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Things To Consider....
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Being a doula can be exciting and personally rewarding. However, whether you have two clients per year or two per month, each client you accept will involve significant responsibility and commitment of your time. Please give careful thought to the following questions. If you have difficulty answering “Yes” to them, you may need to reconsider whether being a doula is best for you and your potential clients, at this time in your life.
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Each time you accept a birth doula client:
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Will you have the stamina and willingness to offer many, uninterrupted hours of support during labor and birth?
Will you be able to arrange prenatal time (one or more home visits) with your client to help establish rapport, confidence, and preparation for labor and birth?
Will you have a cell phone or pager that allows you to be reached at any time…24 hours a day? Can you be “on call” 24/7 at least 2 weeks prior to your client’s due date and until her labor begins?
Do you live within 45 minutes of your client and the location where she will deliver?
Do you have caring support for yourself….help after long or difficult birthing experiences?
Will you be truly supportive of the personal and individual desires and choices of your client, even when they differ from your own?
Will you be able to suspend personal opinion/judgment about medical decisions made by your client, her partner and caregivers (doctors, RN’s, CNM’s) and work as a team member with all involved?
Will you establish relationships with other doulas and always have a back-up doula, in case you are not available when your client needs you?
Will you keep continually updated in the field of doula practice and childbirth trends by reading, attending workshops and networking with other doulas?
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Each time you accept a postpartum doula client:
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Will you have a cell phone or pager that allows you to be reached at any time…24 hours a day?
Will you be truly supportive of the personal and individual desires and choices of your client, even when they differ from your own?
Will you be able to suspend personal opinion/judgment about medical decisions made by your client, her partner and caregivers and work as a team member with all involved?
Will you be able to refrain from providing medical advice to clients but make referrals instead to the appropriate resources?
Will you keep continually updated in the field of postpartum issues including: breastfeeding, Infant CPR and first aid, PP depression and infant care by reading, attending workshops and networking with other doulas?
Back to 'Become a Doula'.
Doula Association of the Mountain Area
PO Box 1822 Asheville, NC 28802
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