Your DH's/DP's Job and pros and cons related to being a doula

Annie · 07-07-2007, 03:57 AM

What does your DH or DP do for work? What are the pros and cons of his job as it relates to your being a doula?

-Annie

Annie · 07-07-2007, 04:05 AM

I guess since I asked I should answer.

My DH is a police officer. (I have found many doulas who also have police officer husbands, I am curious to see what the most listed profession will be on this thread.) Overall this works out well.

The cons are sometimes he gets a call just prior to the end of the shift so he will have to finish that call and paperwork before coming home. Which means even if he should be home when I go on a prenatal I still need to schedule a sitter. He is starting to do lots more on call time at night. He has gotten out of doing on call while I have been on call, but I know the day will come. I am thinking I will have to have someone sleep here during my oncall time just in case. It wouldn't be a problem if he got called out before me. But if I am gone he won't have time to wait for someone to come babysit. The final con I can think of is sometimes even when he isn't on call he gets called out at all hours. So there again babysitters are key!

Pros he gets out in the community and talks to lots of people. My being a doula gets brought up a lot. Then there is also the benefit of knowing I can push the speed limit just a tad in racing to a birth.

Other then that not really any other benefits I can think of right now.

Your turn....

-Annie

aetrusty · 07-07-2007, 08:09 AM

My DH is an IT Supervisor. Computers are sort of like births. He never knows when he'll have to go into work to fix something and when it breaks he has no idea how long he'll be gone.

So, because of that, I've decided not to do labor work. It wouldn't be fair to the kids to have 2 parents having unpredictable schedules.

Instead I've decided to do postpartum work overnights.

MyDoulaStacia · 07-07-2007, 09:02 AM

My husband an Officer in the Air Force. Right now he is going to school full time getting his PhD for them so he is home whenever I need him. Perfect!

The only downside would be if he were deployed of course.

quixoticmama · 07-07-2007, 09:21 AM

My partner is a stay-at-home mom

Pros - Frog always has somebody around. Cons - That means that on top of any Doula work I do in the future, I'll also have my full-time job

Bex · 07-07-2007, 09:55 AM

DP is an IT director/and systems administrator. In short, computer geek. It's helpful b/c she can fix my computer when it acts up! Also, she has fabulous software! We don't have kids yet, but when we do, I hope to just doula, and she be the primary breadwinner.

MothertheMother · 07-07-2007, 09:59 AM

My dh's job has changed a couple of times in the last year so it has determined whether or not I could take clients. His last year in the Army was great for my doula work (I was only commited to a client every 6 weeks or so at the time). He had a cushy job and could leave early or go in late and I had a great friend that could help out during the day if necessary. Once he retired he went to work for Target and was managing the back. He had to go to work at 3:30am so there was no way I could take clients. It just wasn't going to work. He recently started a new job with more regular hours and I am hoping to get started again. Since we just moved I am not in a huge hurry because I want my little ones to feel a bit more settled and secure here before I get busy. I have family and friends around that I will be able to count on but the move was a bit rough for ds (4) so he's not ready to be without me just yet.

doula Michele · 07-07-2007, 10:05 AM

My husband is a self employed arcitechural draftsman, who works about 6 ft away from my desk.
He is home most of the time, unless he is meeting with clients.

UtahDoula · 07-07-2007, 12:42 PM

My dh is a computer geek as well (so far that's the winner, I think!). He works full time for a company that is fine with him working from home, and in fact he does that every Wednesday anyway to save on gas. It's nice because unless he has a meeting, he can just decide to stay home and work here that day.
He also has his own software business on the side, but mostly that is also working at home. He goes out of town 1-2 times a year for that, but generally I go with him, since he is the computer geek and I am the one with people skills. He doesn't like to plug his product or negotiate deals, so we do those together. I schedule clients around those trips whenever possible. (Trade shows, etc. I can generally schedule around, but when a licensing deal comes up, it's generally last minute.)

DL · 07-07-2007, 01:47 PM

My dh used to be a technical trainer (teaching software and networking equipment); he traveled all over the U.S. and the world to teach technicians in various companies. Since he would be traveling for several weeks at a time (somtimes halfway around the world), I had to delay becoming a doula. My kids were younger, and I didn't have child care; it was a tough time for us. When he switched jobs about four years ago, I was able to more seriously pursue my doula journey.

Now my dh is home ALL the time!

He is an IT supervisor and works for a large global financial institution. All of his work is done in his home office via computers, company intranet, and IP phones. We both really love this set up, and it saves A LOT on gas since his company office is an hour's commute one way. As for doula-ing: My boys are teens now, but it's still nice to know that dh is there if anything should come up while I'm at births--peace of mind. No cons for my dh's job concerning my doula-ing at this time!

ETA: Geeze...I sure am gabby today! Sorry for the ramble, everyone! I edited to shorten it just a bit, believe it or not.

fearlessbirth · 07-07-2007, 02:02 PM

Wow! I have to say that I'm glad I'm not the only one who's had to put doula work on the back burner

My DP is a full-time student and also works 2 part-time jobs. Therefore, right now I am the primary 'breadwinner' and feel it's too much right now to try to pursue clients and fit in prenatals, etc. while working at a preschool (although my boss is VERY accomodating...it's just too much for me to deal with right now). When DP graduates, she will bring home the bacon and I'll *hopefully* be a SAHM

.

missilla · 07-07-2007, 08:52 PM

my dh works for IRS. what is nice about it is he does not work holidays or weekends. and he can take time if he needs to for me. i can't really think of any cons as of right now.

heathenmamaof5 · 07-08-2007, 01:14 AM

My dh is a long haul trucker. So I don't rely on him at all for childcare! But I have my 16 yo dd and my parents and sister and Aunt and cousin and a lot of very supportive freinds so it really isn't an issue. I just call everyone up when I go on call and they know their on notice.

If we move (to Boise or San Antonio) it will be harder, but I'll still have my teenagers and the oldest will be driving by the time we move.

Lindsay · 07-08-2007, 02:22 AM

My DH is a teacher. The best part of him in that career is that he has the whole summer off, so I can take several births during that time, and not have to worry about childcare.

amymaew · 07-08-2007, 08:45 AM

My dh is a trucker. He was a long haul trucker up until March, but now he drives a dedicated run 3X a day from Wilmington DE to Dover DE. He leaves around 4am and comes home around 5pm. But he can leave late and give the other driver a run, or come home early if need be - his company is VERY flexible. And I have my parents down the street and a couple good friends to drop the boys off with at the drop of a hat, and my nieces and

SIL. I have a client due Tuesday and then no one til 8/20. Which works, b/c my parents leave next weekend for 3 weeks lol