How to Become a Doula

What is a Doula?

There is a new trend among pregnant women everywhere and it is changing the way women give birth. Celebrities are doing it, but it’s not just for the ‘elite’. It isn’t a class, tool or technique.

What is this new trend, you ask? If you haven’t already heard, of a doula, you will! Pregnant women everywhere are starting to catch on- the secret to having a better birth isn’t just learning to ‘puff puff, blow blow’, and it’s not about having a quick epidural either! No, the secret is out: Having a doula is the thing to do.

OK, so just who are these doulas and what are they doing to make having one so trendy?

Studies have shown that the benefits of continuous labor support can reduce the rate of cesarean by 50%!! That’s not all a doula can do, this same study showed on average, 25% shorter labors, 60% reduction in epidural requests, 30% reduction in analgesic use, and 40% reduction in forceps delivery.

Apparently, Doula support is the gift that keeps on giving, 6 week after the birth of their babies, mothers who had doulas reported less anxiety and depression, more confidence with their babies, more satisfaction with their relationships with their partners, and were more likely to breastfeed. Doulas are usually women who love birth. They love helping moms and families have an easier time during pregnancy and birth and they make a dramatic difference. Many doulas are moms who got into the profession out of their love of birth and the flexibility that it offered. Other doulas are pregnancy massage therapists, prenatal yoga instructors, childbirth educators and midwifery students who want to supplement their income with a job that helps them work with their existing clients.

How much training do they have?

Because doulas are not medical, they don’t catch babies or give medical advice. They don’t replace a doctor, midwife, or nurse. They are really in a class of their own. Whereas Midwives and Obstetricians are primarily concerned with the physical health and wellbeing of the mother and baby, doulas are devoted to the mental, emotional, and spiritual well being of the new family as well as being sensitive to the birthing woman’s specific needs, comfort, desires, and environment. Because of this, a doula does not usually have or need a medical background.

Training workshops vary from as short as a weekend to a few months, but there are other requirements and steps including bookwork, required reading and exams in some cases. They learn how to make birth more comfortable, how to reduce the chance of a c-section and how to give great emotional support to the mom and family, as well as effective communication and creating a comfortable birth atmosphere.

There are no licenses for doulas. Some training programs certify doulas and others do not.

How much does it cost to become a doula?

It can cost as little as $300 to $1000 to become a doula. It really depends on the type of training course and the reading list.

Some doulas continue to educate themselves with more advanced doula or midwifery training, or add skills such as lactation training, or massage. They also may take basic business/marketing classes from the Birthing Business Institute (www.birthingbusiness.com) to learn how to build their client base and make more income.

What is the lifestyle of a doula like? Doulas are on call most of the time. Most doulas have a backup in case they are at another birth or they are sick.

Doulas are home-based entrepreneurs so they determine how many clients they want to take on per month or if they want to take a few months off.

That sounds great! How do I become a Doula?

The first step a prospective doula needs to take is deciding about her training options. The Birthing Business Institute offers a comprehensive and in-depth look at different training organizations as well as options to becoming a doula. For more information, visit www.birthingbusiness.com or www.howtobecomeadoula.com.

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