Hello Future Doulas...

[scarborogal]

Some questions for you...

What are you reading right now, (doula inspired)?

When is your training?

K.

[teachinmamaof4]

Hey

Reading:
The Birth Partner
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding

No clue on when I'll do training. I'm (very impatiently) holding off on that until my ds is a little older. I hope to do it in the Fall. He'll be 1yr and able to be away from me for longer periods.

[heathenmamaof5]

Nursing infants are usually welcome at workshops and confrences dealing with natural childbirth and that are pro breastfeeding. A lot of times if you talk with the sponsor they will work with you.

The gal who did my Dona training this past fall had a 4 month old.
She brought a mother's helper and just nursed and taught. The mother's helper might take the baby for a walk or if she was getting to vocal (baby noises, not crying) the mother's helper took the baby out of the room for a little while.

I guess what I'm saying is - don't let little Matthew hold you back from doing your training! Enjoy the heck out of the little guy, because dang they grow up quick.

[teachinmamaof4]

Oh I know. That's not the only thing. But it is one of the biggest. Right now my focus is my kids. Trying to figure out how to balance it all....baby, homeschooling the other three, keeping up w/ the house...ya know.

The other issue is $$$$. I don't have the money to start certification.

I also want to be able to start the certification process and get it done. I don't want to drag it out. So I need to know that I am able to leave Matthew at a moment's notice and he'll be fine for an extended period of time w/o the boobs. LOL

[tlcdoula]

Quote:

Originally Posted by heathenmamaof5 Nursing infants are usually welcome at workshops and confrences dealing with natural childbirth and that are pro breastfeeding. A lot of times if you talk with the sponsor they will work with you. The gal who did my Dona training this past fall had a 4 month old. She brought a mother's helper and just nursed and taught. The mother's helper might take the baby for a walk or if she was getting to vocal (baby noises, not crying) the mother's helper took the baby out of the room for a little while. I guess what I'm saying is - don't let little Matthew hold you back from doing your training! Enjoy the heck out of the little guy, because dang they grow up quick.

My experience has been that nursing infants under three months are allowed to attend, but I haven't really seen any older than that. As far as a training though I would suggest not bringing a baby because mom needs to really be focused on her training and she also needs to do things that are hands on which she cannot do if she is tending to her baby. I say this as a trainer who is very pro-breastfeeding. I believe that having a baby can detract from the mother's experience and can also detract from the other women's experiences as well.

I know when I attended my training mothers were allowed to bring their nursing infants in at breaks and lunch time to nurse, but other than that they were not allowed and my trainers said it was because one needed to focus on what she was learning because the weekend training is intense. There is a lot to learn in a little bit of time. I didn't like it at the time because I had a nursling, but now I understand it because I am the trainer now

[loveslabor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlcdoula My experience has been that nursing infants under three months are allowed to attend, but I haven't really seen any older than that. As far as a training though I would suggest not bringing a baby because mom needs to really be focused on her training and she also needs to do things that are hands on which she cannot do if she is tending to her baby. I say this as a trainer who is very pro-breastfeeding. I believe that having a baby can detract from the mother's experience and can also detract from the other women's experiences as well. I know when I attended my training mothers were allowed to bring their nursing infants in at breaks and lunch time to nurse, but other than that they were not allowed and my trainers said it was because one needed to focus on what she was learning because the weekend training is intense. There is a lot to learn in a little bit of time. I didn't like it at the time because I had a nursling, but now I understand it because I am the trainer now

I brought my nursing infant to training with me a few times. Although everyone really liked that she was there, I felt bad. I felt that I was distracted and that my baby, no matter how quiet, was distracting to the other ladies. I left her home from then on.....she was 4-5 months are the time.

[Luv2bemommy]

Hola fellow doula's! hehe

Right now I am reading "The doula advantage" which isnt on my list but just for fun..

My workshop was last weekend Feb 18-19th!

[susan1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlcdoula My experience has been that nursing infants under three months are allowed to attend, but I haven't really seen any older than that. As far as a training though I would suggest not bringing a baby because mom needs to really be focused on her training and she also needs to do things that are hands on which she cannot do if she is tending to her baby. I say this as a trainer who is very pro-breastfeeding. I believe that having a baby can detract from the mother's experience and can also detract from the other women's experiences as well. I know when I attended my training mothers were allowed to bring their nursing infants in at breaks and lunch time to nurse, but other than that they were not allowed and my trainers said it was because one needed to focus on what she was learning because the weekend training is intense. There is a lot to learn in a little bit of time. I didn't like it at the time because I had a nursling, but now I understand it because I am the trainer now

Well then I had my training my baby was 8-9 months old ..he was staying with his daddy but when we went to lunch I would nusre him but then he will not let me go so he stayed with me in training...no one minded at all...I did ask before I signed up though if it was ok. The baby was very good. I do remember there were two or three other moms with babies but my was the oldest.

Hmhm book I have read last I think it was about a Elephant in a seesaw. hahah

Susan

[DL]

Quote:

Originally Posted by susan1 Hmhm book I have read last I think it was about a Elephant in a seesaw. hahah Susan

I think I've read that one!!

[scarborogal]

I just realized I never answered the question myself. Silly me!

I just finished reading the Doula Book which was great. And I've started the Labour Process. Which is very medical minded and I'm finding it a bit difficult to get through.

Just how technical will this Doula training be? Its making me a tad nervous.

Anyway, my training is the end of May.

K.

[loveslabor]

I didn't answer either....oooopppps.

Right now I am REreading The Doula Book, Special Women and Heart and Hands. Oh and reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth for the first time.

I have finished my training (Elizabeth Davis' Heart and Hands Midwifery Intensives) in January.

[teachinmamaof4]

Got the training date set (THANK YOU VAL!)!!

November 3-4th

Now just pray we can get enough people to sign up!!

[MothertheMother]

I am 2/3 through Immaculate Deception II and it is a FANTASTIC book! IMO. She describes in detail the difference between the medical model and the midwifery model (which we have all read about) but she also describes why the medical model is the way it is without bashing doctors. I feel it is helping me to better understand how to work with the medical professionals instead of against them. There is a lot about the history of birth as well, so you can understand how we got the point we are at now. I know The Birth Book goes into it as well (and another couple do) but this one goes a little farther back than I have read to date. I would highly recommend it. I don't know if it is on any of the lists but I think it should be.

I have In May's Guide to Childbirth, Gentle Birth Choices (new) and Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn waiting on the back burner. Ugh! Not enough time in a day.

[DL]

Quote:

Originally Posted by teachinmamaof4 Got the training date set (THANK YOU VAL!)!! November 3-4th Now just pray we can get enough people to sign up!!

Oh, I'm sooooo exciting for you!!!! So, I take it that you're going to try to host a training? Nov. will be here before you know it.......if you haven't yet, I'd recommend that you get your required reading done between now and then (and take notes!). I completed my reading before the training, and I found that to be so beneficial. Good for you, Heather!

[teachinmamaof4]

Lori ~ Yep. Val is going to come here and do one for me.