~*Doulas - Introduce yourself*~ [Archive] - Bub Hub Pregnancy & Parenting Forum

mad3under3

27-09-2007, 18:33

Hi, Im Jasmine, im 22 and husband is 24. we have 3 boys, mason is 3 1/2, jamie is nearly 2 and Kai is 7mths.

We conceived mason the first time we slept together a week after meeting so we stroke it lucky and we have a great marriage, most days.

I am a sahm altho i have my security lience so work when we need extra. Hence i stay home most of the time.

Im currently doing my training through childbirth international.

hope that helps everyone know who i am, sorry it's a mess my kids are running a muck... it's been a long day inside

jasmine

erinjacob

27-09-2007, 19:01

im jess im a SAHM to a 3yr girl erin, 2 yr boy jacob a 10month boy jayden an another bub due in april.

im also doing my course online with childbirth international

iv had 2 hospital births an 1 home birth an planing another.

i cant wait to help women have, relaxing, happy, amazing births the way we were suppose to. i think if i can do it any one can. im also getting insider training from my midwife who is amazing an i enspier to be like her.

lilipad23

27-09-2007, 19:35

hi all
I am Ann, 25 and have a little angle who is 1 on sunday!
I am a sahm and a full time student. I have recently enrolled with CBI and cant wait til the xmas holidays so i can really hit the books and finish off my theory study. i am yet to attend a birth as i want to be as prepared as i can be first.
Being a doula is a wonderful way to positively influence a womans birth experience - something she will remember for the rest of her life.

Ann.:babydust2:
xxxx

~Emmylou~

27-09-2007, 20:10

I'm Tina and I live in Brisbane.
I'm married to Ben and have a nearly-three year old daughter Emily, and a nearly-one year old son, Toby :)

I'm a student doula, I've just finished my course (CBI) which has taken me most of the year. Had major sleep issues this year with Toby that slowed me down alot but that's finally settled down!

I've got my certification births coming up in the next couple of months as well as a couple more mums due in Feb.

Absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this work, I feel like it's what I was born to do :D

warriorPRINCESSdaughter

27-09-2007, 20:32

Hi my name is Jodie i am a student doula with OB and have five children 19 - 11 years i am also a single mum. I have applied to uni next year to do bachelor of midwifery at ACU and am very excited about this. I am a christian and would love to focus on helping other christian women be empowered to do what comes naturally. Hello to all of you and hope we can all catch up soon.

Jodie

lilpearl

28-09-2007, 11:01

Hi,

I'm Liana, 27, mother of 3, as described below. Married and a doula (completed my training through optimum Birth). Concentrating on childbirth education at the moment, as my children are so young.

Have applied to each and every BM course for next year. Passionate, and inspired by birth, and frustrated at the maternity industry aas it stands. Will become an IM A.S.A.P.

doulacara

28-09-2007, 18:39

My name is Cara. I have 3 children between 22 months and 6. I had the full cascade of interventions during my first birth in the UK and regret how uninformed I was. 2nd time around I booked into a birth centre in Sydney and had a peaceful waterbirth. I had a doula present at my 3rd birth (long story but ended up back in a hospital labour ward again) and afterwards was contemplating midwifery as a career option. However, I can't really commit to that while my kids are so young and I live about 2 hours from campus. My doula and her business partner ran a training course locally last year and I jumped at the chance.

So far I have have attended just 4 births, the last one just 36 hours ago. My next birth is due in the next week and will be a homebirth - I am really pumped about that one.

I am a homebirther at heart - just haven't managed to achieve it yet. I am also passionate about waterbirth and giving everyone who wants it the opportunity. Nothing gets me hot under the collar more than hearing about women who are being told they 'can't' do things they want during labour and birth.

I feel truly privileged to attend to women at the most intimate moments of their lives and to provide them with genuine care and support.

Cara

kadownie

28-09-2007, 23:24

Hi I'm Kylie, mother to twins (3) and pretty much in labour as I type with number 3 baby (I hope so anyway). Hoping for a vbac this time!!

