What is a Doula?

What is a Doula?
Working as a Doula is said to be unlikely to make you rich but be a very rewarding career.

A Doula can work with a Mother and partner providing emotional and practical support throughout pregnancy, Labour, birth and postpartum. A Doula is not a medical professional but is an important support at such an unpredictable and emotionally intense time of life. Services that a Doula may provide include:
• Explanations of medical procedures
• Emotional support
• Preparation for labour, including writing a birthing plan
• Massage
• Support with coping with pain
• Support with discussing needs with medical professionals
• Positioning support during labor and birth
• Supporting the birthing partner to be able to best support the mother
• Help with breastfeeding preparation and the initial care of baby
• Take records of the birth – written, photographic etc Professional

The Doula role is a professional role, parents will be expecting a professional service that will support and enhance their experience. As labour and birth is unpredictable a Doula will be required to remain calm and supportive even in times of extreme stress and concern.
A Doula will need to be self-aware and remain objective, separating their own feelings and beliefs from the choices of the Mother and circumstances of each family they support.

It would be advisable for a Doula to have a written contract with each family to outline the services that will be provided and the fees.

A Doula will need to be extremely flexible. A call from an expectant Mother can come at any hour, saying that she has gone into labour. The Mother will expect the Doula to remain on call for an agreed period of time around the labour (usually from 38 to 42 weeks pregnant).

To support a Mother and her partner a Doula will need to be a good communicator. This includes listening, it is vital that a Doula understands the Mother’s needs and wishes and can help her communicate this.

Be patient and caring, being with a Mother in such a special time of life is a privilege.

A Doula’s care will be invaluable in helping the Mother remain calm and cope, making the most of the miraculous experience. Labour can take a very long time, sometimes more than 24 hours. A Doula will be required to forego sleep and remain by the Mother’s side assisting and supporting.

Self-employedIt is usual for a Doula to work as self-employed. This means finding their own clients, managing the workload and completing annual tax returns.

For information on working as self-employed, please see the resources page www.available2work.com Getting started.
There are no legal requirements for a Doula to be qualified, but experience would be essential without any training. It has been said that a Doula never stops training as each labour and delivery can be so different. Some Doulas begin by assisting family and friends with their pregnancy, labour, delivery and postpartum care. It is not necessary for a Doula to have experienced labour themselves, but it could be viewed as an advantage. For training there are a number of courses that can be attended. To begin finding clients with available2work.com register as a Doula and create your profile. As working as Doula is temporary work we provide you with a diary in your available2work.com account, so that potential clients can match their needs with your availability.