My family just moved to Amarillo, Texas. Its a pretty big place, so you would think there would be any number of birth professionals to network with but apparently there aren't. I have called no fewer than 7 various such people and have gotten two disconnected numbers, 5 answering machines (on each of which I left a message) and no calls back. I have also found a dead email address and a hospital nurse who didn't know whether they did VBACs or not. Oh, and a Facebook page with a doula getting questions about her business where she didn't even bother to respond.

This is frustrating to say the least. Texas has an extremely high cesarean rate and I think I've been given all the clues I need to figure out why.

The Amarillo birth scene is about to change dramatically because I won't stand for women having so little support. But how do I know where to start when I can't even get anyone on the phone? My business cards are about to become a common sight here but what else can I do?

Howdy Neighbor,

I experience the same thing moving here to Louisiana two years ago. It has been slow going, but it is starting to pay off. I attend a local health fair (it's mostly elderly, but I still attend), I'm in the local folk art festival (got free space because I do demonstrations on pain reducing techniques of midwives as a folk art), started a pregnancy and birth support chapter of an existing group from another city here - we (or I) meet monthly at the library, ICAN chapter is in the makings with another doula from a nearby town (we will alternate meeting between the towns), teach childbirth ed classes, give OB and L&D units local resources such as everything breastfeed in our area (Le Leche League, hotlines, WIC peer numbers, etc.) during Breastfeeding Week and more.

It takes time. Like I said, I moved here two years ago. Today I received a call from a woman who got my info from a former doula no longer attending births, a friend who is a former client, AND her OB. Just when I was beginning to think nobody loves me (wink).

In the meantime, the internet with forums like this one have been crucial in helping me keep going.

All the best!

I love you so much, Reb. Thank you so much for your suggestions. For as long as we live here I will be doing my damndest to make sure I'm working toward positive change.

Well, I feel like that sometimes! I am working on it, but it is easy to get discouraged. Many people don't even know what a doula is, and are sometimes not even interested in being educated on it. I have been slightly mocked for talking about nutrition or education as far as birth as "That is her thing she does...."

WRT the fact that folks haven't called you back. I frequently get calls from new doulas, people wanted to maybe be midwives, curious L&D students etc. If I talked to all of them, some days I wouldn't have time for anything else. Generally I screen calls and I don't know a lot of doulas or midwives who don't.

Thats why a doula org is so nice. Someone who feels like fielding those kinds of calls can volunteer to do so for the whole community

Doulafava, I et that but its not just the doulas and midwives. The LLL is hard to reach, the hospital nurses don't know what their VBAC policy is, there are no mom meetup groups with an online presence. I got a hold briefly of a midwife who told me to call her back in the evening four days ago. I did and got her machine. I've called 3 times since she told me to call back later and left two messages and its been 4 days and I haven't heard back. And I seriously doubt that all 7 of the birth professionals I called screen their calls and can't be bothered to network. Everywhere else I've ever been had birth professionals who were there for each other. This is ridiculous.

I'm not giving up, because birth workers and mothers deserve better than this.

I think that if midwives are screening their calls, it can give a bad name for themselves, or a doula. I guess if you truly have plenty of business, that is one thing, but I work hard to network with others, because I never know when it is a small town and word gets around that I don't answer calls, I would lose business fast.

Giving myself a bad name? Seriously? We should all just answer the phone any time it rings regardless of what we are doing? I value my time and my family way too much to be a martyr to the telephone. I call potential clients back when it is convenient for me and don't always call back birthy tire kickers. Honestly, its annoying how many women get an idea that they want to be a doula or a midwife and the very first thing they do is call a busy birth worker. I should not be someones replacement for google.

It might depend on the area you live in. I am the daughter of a midwife, as well as a doula. If you screen your calls too much, you lose business around here. I am glad to hear it is not that way in all areas.

Are you still studying midwifery?

http://www.texasmidwives.com/
There is a search tool for midwife locator. You're right. Only one in your area. Are you willing or able to travel? There are several midwives over the 2oo mile radius (I go to Orange, TX every week for clinicals, 230 mi. I don't think I could do it if I had little ones, so...). You're not to far from the OK border. I don't think there is anything in Tucumcari, but you can give it a try. If you can get in with them (ATM), their education program is AWESOME!

Maybe "Like" the midwife's Face Book Page and be active on it - like you do on mine
http://www.facebook.com/pages/BirthRite ... 8024596861
message her again asking for a lunch date with the intent of discussing ___________ (fill in the blank).

I don't know why you feel so strongly about this, but I agree that it can kill business to not answer and not return calls. I don't expect a birth worker to always be available, but calling these ladies isn't a replacement for Google for me. It is trying to get information that Google hasn't provided. Like, what are the VBAC moms in for here? Which midwives are currently taking clients? Which doulas are willing to trade childcare? If you can't be bothered to network, fine, but it really is rude not to return calls and if a client asked me for names of other doulas, I would have to say "I'm the only one I know of who will answer phone calls". Bummer for them.

I got a hold of a different midwife briefly and she's not on there. Much search engine work turned her up. She has been so crazy busy that we haven't had a chance for more than a few words. The midwife on that site's phone number is disabled.

I want to study midwifery, but haven't had a chance yet. I figured a birth client a Mont would pay for the education, though. I am looking into ATM's program and hope to start sometime very soon.

My mother is a midwife, she did ATM when she became a midwife.