work around different personalities etc. I want them to see exactly how one can give information and empower a client to make her own choices, how to give suggestions without stepping on medical toes, how to teach a questioning train of thought, not just what questions to ask, how to not do things that clients can do for themselves. If I did them, that would imply that the client was unable to them and that is not what I am about. Sorry, rambling here. The point is, if there are going to be other doulas in town, it is in MY best interest that they are good doulas. Bad doulas or even really inexperienced doulas, can give doulas in general a bad name and make working conditions difficult. Yes, there is an increased risk of potential clients choosing one of my former apprentices. That is no problem to me. If her personality and/or price range fits the clients' better, then that is a good thing as well. It's happened before. I don't find my business suffering in the least though and I do even get referrals from a couple of doctors and midwives here. Take the pay it forward approach and earn some good doula Karma!

doula Michele · 09-22-2007, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1stimestar

I paid the girls who apprenticed with me. They were required to go to all prenatals, go on call, go to the births, and actually work at the births. So I don't consider it shadowing, I considered it working. They earned their money. They made my job easier. They are now really good doulas whom I do not have to worry about acting unprofessionally. One moved away but the other one is now my back up. I told them both to not do free births so then why would I expect them to do them for me? I think I paid them a third of what I got. Seemed fair to me.

yeah..thats what I was trying to say. My daughter is now my back up and I paid her to attend births with me. Because she did not sit in a corner and watch...she worked her butt off, and she went home with sore arms from doing counter pressure. She did make my job easier.

AmandaB · 09-22-2007, 01:07 PM

I am mentoring someone right now and she has offered to pay for my time and resources. I told her no! I am more than happy to help her become a great Doula and that way I have some to refer clients to and reliable back up. So it is win-win. Although as I become more experienced I really do liek Georganne's idea. The only problem with that is I only know of 2 hospitals that allow more than 2 support persons in the room (dad and doula). I am hoping in time that will change.

happy heartsong · 10-30-2007, 03:29 PM

I wouldn't pay a doula in training but if she is just new I might give her a small amount depending on how much work and responsibility she is taking on.
Like for midwives- some pay for apprenticeships and some don't. I think it depends on what is offered or if the work the apprentice does is seen as enough payment. As the apprentice takes on more responsibility and work she begins to be paid. When she is a primary under supervision she usually is getting most of the fee and paying her supervisor.
As a mentor you certainly put in more work with a new person and I feel you shouldn't have to pay them. If you do want to pay your student/shadower, You may want to build that into the fee you charge your client. Keep it simple for the client- they only have to pay and deal with one person.
If the new doula is getting her own clients she should pay you to be there as her mentor/back up so to speak.