I feel very strongly about becoming a doula. I want to help women and support them with their pregnancies and births. The problem I have is I don't know where to start. I have been studying pregnancy and birth since my midwife assisted with my fourth child's birth in 2006.

I feel this inner calling to do this. I was wondering if you know what the best way to begin my journey to become a doula would be? Do you know if it better to get certified, or just go without certification and instead apprentice with someone? I would love to assist a birth with another doula, by shadowing them if they would be willing to mentor me. Do you know how I would go about doing this? I've been through my own births (3 hospital births, and 4 home births - 2 of those unassisted) but have never actually attended a birth other than my own.

In the end, I would love to one day be a midwife. However, I have to say that the idea is somewhat scary for me. It is a dream of mine, but it seems so impossible to reach. LOL

Any help or advice you could offer would be amazing. Thank you so much.

Amanda (in Kansas City)

Basically, what I'm doing now, is contacting local doulas and seeing if they would let me shadow them and lend a helping hand.

Most hospitals will only allow 2 support people in the room. So usually it is Dad and Doula. That makes it difficult to shadow someone.

I would suggest you google doula trainings in your area , and start there.

Once you take a workshop, network with the other doulas in your area (maybe there is a local doula collective) .

I choose to become certified because of a couple of reasons

1) It shows clients that I followed a course of training , and work within a scope of practice.
2) In some hospitals doulas must be certified in order to attend births
3) I am listed on their website, and so clients can find me .

HTH

Great info given already. You may want to contact Louise Delaney and/or Kay Miller to talk to you about Labor Doula trainings in Kansas City and what they feel would be your best bet in becoming a doula in your area. Louise can be reached at : cccedirector@cappa.net and Kay can be reached at heavensentsupport@gmail.com.

Good luck on your journey!

networking...
knock on door and introduce yourself to medical professionals.
put yourself out there and make sure you let everyone you cross paths with know who you are and what you do.
You excitement will be remembered and clients will find you through referrals.

Good luck!

Yes definitely contact Louise I know she has some training coming up. Sweet Miracles - Home

Hi Amanda!
I'm in Missouri too and just starting my journey and trying to decide how I'd like to become certified. Maybe we can find a workshop together?!

That would be great. Where are you in MO?

If you are truly at the very beginning of your journey I would start by reading, reading, reading all you can about birth - before, during, and after. Look through some of the cert orgs required reading lists to get an idea of which books are worthwhile reads. There are also a number of threads on AD about books.

If you have done the reading ad nauseum and are ready for the next step I would start researching training org. Certification comes AFTER training. Many doulas choose never to certify. However, training, IMHO, is critical.

As an experienced doula, if you came to me wanting to apprentice I would wonder what YOU have put into your journey before I mentored you. I wouldn't know if I'd be teaching basic stuff or if you've already done a good deal of self-study and are truly ready to jump in and be a support - to the family and me - or if you might get in the way. While I LOVE and respect the mentoring process it has to come with obligations on your part too.

I'm about 3 hrs south of KC, closer to Springfield. Have you decided on a training workshop? From what I've seen there are couple going on in KC this year through CAPPA.

I agree with reading as much as possible. I printed off the required reading lists from a few different organizations and have been working my way through them. What I'm having to most problem with is deciding who I want to train with. I know that someday I want to become certified and from what I'm seeing you should train with the organization that you want your cert through. I could be wrong though.

Cortney,
I highly recommend that you go to each organization's website and read their Mission and Vision statements. Do you agree with their scope of practice and requirements for re-certification? Do they expect you to stay current in your field by getting continuing education? Ultimately, you'll need to find an organization that you believe in and that matches your desires for becoming a doula. Check them out on Facebook too for feedback. Which organization "speaks" to you?
I wish you all the best in your search.
~Darla

^^ Awesome advise, Darla! Thank you. I've read a couple of them but never thought to actually think about how they relate to me or differ from each other. Nor did it ever occur to me to think about re-certification.

I dont have any advice but i just wanted to say thank you for posting this! I am just beginning the process myself and appreciate the great advice!

I took a DONA training, which was completely invaluable. I'm attending births for experience, volunteering in birth related positions and continuing to learn all that I can!