To be in a organization or not

susan1 · 12-08-2005, 08:44 AM

Is it best to not be in a organization that way one does not have to tip toe on what we can and can not say?

Susan

susan1 · 12-08-2005, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My2girlsmama

What do you mean by top toe?

All I am learning (CAPPA) is that I have a scope of practice to abide by but it is quite easy to follow and I am honestly learning the correct ways to answer questions and concerns (my gut way would probably be more ME and know it all ish..does that make sense?

).......................

It should have said tip toe..sorry about the spelling I am a bad writter and speller.

What I mean for example... in another post (breastfeeding support) I read on how a LLL cannot ever say I spank my kids because then people meant think LLL is saying it's ok to spank however it is not the LLL saying that but the person her/him self. Am I making any sense? How does one say it's you specking not the organization?

Susan

tlcdoula · 12-08-2005, 01:23 PM

I think you need to do whatever makes you most comfortable. I know some ladies who certify and join an organization and others who don't. I am going to turn this around on you - do you want to ascribe to a scope of practice? Do you mind doing so? Have you read the scopes of different groups? Do you feel any of them fit with your philosophy?

susan1 · 12-08-2005, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlcdoula

I think you need to do whatever makes you most comfortable. I know some ladies who certify and join an organization and others who don't. I am going to turn this around on you - do you want to ascribe to a scope of practice? Do you mind doing so? Have you read the scopes of different groups? Do you feel any of them fit with your philosophy?

Well to answer your question I do not mind following a scope of practice I am doing so with DONA. However when it comes to a breastfeeding or childbirth certification I have not chosen an organization. I do not what it to interfere with the scope of practice from Dona. However I do not want for my options effect Dona also...because I am my own person... make sence? I guess what I am trying to say is I do not what to watch what I say all the time because of a scope of practice from different organization....if I would I would say something wrong.

Susan

tlcdoula · 12-08-2005, 02:26 PM

Well I am certified through DONA as a labor doula, and CAPPA as a labor doula, postpartum doula, childbirth educator, adoption support person, and then am also certified as a Happiest Baby instructor and I haven't seen any issues with any of them "colliding."

Not sure if that helps or not.

heathenmamaof5 · 12-08-2005, 06:32 PM

Susan,

I, too, have the same concerns. In fact the real reason I retired from LLL was just this issue. Long story short is the "Higher ups" wouldn't support me when members children were knowingly put at risk from another members child. I was told to treat it as a biting toddler. Not the case! I felt that after I had gone through all the LLL channels, all the way to the founding moms, that I could no longer be affiliated with them.

My best freind is an IBCLC, she has counseled me to call myself a breastfeeding educator. I'm totally qualified, so why not?

I check the organization I will affiliate with REALLY well, then make my decision. Remember you can always dissolve the relationship.

Just my 2 cents. The reason I give for retirement is that the twins came along. Timing wise it works. I don't bad mouth LLL, they certainely changed my life. I would not be where I am today without them. I think they're a fabulous organization and have made a real diference world wide with regards to breastfeeding. In fact very few people know the true reason I retired.

Jill

Stacie · 12-08-2005, 09:59 PM

I haven't had any issues with either DONA or LLL. I actually LIKE knowing just where I stand and what I can and can't say. As I learn more, it all makes sense to me. It is like a kite in the air. You might think the string is holding the kite back, but if the string is cut, what happens? It crashes back to earth. But with the string in place, the kite is able to maintain its velocity and stay up. I like the black and whiteness of it all. Are people really seeking the world according to me? And if they get it and something goes wrong, who will be held liable? ME

.

I try to refrain from giving my personal opnions/strong feelings/philosophy/ideals and focus on giving evidance-based information and allowing people to make their own decisions free of my biases, lol. 'Cause you know I have them! But often when we give those personal ideas we are not leaving room for a woman to make her own choice, we are saying, "This worked/didn't work for me, and I am applying that to you, so that would be the decision I would make for you." I often find when I am sharing an experience I am doing it in the hopes the listener will follow my example and do it the way I did it/believe what I believe. Although that would be great, it's not always the best choice for the client.

