My turn to say hello!

[everydaymiracles]

Hello all! I have been lurking for a while and have replied to one or two posts but thought it was about time that I introduced myself. I live in Southern Ontario but was born and raised in Sydney Australia. I became interested in doulas after the birth of my 2nd child when a friend who was planning a VBAC asked me what I knew about doulas. As I researched, I thought - that is what I do! I had never been to a birth other than my own but had always asked friends about their plans and talked about their birth experiences afterwards. I helped a few friends as they adjusted to new motherhood but didn't know that there was a profession dedicated to doing that! Once I read about it, I was hooked!

I attended a DONA training 2.5 years ago and promptly fell pregnant with #3. I was able to assist 6 women before I decided that at 30 weeks and after applying counterpressure for 5 hours, I just couldn't do another birth! The first birth I attended after his birth was when my son was 8 months old. I think he was a little too young (he was quite attached to his mamma and her boobies!) but it was my best friends little sister and at the time she hired me she was on a waitlist for midwifery care.

Since I returned to accepting clients and marketing myself a little more agressively, I have had another 10 clients. I have organised and facilitated monthly networking meetings for the doulas in the local area and attended a CAPPA CBE training. I am teaching secular and christian childbirth classes. I have taught both group classes and private classes and tend to prefer the one-on-one classes better but that may be because I was a doula first and have never been one to eagerly get up infront of a group of people to speak.

I have probably shared enough for an introduction! I look forward to getting to know the rest of the members here at alldoulas much better! Have a great afternoon!

[MothertheMother]

Wow, you have been busy! I look forward to more interesting replies. Welcome

[DL]

Robyn!

It sure does sound like you have been very busy! I'm Lori, a CAPPA Certified Labor Doula. Dh, my two teen sons, and I live in Ohio.

It was interesting for me to read that you teach both secular and Christian childbirth ed. classes, private and group. That is exactly what I want to do! I'm currently working on becoming a LCCE (Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator) through a Lamaze accredited educational program called Passion for Birth. It will probably be a year before I can sit for the exam, but I'm already getting excited about what the future holds and all the possibilities! Of course....I will not give up doula-ing, as labor support is my greatest passion, I believe.

Well....brevity in writing is not my gift, and I could just go on and on, so I guess I ought to sign off for now. I'm glad that you've officially introduced yourself so that more ladies can officially welcome you. Most of all, I'm glad that you've joined us! I bet you'll it here at alldoulas!

[scarborogal]

Hi, I'm Kim, I'm fairly new here as well. I haven't taken my training yet but will be taking CAPPA training at the beginning of June. I'm pretty excited.

I'm still reading and doing my pre-course stuff.

I discovered being a Doula when I was researching becoming a L&D Nurse. I found being a Doula was more what I was looking for and have been stoked about it ever since.

Welcome,
K.

[moncton doula]

Hello, I'm a DONA certified birth doula here in New Brunswick and the mom of 2 little guys. Welcome!!!!

[Tashina Marker]

WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME! My name is Tashina ,I am an almost 20 yr old trained ALACE doula.No children of my own ,yet . I live in Tucson,AZ.

Enjoy the group!

[nocomparta]

Hey there, and welcome! I look forward to hearing more from you.

[lloyddoula]

Hello From Lloydminster AB/SK Canada,
My introduction: Married mother of 3, 2 girls and a boy in that order. I had a similar situation as Robyn Lampman - Attended my DONA workshop in April 2000 and gave birth in December 2000. Went full force in August 2001.

The community of Lloydminster has been an extremely challenging one. No one here knew what a doula was, never heard it before, not even the doctors. So, I was busy educating and advertising to my wits end. I have organized this community's only "Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Fair" for 4 years with the addition of it's first ever "Baby Crawl Contest". I've put out Lloydminster's ONLY, Pregnancy Newsletter. I am considered the "Pioneer" of doula support. Brochures, posters, newsletters, newspaper advertising, attending trade shows etc...

OK, now that all sounds like "wow" she has done so much right??? yet still I am not where I would like to be with this career. This community is such a "hill-billy" community.

As of end of 2005, I decided I was not going to give it my all any more. Didn't put on the "Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Fair" for 2006. Some of the vendors were a little ticked at me. I just feel completely drained and tired of trying to educate and convince doctors, nurses and pregnant women of the benefits of a doula assisted birth. Though the births I have attended have received great evaluations and I have become friends with every one of them.

OOPS, forgot to mention sending (on numerous occasions) private requests/newsletters to each doctor individually, with no response from any one of them. Well, the one doctor invited me to attend their monthly meeting. It was his day for leading the discussion. It went over quite well - about 19 men and 2 women that have never heard of a doula.

So, now I simply have brochures in the offices, I no longer attend expensive events, no longer place costly newspaper ads.

I know now though, that the Lord has placed me where I need to be right now. I attend the occasional (very occasional) birth, and I raise my 3 children.

Thanks for listening and I would accept and appreciate any advice or comment for all you ladies out there.

God loves us so much, that though he gave women labour pains due to Eve's sin, he nows gives grace upon us by giving a labouring woman a doula.

God Bless
Theresa

[lloyddoula]

Oops, forgot to share my websites!
www.labourcare.bravehost.com
www.doulasofcanada.bravehost.com
www.doulasofontario.bravehost.com
www.capturethememory.bravehost.com

[heathenmamaof5]

Welcome!

llloyddoula might I sugest that you put your intro in a seperate thread? That way we can each welcome you and you will have your own thread.

AllDoulas is a fabulous site and has lots of great info and is for All Doulas is exactly that for all Doulas not just Cappa or Dona or ICEA. I love it!!!

[lloyddoula]

How do I do that? I can't seem to figure out where to do this on that front page of introductions. I'm new to chats etc...

Theresa

[lloyddoula]

So sorry, never mind. I figured it out!

Thanks Jill