Hey all! I just found out that I'm pregnant and due September 23! I'd quite excited (and nervous - always afraid of a loss), but now I'm trying to decide how much is too much to take on as a pregnant doula.
I have a client right now due April 4th........
I'm meeting with another client due March 7th......
and I have another very probable client due May 28th.
So far, that's it, but I'm wondering...how much is too much? And how do you plan for these kinds of things besides hoping for the best and finding a backup?
Do you tell your clients you are pregnant? With the case of the mom due in March, she might not be able to tell, ykwim? As far as the client due in April...she's already hired me - do I tell her?
I have never had any complications in my pregnancies and have always stayed very active - in fact, I was a full time student during both of my pregnancies until days before delivery. I sort of feel like if I could commit to that, I can commit to these women,does that make any sense??
I was thinking I would set a break period of about 32 or 33 weeks until about 3 months postpartum for myself and not take any birth doula clients during that time. I'd be much more comfortable providing postpartum or massage during that time span but hate to make big promises at the end and not be able to fulfill them!
What do you all think??
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-Jenn, crazy, crunchy, HBACin' mama to Grace (5) and Michael (4), and Heath (15 months)!
Training through CBI to be a Postpartum Doula!
Already a CBE (CBI), CLD (CBI), Licensed Massage Therapist with a BA in Child & Family Studies - can we say ADD and "lifelong student", anyone?
Well first of all, a huge congratulations on your pregnancy! How lovely (ps, I also have a 3 year old Grace!)
Of course it is entirely up to you what sort of information you disclose to your clients. Do you think they might have less confidence in your doula-ing ability if they know you're pregnant? As you are due in September, I would think most people would be fine with having a doula who is pregnant but not huuuugely pregnant IYKWIM? If it were me, I'd tell them. I'd hate for them to find out later and then perhaps a certain level of mistrust might creep in??? Not sure. I'm pretty open with my clients, but can understand if doulas just want to keep business as business and keep most of their personal life out of it..... tough decision!
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Birth Addict
(Formerly known as "Doula Sara")
CONGRATS on your pregnancy!!! I worked throughout my last 2 pregnancies - even doulaed my last week with my 3rd son - bumping bellies with a laboring mom was definitely interesting! It was also insane...I was EXHAUSTED!!! Take it from my personal experience, take time off from Month 6 on and ease back into it - especially if you are planning to breastfeed for quite a long time. The clients will be there for you when you are able to return...trust me!
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Medicine Hat Doula
Medicine Hat, AB CANADA
"Nature, time and patience are three great physicians."
-- H.G. Bohn
"If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise."
-- Robert Fritz
". . .there is a world of difference between compliance and commitment. The committed person brings an energy, passion, and excitement that cannot be generated if you are only compliant, even genuinely compliant. The committed person doesn't play by the 'rules of the game.' He is responsible for the game. If the rules of the game stand in the way of achieving the vision, he will find ways to change the rules. A group of people truly committed to a common vision is an awesome force. They can accomplish the seemingly impossible."
I did my last birth at 37 weeks last time. It was fine, really. I did have one of my longest and most difficult births ever when I was 28 or 30 weeks - 48 hours and a hospital transfer. If I had been her doula (I was in an apprentice role) I would have called my back-up at about 24 hours. I was able to sleep some in her house, but it was still really hard on me and took me a few days to feel like I'd recovered. I also had a mom lose a baby when I was 35 weeks which was emotionally devastating and hard to deal with in my third tri.
Anyway, I think I brought a unique energy to my clients during my pregnancy, and felt fine during normal-length births. I stayed very active throughout my pregnancy and I am certain that helped. I really loved holding or massaging a laboring mom and feeling my little one jump around in my belly. Fun times.
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[LEFT} Midwife. Mama.
"Historically, the most terrible things - war, genocide, and slavery - have resulted not from disobedience, but from obedience."
— Howard Zinn
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I had my busiest month ever when I was 5 months pregnant - I attended 5 births, 2 of which were back to back (and one of those was 30 hours long!), and my son was in the hospital for a week out of that month. I was definitely tired, but it was doable. I attended a birth 2 months before Caroline was born. I would only attend homebirths in the 3 months before I was due, but that was for my peace of mind rather than anything else - I was planning a homebirth and I didn't want to attend any hospital births for those few months. I think you just need to do what you feel comfortable with!
I tell my clients as soon as I know. My first trimesters haven't been so easy, although I was able to work a little throughout my sixth pregnancy. It was the only one I'd been a doula during.. Anyways, I tell them early because chances are by the time they're birthing their babies, I'm going to be on an accelerated eating schedule, and I want them to know that I will need to bring food to the birth and eat here and there to keep an even keel about me. I find they're very sympathetic, having just been there themselves, and for the most part they like having a pregnant doula--been there before and going there again, you know?
I worked until 25 weeks last time. The last birth was trying on me. Right now my last contracted client is due 3/9 (I'm due 8/30), and I really think I'm going to call it quits after her birth, unless extenuating circumstances present themselves. I have a friend due 8 days before me, who will likely go after me, but I told her if she wants me, I'm hers, but no contracts or anything. It'll be a homebirth, and her case is extenuating to me. On the other hand, I am also needing to focus on getting childbirth education classes off the ground, so I do have a good excuse for stopping the doula practice around 15 weeks. I will hopefully teach CBE up to the end of the pregnancy.
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I am so impressed with all you preggo-doula-mamas!
I, on the other hand, stopped taking clients when I found out I was pregnant. I knew I could handle the physical aspect of it, but wasn't sure about the emotional side of it. I am a classic-case bleeding-heart Piscean, and one of my biggest weaknesses is not being able to separate my own feelings from those of others, plus I get overly emotional quite often when pregnant. I wasn't sure that I could be "the rock" for someone during this time, kwim? Heck, I can't even get through some TV commercials without bawling when I'm preg!
Everyone is different, just follow your instincts... and CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Joy & Faith