I trained through OB- and have attended 5 lovely natural hospital births!

I love being a doula and helping women to discover they have choices and can be empowered in the birthing process!

I have just applied to start direct entrymidwifery next year....to complement my doula work

I aim in the next few months to develop a vbac preparation class dealing with the emotional side of preparing for birth after a c-section- it's quite a ride!!

anyway- I need to go and get some sleep in case my little baby (who's not so little I think) decides tonight is the night!

BeautifulBoys

30-09-2007, 08:20

Hello
Im 28 Married for 3 yrs, with one DS(jacob) who is 22months I am also pregnant now with our second ( only a few weeks) :yes: I am a trainee doula I did my training through Australian Doulas in Perth WA, Im now living in Hobart & am so excited i have my first birth coming up in NOV!!!!!!:thumbsup: I am too passionate about helping & supporting women & their partners through labour/birth... being able to provide information about birthing choices & having informed choice.
Nice to meet you all!!!!!!!!!:wave:

Mum2Reuben

03-10-2007, 16:19

Hi Everyone

My name is Kassandra. I am 32. Single. Mum to Reuben 2. I work with a group of lovely doulas Birth-n-beyond. com. au

I've had the honour of attending two births so far. Both completely natural hospital births. First one was 3 hour hypnobirth, surprise breech... Second was 13 hour intervention free posterior birth...

I looooooooooooooove this job. Its very demanding physically - am going to start seriously working out at gym from now on.

Natural birth is so empowering and I love helping a woman achieve it with simple encouragement and physical support... the look on her face as she realises that she has done it is priceless...

I was considering doing midwifery but after watching what their job consists of I have my doubts... they have to do so many boring beaurocratic tasks... they seem like they are basically there to do the interventions and catch the baby and placenta then they have to run around looking through the dirty laundry to record how much blood mum has lost then they have to put all the equipment away and they just don't seem to do much of the fun stuff... don't get me wrong what they do is important for mums health and records and to cover their butts legally... but the part i love is the hands on caring... really being WITH the WOMAN... I'm not sure that I'm a TASKS person... but I'm definitely a CARER.

I'm also considering doing the Calmbirth course next year.

moonblossom

03-10-2007, 16:27

Hi Everyone,

I'm 44, blessed mother of 8 wonderful children, and close to completing my course through CBI.

My first birth is due in two weeks and i'm so excited.

Great to meet you all :wave:

QTB

06-10-2007, 21:42

Nice to meet you all :D

anyone else?

Moonblossom, good luck with your first birth.... im sure you will do great!!

Areca

07-10-2007, 02:38

~Emmylou~

07-10-2007, 08:33

Hi Ace :wave:

Something I'm thinking of doing is some sort of complementary therapy course - whether it be massage, reiki, aromatherapy... something like that.

I think I'll probably do some training in prenatal yoga as I really enjoy yoga and I think it would be great to be able to offer that to clients as well.

I think it just gives you that extra perspective and something extra to offer people.

Good luck with it, I'm sure you'll make a great doula when the time comes :)

MoonstoneMumma

10-10-2007, 10:41

Only just found this thread!!

I'm Shea, mum to Connor, who was 'taken' while i had a c-section under a ga. This is the reason i have become a doula. I have attended 2 births so far and another 2 to come. I have trained with Optimum Birth.

yummy*mummy

10-10-2007, 20:08

hi :)
well i've had 2 beautiful kids and experienced c-section and normal birth!
after having my beautiful doula at my 2nd birth, it's inspired me! i'm in the process of picking wat course i'm going to do but i like the look of optimum birth!
all my friends think im made to be pregnant, not sure if i agree! one even said she's putting her order in! lol! :laughing: no more for me! but i think i'd really enjoy helping other mums out there to experience a beautiful birth and have the support she needs!

just one question.. wat do u mums do with ur children when u get that call that its all happening?

thanks! :wave:

Areca

10-10-2007, 20:27

Thanks for answering emmylou! Great suggestions and will look in to them more for sure!

yummy mummy that's a big reason why I'm not becoming a doula now...I don't have anyone that could look after my kids...waiting until my mum retires cause she's happy to be my sitter but that's another three or four years away yet.

