How do you ask a midwife/nurse/dr for a recomendation?

[stillihgrip]

Hi - I am a bit of a quiet person.

At my last birth, when our midwife came to say goodbye (all hospital births are midwife-led here, although you have never met them before and there is no continuous relationship) she said, "Your doula is the best! She have you just the right kind of support. Everyone should have a doula like her."

I just said thank you and blushed, even though inside me was urging me to get a recommendation. But how do you do that? What words do you guys say? I'd never had a personal conversation with this woman, and I'll never see her again. Do I just blurt, "Could you write that down?" and have her scribble on a piece of paper and sign it? What would make the midwife feel comfortable giving me a recommendation just like that?

Thanks for any hints.....

[stillihgrip]

anyone?

[familyway]

I'd check with the client to make sure it is ok with her for you to contact the midwife, then send the m/w a note. In it I'd mention how much I enjoyed working with her and would love to use her as a recommendation if she was comfortable providing a letter of reference or a testimonial for my promotional materials.

Another option is to mention it to your client. Recently, I was surprised when a former client called her doctor and asked him to write me a letter of recommendation for my certification requirements. He did it without any problem.

[stillihgrip]

Thanks for that suggestion - I'll keep it under my hat for when we have a private midwife. However, here, there is no continuity of care. Your obstetrician takes care of pregnancy, hospital midwives do the birth, then a baby center cares for weighing and immunizations and your obstetrician does your follow up appointment. Hospital midwives neither I nor my client will ever see again, unless I happen across them in a future birth. I mean, even recovery in the maternity unit is in the care of nurses, you don't see the midwives for the rest of your hospital stay....
It's a quick goodbye and that's the end.

[novadoula]

You could write down what she said have her read it and ask her if you can quote her.