Considering Doula training...feedback needed.

[AM]

I have briefly looked into becoming a doula a little while ago, and was a little put off by the speed at which you could gain the qualification. I am into training which is as comprehensive and intensive as possible.

But now I am looking at it again, and I am needing feedback from doulas please!

Who did you train with?

Were you happy with the training?

Would you train with the same people again, or would recommend someone else?

Anything else I should know?

The training outfits which sound fairly good so far are Childbirth International, Dona International, and people also say good things about Optimum birth.

TIA:thumbsup:

[Noah_and_Elijah]

Who did you train with? optimum birth

Were you happy with the training? so far it has been absolutely fantastic

Would you train with the same people again, or would reccommend someone else? definately the same people again

Anything else I should know? you will be surprised by how much you will actually learn. it's great. the tutors are fantastic also!

[warriorPRINCESSdaughter]

I am with Optimum birth, i find them great they are informative and encouraging. whichever course you pick will work
Jodie:angel:

[Doula Jane]

Who did you train with? DONA International

Were you happy with the training? Very happy. The training was very informative and comprehensive plus once you do your first doula course, you can go on to do the advanced course. The certification process is very thorough too - lots of work, essays, gaining positive feedback from OB's, midwives, parents.....

Would you train with the same people again, or would recommend someone else? I would absolutely train with DONA again, although as far as I'm aware I don't think there are any DONA trainers in Australia at the moment (I used to live in Texas which is why I could train with DONA).

Doula Jane :)

[Julie Doula]

Hi AM,

I've been happy with O.B. because I've seen it only as one stepping stone in a journey of life-long doula learning. I like how, to keep up the qualification, you have to do so many units of continuing education each year. I'm far exceeding the minimum requirement and will be for years to come. I think that'll be the same as any dedicated doula.

There are some excellent conferences and workshops out there: Rhea Dempsey's, Jenny Blyth's Birth Work, the Birth Week in Victoria, the doula conference, the homebirth conference, the Calm Birth course, and there is an excellent course called 'Spiritual Midwifery' - have you heard about it yet? It looks amazing, very in depth, I'm going to do it one day - next year or the year after.

Optimum Birth was a useful 'baby step' to get me started in Australia (consolidating the solo learning I'd been doing overseas).

[moonblossom]

I'm training with Childbirth International, and it has been really rewarding and challenging. They really go into EVERYTHING and I love that. They have a few extra courses too which I might do after I finish my Doula Course.

I have heard nothing but good things about Optimum too, and I'm almost tempted to do their course as well, why?. Just because there is always something new a different team brings into it :smiliedance:

Good luck with whomever you choose, you won't regret it :thumbsup:

[Julie Doula]

Moonblossom, CONGRATULATIONS on your 8 babies!!!! What an awesome education on birth, right there!!! A quarter of a century of birthing and mothering!

I am really curious now ... do you mind if I ask how old you are? I'd better self-disclose with that ... I had my first at age 30, my last of three at age 37 and I am now .... 40! Yay. In my Roarin' 40's!

[moonblossom]

RARING FOURTIES, I'm with ya girlfriend HAhahaha

I am 44 and damn proud :smiliedance:

I had my first at 18 and my last (ummm maybe, hahaha joking...ummmm :laughing: ) at 43. I had wonderful births, ABSOLUTELY awesome with 3 of them, cept the first...gawd that sucked, being 18, back in the old days LOL, where you stayed in bed, legs in stirrups OMG, what i learned over the years :) and the last...beautiful labor, terrible birth.

It is absolutely wonderful, how things change when it comes to birthing, and its only going to get better I have no doubt, homebirths are going to skyrocket when women become empowered and have faith in themselves and their bodies :)

Keep up the great posts Julie, I'm always looking out for them (Y)