A Do-What?! - Explaining What We Do...

Tiffany · 10-31-2005, 11:36 AM

I had to explain what a birth doula is to a DOCTOR today. Does anyone else feel kind of sad about that?

Oh well, at least it wasn't an OB.

~Tranquility~Doula · 10-31-2005, 12:14 PM

I had to explain a doula to a bunch of nurses in my doctors office a few weeks ago. They were like, "oh so your like an OB nurse?"

DL · 10-31-2005, 12:46 PM

I do hate to hear that... It's clear that we haven't yet "arrived".

We'll just have to keep doing our jobs well and educating people on who we are and what we do. It's taking some time, but news will spread! Doulas are here to stay!

Kalamazoo Doula · 10-31-2005, 03:17 PM

The one time I had to explain what a doula was that still makes me cringe

, is when a client of mine was getting ready to have a epidural placed. The anesthesiologist asked for everyone but dad to leave the room (which I was prepared for). My client said very sternly as pointing to me, 'She stays!'. He asked her, who I was, and she said that I was her doula. He looked at me with a curious stare

, and I just said, 'Professional Labor Support'. He just rolled his eyes

, and gave this smirk like, what the hell have THEY come up with now!
But guess what, I ended up still being able to stay during the placement.
See the patients are the ones that have the final say! Some docs just want to be a bully! Later, the nurse had told me that he usually is a crotchety ol' fart

, and was amazed with what had happened! LOL

tlcdoula · 10-31-2005, 04:02 PM

Oh that really stinks!!! Just remember though - you have now educated one more person. I hope you gave him/her your business cards so he/she can pass them along LOL

Pambug · 10-31-2005, 04:08 PM

Does anyone know of any good websites besides Dona.org that explains what a doula is and why you should use one? My dh is going to a baby shower on saturday for one of his friends and he wants to spread the doula word for me.

tlcdoula · 10-31-2005, 06:22 PM

Why not create a brochure and business cards and have him pass those out? Most people will take a look at a brochure, but might not go to a website later on. Put something in their face and hands immediately. I found that to be much better and more beneficial than giving a website.

DL · 10-31-2005, 06:40 PM

Have you looked at the websites of the wonderful ladies on this site? There are many good ones, and one or more of them might have exactly what you're looking for!

You can browse through the posts and/or member list and spend some time clicking on each that has a website. ....Just a thought!

There are SO MANY doula sites out there. Here are just a few:

http://doulaworld.com

http://doulanetwork.com

http://www.childbirth.org/doula123.html

http://www.transitiontoparenthood.co.../doulahome.htm

HTHs!!

I agree with Michelle, if you can do that. Websites can be great supplements; but if they're your only resource, they might not get looked into much. It's hard to believe, but not everyone is as into the 'puter stuff as we are!!!

HTHs!!

Pambug · 11-01-2005, 11:33 AM

Thanks for the replies.

Those are some great sites. I didn't think I was quite ready for the brochures and business cards stage yet but I had my first inquiry this week so maybe I do need them. I know a few people have mentioned a site for business cards but how do I go about making brochures?

tlcdoula · 11-01-2005, 12:01 PM

I make my brochures right on my computer You can buy some awesome brochure paper at the local business supply store (Office Max, Office Depot, etc) and just print them at home. It is fairly cheap. As for business cards you can get free ones at Vistaprint.com - only have to pay for shipping. If you order from them more than once they will even send you "specials". I just got 1000 business cards for $4.74 plus shipping because I am a regular customer - started out just getting the freebies and then they send the e-mail coupons, etc.

tlcdoula · 11-01-2005, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My2girlsmama

I agree it is tough to get word out when you're new to it so I think the whole brochure thing is overwhelming to hear so soon.

Brochures don't need to be scary. My first one was so basic, but people appreciated having it. I had my name on the front, and then when they opened it up the first thing they saw was photos of babies. Since I hadn't been to any births I used my own children's baby photos LOL. Then when they opened it up all the way I had a description of what a labor doula does, information about me and then had a spot where they could request more information (no on ever did send that little section in, so I knew it was a waste, but it filled up for the lack of information I had on it). Like I said I printed them on my computer and didn't have special software to do it. I just used Microsoft Word and set my settings for three columns and then would put the paper through to print one side and then put it through again to print the other and then I folded them. I only made what was needed so that I could change and evolve as needed.

kelley piasecki · 11-01-2005, 03:39 PM

I did the same thing that Michelle did....on Microsoft Word/Publisher. It was very easy, and I love my brochures! I print them on plain white card stock, and it looks and feels much more professional than just plain ole paper!! I have a picture of a pregnant woman's bare belly with her hands on the front of the brochure, and a picture of baby feet on the inside. My picture is also on the very back of the brochure with all my contact info.

DL · 11-01-2005, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelley piasecki

I did the same thing that Michelle did....on Microsoft Word/Publisher. It was very easy, and I love my brochures! I print them on plain white card stock, and it looks and feels much more professional than just plain ole paper!! I have a picture of a pregnant woman's bare belly with her hands on the front of the brochure, and a picture of baby feet on the inside. My picture is also on the very back of the brochure with all my contact info.

...and honestly, if anyone is worried about the cost of keeping ink in their printer and want to make more copies (i.e. a few hundred), then it's not expensive to take them to Kinkos, Staples, Office Depot, etc. and have them printed from your original (you can even do it yourself there, which is the most cost effective!). You can get them in black/white, color, single, or double-sided. Sometimes this option is cheaper than having to buy a new ink cartridge for your printer/copier at home. It's definitely worth checking into...

tlcdoula · 11-01-2005, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doula_Lori

Sometimes this option is cheaper than having to buy a new ink cartridge for your printer/copier at home. It's definitely worth checking into...

You know what is even cheaper? Buying ink refills and refilling your ink cartridges for your printer. It is so cheap!!! In fact at our house we use the printer so much and I never think twice. Just tonight my oldest printed off about 20 pages of a paper, my ds printed off about 5 pages, and my dh is doing homework and printing it as well. I don't think twice because it is so cheap!!!! (The biggest problem is that the first few times you try to do it - it can get messy, but my dh has it down now - all he does is has a syringe and fills the syringe with ink and puts it into the cartridge and squeezes it in - that's it).

tlcdoula · 11-01-2005, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My2girlsmama

But today I helped a mama decide to continue to nurse and not wean her 16 mom old yet and she was greatly relieved to have help and I feel blessed to have done so...........

So I am forging ahead fears or not!

Woohoo - way to go. I am sure it made a world of difference to talk with you. Often times I have found that women are pressured by everyone in their lives to quit nursing even though they might not want to, but hearing another woman say how great it is that she is still nursing or how she nursed her child until x age can make such a difference. It normalizes nursing for them instead of leaving them feel like a freak because everyone wants them to stop.