Thank You card / letter to OB?

DL · 05-29-2006, 05:09 PM

I have a question that I'd like opinions on:

I'm going to write a thank you letter to an OB, along with sending her my tri-fold brochure and a few business cards. I will be thanking her for allowing me to enter the OR for my client's Cesarean and to express my appreciation for attending the birth with her. Keep in mind that I am the first doula that she's ever worked with, so what I do could influence how she thinks of all doulas for the time being. To be honest, her practice is on the far-end of what I consider my service area, so my goal is not to necessarily have her refer me, but rather to make a good impression of doulas in general. So...consider me representing YOU!

With that in mind: Should I hand write a note (I have VERY neat handwriting) on an appropriate Thank You card, or should I type up a letter on my doula letterhead paper? (nothing fancy...just homemade with my logo printed on it from my computer) The Thank You card is more friendly and personal, and the typed up letter is more official and "businessy". I'm not sure if it makes a difference or not, but she's a lady OB with a nice personality (as opposed to the other OB who we could've gotten...an old man with a staunch personality--definitely letterhead material there!

). Regardless of which way I go, she will also receive my brochure and business cards with it (which look very nice if I do say so myself!). So...what do you think?

AbornDoula · 05-29-2006, 08:03 PM

I think that the handwritten Thank-You note is much nicer.
I'll tell you what I do. I send the handwritten thank-you, and then in a week or two, I stop by the OB's office with a basket of goodies (brownies, fruit, muffins) and leave that along with my business cards, and brochures. Even if you don't think that she will refer you, she might, and it never hurts to feed the office. A little shmoozing goes a long way.

MothertheMother · 05-29-2006, 09:35 PM

I agree with the hand written letter. It says you took the time to sit down and write a thank you...that is much more personal. good thinking

DL · 05-30-2006, 12:37 AM

Thanks for your input ladies! I think that's what I'll do, then!

What would I do without my Alldoulas doula-sisters? I cannot bare to imagine it!

fearlessbirth · 05-30-2006, 09:46 AM

That's what I'm going to do as well. Well, sort of. I'm going to hand write a thank you card to the doc and then go by the hospital and drop off goodies to the nursing staff. I didn't realize that a BIG and BUSY job they have until I was there for a full 24 hours last week. They never really stop...and these particular nurses are so kind and nice to be around.

Tashina Marker · 05-30-2006, 05:05 PM

hand written

DL · 05-30-2006, 08:59 PM

Thanks everyone! Handwritten it is!

I don't think that I'll go as far as taking in goodies, however, even though it is a great idea. Her office and the hospital are an hour's drive from me, and I'm not willing to go down there just for that. Besides.....I doubt that I'll be doula-ing there again anytime soon. I'll keep the goodies in mind for areas that I will most likely be attending, however!

AussieDoula · 06-26-2006, 04:59 AM

I know this is an old thread... but I would have sent both.
Hand-written the Thank You card and personalised it "thanks so much blah blah appreciated blah blah" and then folded a typed letterhead sheet around the brochures (saying something like "Thanks again for the opportunity to work with you, please find enclosed some of my business cards and brochures in the event that you might know of a family that could use my services." etc etc)... but that's just me

! LOL!

ErininVA · 04-03-2007, 07:38 PM

I'll post too even though it's late. I don't think you could ever go wrong with a personal note. I don't think anyone would ever get a personal note and not think positive of the sender. I say you can always send some one a personal note. I think the receiver will always think well of you and doulas in general.

b'earth angel · 04-03-2007, 07:55 PM

Handwritten notes are the best. I

love getting them and think that most folks do also, even doctors...

Inadoulascare · 04-03-2007, 10:11 PM

Lori,
Like everyone else has said handwritten is best. I have the cuteset cards that I send to ANYONE who refers to me. I got them at Dollar tree (it's a store). They are blank inside and have a picture of a baby in a costume on the front. Real cute! There are a few differnt types and I just stock up on them. Basket of goodies is always good, especially to the L & D nurses. They will always remember you...ha ha

DL · 04-04-2007, 01:36 PM

Thanks for all the recent replies....almost a year later!

Seriously, hand-written it was, and I was very glad to receive the suggestions that I did at the time. I'm now a little older, a little wiser, and a little more experienced since starting this thread. I've still got much to learn, though, and I guess that will never stop.

Perhaps these replies will be as helpful to others now as they were to me when I first started the thread.

Btw..... Revived threads are awesome!