QTB

10-10-2007, 21:45

just one question.. wat do u mums do with ur children when u get that call that its all happening?

Hi :wave: Congrats on your VBAC!

Im realllly lucky, my sister is a SAHM so if i need her shes there, but luckily all my births so far have been on the weekend, so DH has been home to look after him!

lilpearl

11-10-2007, 12:32

I'm a wannabe if that counts! :laughing: It'll be a couple of years off me though..so don't belong in this thread at all..just keeping myself entertained through the night time feeds.

Question for you all...is there anything you recommend I do while I'm waiting to do the course so that I can be a better doula when the time comes. I'm going to get my hands on all types of pregnancy and birth books so that I'll know what my women are reading when the time comes and will be able to suggest books then, I have done the calmbirthing course (for my 2nd birth) so I have that behind me too, but anything else that wasn't part of the course that you have found useful? Thanks..and sorry for butting in!
It's great to know what women are reading, and to also hunt out some rally good books on natural birth, interventions, VBAC, etc. Most women grab a copy of 'what to expect when you're expecting', etc, which isn't a great book to say the least. It's the books written for specific reasons that are great - waterbirth, VBAC, homebirth, caesarean....they're the ones that will arm you with real knowledge and help you to give up-to-date information to your clients. It is costly and time-consuming to purchase and read these books, so that's deffinately something I'd recommend you start now. :) All the best!

SaraJ

12-10-2007, 19:11

Hi ladies,

I thought it was about time i stopped lurking, come forward and formally introduce myself.

My name is Sara-Jayne (Sara). I'm 23 years old and the mum of 2 beautiful darling little girls, Colby and Briley. Colby being born just 9 weeks ago. My partner, Brent and I, have been together for 7 years and live on a cosy little farm just outside of Townsville in North Queensland.

I am currently enrolled with Optimum Birth to do a Doula course. Childbirth, and anything to do with it, has always intrigued me from quite a young age. I am not sure where this come from, but i strongly relate it to the offer from my mother to attend my younger brothers birth at just 9 years old! I have always felt strongly maternal and a few years ago decided that after 3 years as an Administration Officer, Midwifery was my calling.

I started my Bachelor of Nursing Sciences at the beginning of this year in the hopes of working towards my dream of Midwifery. At the time i was pregnant with Colby and the stress of uni life affected my pregnancy (threatened pre-term labour which was later diagnosed as an "irritable uterus") and i was forced to defer.

I could not just leave my passion to "attend" births there and decided that, at the moment, a Doula/Birth Attendant course would be the best option. I have also applied to UniSA for the Bachelor of Midwifery course which is the only university that offers this course externally. I have heard that i is quite a difficult course to get into. But i will apply and re-apply until i get it. Hopefully the life experience i get as a Doula will help me reach my dream.

I too love children, being pregnant and when i am not pregnant, being all around it. The only experience i have in birth attending to date, are my own. With 2 completely different pregnancies, labours and deliveries, i think that i should be "experienced" enough to care for, assist and support other women in the same situation.

I am really enjoying my course with Optimum at the moment and look forward to attending my first birth as a Student Doula. I am also looking forward to chatting to my fellow doula's.

I look forward to getting to know you all.

moonblossom

12-10-2007, 19:24

WELCOME everyone. I'm so excited, only 4 days till I attend my first birth (of course probably won't come on time LOL) so no friday nigh drinkies for me till the baby comes :laughing:

I am pretty sure I have everything prepared, My Doula bag is packed with nicks and nacks to make her labor so much more comfortable. They are a wonderful couple and I'm so looking forward to sharing this experience with them, I feel really privledged to be asked to join them in such a special time in their lives.

~Emmylou~

12-10-2007, 20:05

Good luck moonblossom! I'm sure you'll be wonderful!