I find the best way for me to function is to be apathetic, as sad as that sounds. I cannot care what a client does. I cannot want her to have a med-free birth or breastfeed more than she wants either of those, you know? And if I tag on my personal feelings, or if I am sad or upset when she chooses differently than I would choose, it does not help her or me if I feel she made the wrong decision. It's not my decision to mkae, you know? I can support moms better when I am not emotionally invested in their particular situaiton, so that I can just flow with her decisions and her labor.

Did I get off topic? LOL. What was the question again? Tee hee.

I do love being a DONA doula, though. I love that there is a greivance policy that protects me and the client in case there is an issue. I truly felt if I worked alone, what recourse would a client have if they thought I did not live up to the terms upon which we had agreed? "Well, get a different doula next time." That's my main thing -- I love the greivance policy and the scope of practice/ethics part. I have not felt in the least bit cramped by "belonging," if that makes sense.

motherwise · 12-09-2005, 11:18 AM

I am certifying with ALACE and thats why I like them so much, because they do not put restrictions on the way i practise.

capandcradle · 01-06-2006, 03:24 PM

Don't forget that there are a handful of smaller, local doula organizations.

In my state it is illegal to offer certification that one can go and earn a living from unless duly licensed as a private school.... consider that. (Both me and our local DONA trainer go through a local community college school of nursing to offer trainings, so we feel pretty safe.)

Another consideration is the benefits -- I've been a member of almost all of them, received many referrals from DONA, and only one from CAPPA.

Read the fine print and do not ignore potential red flags. They will come back to bite you in the bu++ when you least expect it.

Tashina Marker · 01-06-2006, 03:39 PM

Hello,
I agree with motherwise.I am also certifying through ALACE & feel the same way.

erikao · 08-10-2006, 03:32 PM

I know this thread has been dead for a while, but I wanted ot add something. If you find yourself in conflict with the scope of practice, consider whether or not you are growing beyond the organization in question. I moved from doula to midwife for this very reason.

Erika

AmandaB · 08-10-2006, 04:41 PM

There is nothing wrong with not being affliated if you don't want to. Some women choose to be "rogue Doulas". Shoudl you continue to educate yourself? Absolutly. Should remain up-to-date with current information? Yes. But if you find the asssociation daunting then don't go somewhere you don't feel comfortable.

I am feeling alittle frustrated with the process with DONA and I am going to have to assess whether or not to re-certify when the time comes if it does not yield more positive results. I am happy to say that I am part of an organization like DONA (clients respect that too), I am less happy with the length of time it has take to get me to where I am (some of it is my own fault).

I am a non-certified member of DONA and I have been getting paid clients (and paying a decent fee) since last September. I would not let associating with one group in particular stop you from achieving what you need to achieve. Just stay current, give clients information (not opinion) and be professional in all that you do. I hope I answered the question.

1stimestar · 02-16-2007, 02:20 AM

If you are not certifying specifically because you don't want to follow a scope of practice, don't be surprised when the other doulas in your area get mad at you for giving them a bad name. Not saying you specifically but I've seen it many times. Doula says what she wants to client and/or medical staff because she has no SOP to contend with, gets all doulas thrown out of hospital.

Doulas, whether certified or not, whether a member of an organization or not, by definition, do not do clinical tasks and do not tell clients what they should or should not do.

doulamomma · 02-16-2007, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amandoula1980

There is nothing wrong with not being affliated if you don't want to. Some women choose to be "rogue Doulas". Shoudl you continue to educate yourself? Absolutly. Should remain up-to-date with current information? Yes. But if you find the asssociation daunting then don't go somewhere you don't feel comfortable.

I guess I consider myself a rogue doula. I definitely believe in making sure you continuely educate yourself. I did go through DONA training but decided not to certify with them. I really like ALACE and which I had done my training with them. I don't have the extra funds right now to go through the process. So far I haven't had an issue with me not being certified with clients or other doulas.