Athens Doula Network

Becoming a doula has always been a dream of mine

admin — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 14:34:25 +0000

Hi ladies! Becoming a doula has always been a dream of mine, but I have no idea how to get started! Please help me out! –Lindsey

Allie Wright

I would say that the most important thing is to do the research on the certifying organizations first. There are several great choices and finding the one that best suits your style of learning, philosophy, schedule and budget all come into play. Also, sit down and talk with several doulas. Find out what was good about the certifying organization they used and what might have been lacking. Ask about what their expectations were when they started vs the reality of the day to day life of a doula. Read and research. Come up with a personal timeline and plan that is flexible and make your dream come true.

–Allie Wright

Rebecca Quintana

HI Lindsey! Congratulations on working towards fulfilling your dreams. You are already taking the first steps down the path to becoming a doula by reaching out to other doulas for insight, information and networking. Some things to consider would be training and certification options from one of the professionally recognized doula certifying organizations like CAPPA or DONA. Another profitable and wise consideration an aspiring doula can make is meeting and networking with other birth professions (childbirth educators, doulas) in the community. Becoming aware and involved in nonprofit groups aimed at supporting mamas and babies such as ICAN and Le Leche League) often provides valuable insights into the current local “birth climate” and can help reveal the type and degree of support birthing families desire and need in the community. On a final note, some experienced doulas welcome the opportunity to mentor new, budding doulas. This mentor relationship could include sharing of knowledge, providing encouragement, and supporting you in the early development of your doula career; essentially doulaing a new doula. In addition, some mentoring doulas offer an apprenticeship, giving a new doula the opportunity to gain hands on experience and guidance.
Becoming doula, for me, was very rewarding and I am very thankful for all the wonderful woman who precede me in this honorable and fulfilling profession.

–Rebecca Quintana

How often do the Meet the Doulas events take place?

admin — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:32:28 +0000

How often do the Meet the Doulas events take place? We are newly pregnant and would like to wait until we are out of the first trimester before we explore this option.

Hi! Most people prefer to announce their pregnancy to the world and start looking for a doula after the first trimester. I am sure we will have plenty of events in the coming months that can fit into your schedule. Our Meet the Doulas events take place every other month with our next event happening on May 15th. We will be setting our calendar for the next year in June so check back to our Upcoming Events page to find a date that works for you. Feel free to contact ADN if you have questions about doulas that you would like answered in the mean time. Take care and congratulations on your pregnancy!

Does a doula preform medical tasks?

admin — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:37:24 +0000

Rebecca Quintana

by Rebecca Quintana

The doula’s role is non-medical. Through training and experience a doula is knowledgeable of the physiology of pregnancy and birth. She also has acquired a basic understanding of medical procedures and terminology involved in labor and birth. However, a doula does not perform any clinical tasks such as blood pressure readings, fetal heart checks or vaginal exams. Doing so is outside her scope of practice.

A Birth Doula is equipped with knowledge and skills to effectively utilize non-medical comfort measures during your labor and birth. These methods can include but are not limited to, massage, positioning, aroma therapy, emotional support (affirmations/guided imagery/etc.), and information acquisition to facilitate informed choice and decision making.

Click here to read more about Rebecca

What is a doula?

admin — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 07:04:36 +0000

The word “doula” comes from the ancient Greek meaning “a woman who serves” and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.

A Birth Doula

Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
Stays with the woman throughout the labor
Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decision
Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman’s memory of the birth experience
Allows the woman’s partner to participate at his/her comfort level

Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.

A Postpartum Doula

Offers education, companionship and nonjudgmental support during the postpartum fourth trimester
Assists with newborn care, family adjustment, meal preparation and light household tidying
Offers evidence-based information on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, infant soothing and coping skills for new parents and makes appropriate referrals when necessary

Research evidence shows that the quality services of a postpartum doula can ease the transition that comes with the addition of a baby to a family, improve parental satisfaction and reduce the risk of mood disorders.

taken from Dona International, “What is a doula?”

How much does a doula cost?

admin — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 06:02:14 +0000

Fees can vary among doulas in the same area depending on the range of services offered and the doula’s experience. Doulas practicing in the greater Athens area typically charge from $500 to $800.

Many doulas accept special payment arrangements, including bartering for services! Feel free to ask a prospective doula what kinds of terms she would consider. Most doulas are happy to try and find a mutual working agreement.

If money is a particular concern, sometimes a doula-in-training can be hired for a minimal amount, often equal to the expenses she may incur for gas, parking, and childcare. Ask us and we may be able to help you find doulas-in-training around town.

What does the doula’s fee include?

Services will vary between doulas, however most professional doulas will provide one or two pre-birth sessions, will attend the birth and will do at least one post-birth home visit. Most will also offer free phone consultations to clients, and will arrange for a backup doula in case of emergency.

How to hire a doula

admin — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 05:01:21 +0000

A doula can greatly enhance your experience of childbirth and the postpartum months. Your birth doula will be at your side along with your care provider and partner, as part of your team for continuous support during labor and birth. Or maybe you’d like a postpartum doula to help you through the transition into parenthood and family. Either way, finding a good fit for you and your family is critical.

You will also want to consider whether you and your partner feel comfortable with an individual doula. You will need to feel that this doula is supportive of your hopes and expectations about labor, childbirth and parenting, in addition to having a strong professional background and credentials. That is why we recommend the following steps hiring process when hiring a birth or postpartum doula.

Steps to hiring a doula:

1. Come to our Meet the Doulas event and meet many doulas at once in a relaxed and casual setting

2. Contact doulas and check availabilities for your due date

3. Conduct an in-person interview of multiple doula candidates

4. Check credentials and references

Questions to Ask a Doula

It is a good idea for both you and your partner to meet doula candidates to decide if they are compatible with your family. Are they kind, warm and enthusiastic? Are they knowledgeable? Do they communicate well? Are they good listeners? Are they comfortable with your choices or do they seem to have their own agenda? Do you feel at ease with them? The way that you feel with a doula is more important than the number of births that they have attended or how many new families they have nurtured. You may want to interview more than one doula and make comparisons before choosing your doula.

For any doula

What training have you had? (If a doula is certified, you might consider checking with the organization.)
Do you have one or more backup doulas for times when you are not available? May we meet her/them?
What is your fee, what does it include and what are your refund policies?

When interviewing a birth doula

Tell me about your experience as a birth doula.
What is your philosophy about birth and supporting women and their partners through labor?
May we meet to discuss our birth plans and the role you will play in supporting me through birth?
May we call you with questions or concerns before and after the birth?
When do you try to join women in labor? Do you come to our home or meet us at the place of birth?
Do you meet with us after the birth to review the labor and answer questions?

When interviewing a postpartum doula

Tell me about your experience as a postpartum doula.
What is your philosophy about parenting and supporting women and their families during postpartum?
May we meet to discuss our postpartum needs and the role you will play in supporting us in the postpartum period?
May we call you with postpartum questions or concerns before the birth?
When do your services begin after birth?
What is your experience in breastfeeding support?
Have you had a criminal background check, a recent TB test and current CPR certification?

taken from Dona International, “How to hire a doula.”