My first birth is due in 4 weeks so I'm starting to get myself organised as well...can't wait! :D

fai firinne

14-10-2007, 21:37

Hi, I'm Julie. I've been interested in birth work since I had my own three girls, and supported a friend as doula for the first time in 2004. Later that year we moved from Asia to Australia and I completed the doula training with Optimum Birth in 2006. This is my first year of being a doula. I've attended 9 births so far, quite a mixed bag, from one caesarian to a water birth to one that ended up being unassisted because we (the midwife and I) pulled up in the drive about 2 minutes too late! Three VBACs coming up in the next few months, a first for me. Each woman has taught me so much, it's been a wonderful experience and real privilege. It makes me realise that being a doula is a process of life-long learning. I've just turned 40 and delighted to be in my Roarin' 40's doing something I love. It's funny, after being consistenly busy most of the year I now have two months (Oct and Nov) with no births at all, do you ever find that, that you get busy times and then lulls? I suppose I should be happy with that because with 6 new clients for next year, I've enough to do with the pre-natal visits to keep me busy.

Thinking of you Moonblossom and Emmylou as you attend your first births. Yay!

What does everyone like to carry in your doula bags?

I have gel and wheat heat packs.

For homebirths, I bring plastic mattress covers and plastic tablecloths for the floor which do come in handy.

moonblossom

15-10-2007, 08:28

Thanks guys for your support.

Hey Julie, In my Doula bag I have two wheat bags, sealed lip balm, hairties, massage oil, aromatherapy oils...I want to add a gym blow up ball.

I know I will add more, as suggestions come in.

moonblossom

15-10-2007, 23:25

Oh I just knew there was a reason I was fussing over my Doula bag today, I just got a call from my beautiful mum to be, and shes in labor. Awaiting the call for me to join her!:smiliedance:

I'm so excited, and hopefully well prepared :laughing:

Wish me luck guys...Will report in as soon as I'm home.

WHOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO :smiliedance:

~Emmylou~

16-10-2007, 08:46

Woohoo! Are you back yet? Can't wait to hear all about it moonblossom! :)

MoonstoneMumma

16-10-2007, 09:15

go moonblossom!!

i too had a birth yesterday (my last one now i am qualified!!!) and a beautiful baby boy was born into his mothers arms. Valentine birth is wonderful!

doula bags - well mine is a monster of a bag. i have:

- snacks for me such as muslie bars, sultanas and a water bottle.
- money: this is for parking and for food and drinks. also incase mum to be has forgot stuff like lip balm.
- heat packs: two big gel packs and two small ones. the small ones are good to put in the freezer/fridge. i am also making my own wheat bags specifically for the lower back and abdomen
- pillows: you can never have enough! they only give you one at the hospital and you always need more (even if it is just for dad to sleep on)
- cd player and cds: not all hospitals or homes have portable cd players.
- face washers - use these all the time. wet them then put in the fridge for a bit. rub over their face and on their forehead, seems to keep them distracted and they really enjoy it
- mirror
- box of rubber gloves
- birth plans and directions to all the ladies houses, you could get the call when you are out and dont want to have to go back home to get them.

i also have a bag packed for my son. both bags are always in my car just in case.

Maybe3

16-10-2007, 14:42

Hi Ladies,

My name is Relle and I am "almost" a certified Doula, due to go on call this Saturday for my last training birth, with another 3 booked in after that. I have trained with OB, and now completely the Dip CBE through CBI

I am a mum to 3 boys, the first was the full cascade of interventions, the 2nd was an induction, but still a positive experience, but my last was 90 mins, completely drug and intervention free! It was the proudest moment of my life, only 13 weeks ago. I was back into work within 2 weeks, having appointments and at 7 weeks attending births.

I LOVE being a Doula and really enjoy all of the ante natal work. I am not so into the post natal doula-ing as I still have such young ones at home myself.

