hello all. I am a single mother of one and am very interested in being a doula both birth and postpartum.I was wondering if there was anyone who would like to share thier story with me.I don't know anyone who does this and havent found anyone in my town who does.I am intersted in hearing how to get started, balance this oncall job with family, and anything that may be helpfull.Thanks billie

-- billie burtrum (angie1202@aol.com), October 26, 2002

Answers

Hi Billie,

You can read about how and why I became a doula on my website: www.ChesapeakeBirthCompanions.com. I think most women come to the doula field through their own birth experiences, whether they be positive or negative. You can find lots of information concerning becoming a doula, find other doulas in your part of the world, and see what these organizations offer by way of training by visiting these websites:

www.dona.org and www.cappa.net

Both are outstanding!!

You can be oncall and balance a family...you just need a good backup plan and a babysitter or family member who can stand in when hubby has to go to work! Getting organized helps a great deal...

Hope this helps....

CIndy Sauerwein, CD (DONA) Chesapeake Birth Companions

-- Cindy Sauerwein (DoulaCindy@ChesapeakeBirthCompanions.com), January 06, 2003.

Please send me information on how to get started in becoming a Doula thanks. Carolyn

-- Carolyn Pagliuca (Butseriouslycp@juno.com), February 02, 2003.

Another great organiztion to check out is ALACE, the Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators. They specialize in birth doula/labor assistant training and certification and childbirth educator training/certification. I just started working with them, and they have a great philosophy of birth. 888-22-ALACE or www.alace.org

-- Barrett Lauck (yogagirl@usa.com), February 21, 2003.