Become a Doula

Well my client, went to see her doctor on Wednesday last weeks and still had a low platelet count, they wanted to send her to see her perinatologist, and he said that he thought that she needed to be monitored and needed some platelets, so they admitted her to hospital and some small contractions started, she called me and explained what was happening, so I said are you ok? do you need me? she said that she didnt right now and I told her that I would be here and if she felt she needed me at ANY time to just call and I would be right there!.. she was contracting about once every 5 minutes and they were not very regular but they were waiting on the platelets and they didnt want to augment her or were not going to and they told her that they thought that a C section would be best!. so she had her c section Thursday night and she is doing well baby is still in the nursey as he was having some prouble breathing they also gave him some antibiotics, to help him and now he has to stay in hospital for five days after the first antibiotic. So I didnt get to be her doula but she has a beautiful little boy whom she cant wait to get home with!
Im just a little disapointed with myself I think that maybe I should have gone to see her the moment she told me she was in hospital, and I kind of feel like I let her down or that maybe she would have got the Vag birth she wanted if I was there!!
Oh well so my first client was never actually a client but at least I was hired by someone!!

Well on the weekend I got an email from a lady through Bellywomen.net (which I registered on about 2 weeks ago) and she said that she is Due on May 8th and needed to find a Low cost doula, I said that I didnt have my certification yet, but I would love to do it! we met on Wednesday and have answered some email questions for her, and she emailed me back last night and said that she would love for me to be her Doula!!1 YAYYY! Im so excited!! we have got to meet a few times more before the big day… but I got my FIRST client!!! :)

Partlysbabe

Well I spoke to the lady arranging this and she told me that it would be $445 for the course.. WOW… but then again I would get my money back 4 or 5 fold once I completed the course but it is just getting that much money together to do this!!

Partlysbabe

Well I just got something in my inbox that will help with this one!....

Share your enthusiasm for birth and make a real difference in women’s
lives!
Help women avoid medically unnecessary cesareans.
Earn income!! ALACE labor assistants usually earn between $300-$1000
per birth.
Appropriate for all women who have an interest in birth and/or women’s
health. Great for pregnant women or those who plan to be pregnant in
the future. Also great for aspiring midwives, nurses, medical
professionals, childbirth educators and anyone involved in the healing
arts.

Attend our Labor Assistant/Birth Doula Training
Cincinnati, OH
March 28-30, 2008

So I just emailed them for more info… and I am excited even though its 4 months away!! I am thinking that even if I dont actually take the course if they will let me take the examination part instead!

Well I was wondering about doing this and I think that it would be good practice on my way to becoming a midwife but what exactly are the qualifications needed?? I went to the DONA and CAPPA website and read their recommended reading list most of which I have already read during the course of 5 pregnancies! ..I already know hypno-birthing, I have used a TENS machine during labour, I have done it natural and had epidurals, I know the birthing process very well and know the different sounds that women make as they reach different places during the childbirth process… what more do I need to know?? I guess that I could just go ahead and take their certification course and see if I pass!