I have also applied for the 2nd year to study mid, but to be honest after my last birth, I am just not sure that I could leave a labouring woman like the midwives had to. We went through 3 shift changes at the hospital with her.

I am looking forward to getting to know you all better!

moonblossom

16-10-2007, 16:34

OMG what an amazing birth that was. Totally drug free and intervention was ZERO. Was incredible, she was so strong.

The midwives were incredibly busy with 5 births happening at the same time, but they were friendly and really supportive of the work we were doing to help mum have the birth she wanted. Only a couple of times did i have to remind the midwife that she wanted DRUG free and not to have her waters broken, but all in all, they were terrific.

The doctor was great too, supporting her in her natural birth, he said to us all it was rare indeed to see a completely natural birth, and this doesn't surprise me at all. The love that surrounded the room was incredible. I was truly blessed to be a part of it.

So a little baby boy was born, at 2.15 pm., Just a couple of hours ago.

Being there, really made up my mind to be a doula, and not persue becoming a midwife, we are NEEDED, we are constant, and we are there throughout it all.

I'm so happy...

Ivijani

16-10-2007, 17:09

HI there,

I am Janine and have just completed a course with Australian Doulas in Perth. I am based 20 mins directly south of the city. I have yet to attend two births as a trainee.

I have 1 son, who is 2 and half,:kiss: and he was born by c-section, following induction, posterior baby, failure to progress but i did experience a full labour. I am very keen on women having the time and space they need to labour the way they wish to, which will ultimately be the best way.

I am also very keen to assist with the post-natal period, as many people have as many ideals about what 'bringing baby home' means to them.

Janine :)

~Emmylou~

16-10-2007, 19:47

That's awesome moonblossom!
I only hope my first birth is such a positive experience :fingerscrossed:

MoonstoneMumma

17-10-2007, 10:33

congrats moonblossom! sounds like you did a fantastic job!

janine, sounds just like what happened to me! i am going to be doing the extended training for the ante-natal doula as well when the course is available later this year through optimum birth. there is so much they dont tell you at hospital when you take bub home.

moonblossom

19-10-2007, 10:06

Thanks ladies, was an awesome experience, and one that will stay with me forever. Birth is truly beautiful.

moonblossom

23-10-2007, 20:47

How did you find your clients? I must admit i'm a little frustrated. I have one more birth to attend and I can't seem to find anyone :no:

I have finished everything else in my course. I have so many plans to promote Doula work in my town. I have my business name, Web Page etc all ready for when I am Certified. I feel like I'm stuck and I really don't know how to attend another birth if nobody wants me .:gloomy:

Any ideas would be greatly appreciate.

TraceysTribe

25-10-2007, 10:22

Free trainee doula - Blue Mountains, NSW
Hi

LOCATION: Blue Mountains, Sydney, NSW

TRAINING: Optimum Birth

LENGTH OF TRAINING: I have completed Module one and am currently onto Module 2.

WHY I WANT TO BECOME A DOULA: Love everything to do with pregnancy and babies, absorb every bit of info I can get on the subject, so want to put this to good use and help women to achieve the birth that they want.
Want them to look back on their experience and remember their achievement with pride.

ABOUT ME: I have had lots of different experiences myself (episiotomy, twin birth, c-section, VBAC, waterbirth, breastfeeding).
I am also a trained/experienced OT - lots of experience in disabilities, mental health, relaxation techniques.

I am currently a trainee Doula, there is no charge for my services, looking forward to meeting you, please contact me through this site.
__________________
Mum to 1 teenager & 4 under 5!!!

Student Doula

alexand laurens mum

27-10-2007, 12:37

Hi,

My name is Nic, I'm currently training with Childbirth International. I can't wait to start my work as a doula, I think every woman is entitled to have the sort of birth they want!

I'm a mum of 3, I live in Warwick, Qld and will offer my services in the Toowoomba, Warwick and Stanthorpe areas. I am yet to attend a birth but am looking forward to starting my career very soon.

Because i'm still training i will not be charging a fee at this time. Please PM me if you would like to contact me.