View Full Version : Networking and Getting The Word Out
I am currently researching my options for implementing my Doula skills at home (WA - coming from overseas).
Sadly, it seems as though Australia really isn't up and current or readily accepting of Doulas and the valuable services they can provide (both during birth and post partum). Being part of such a huge movement overseas, where there is a lot of work and need/demand for Doulas, it is a little disappointing to find out that my home country just isn't as "in the know" about this.
Knowing the necessity for a good network, I have begun contacting other Doulas in my community so that I will be able to bring my resources and expertise into an established group to help women who need it. What dismays me is that there really isn't an organised network of Doulas and other birth professionals there to speak of (although this does not sway my motivation or drive to help make the community more aware of the benefits a Doula/independant childbirth educator can provide). I have found a few websites online, but they are generally independant Doulas and I can't find an extensive Doula network in Australia (ie. one that lists Doulas from all over the country, resources and Doula information for the public, links to good websites of Doulas, birthing information etc)...
Is there really such a low interest in Doulas there? For those Doulas who are already established in Australia, what kinds of things did you do to become known in the community?
I plan on initiating monthly get-togethers for Doulas but I'm really not sure if that's something they would be interested in, as they seem to want to stick to themselves (despite the fact that a unified Doula community would probably generate more business and interest along with helping to educate people about us). I have started to put together business cards, fliers (for libraries, waiting rooms, daycare centers, etc about Doulas in general with my business card stapled to the back), gift certificates for free/discounted Doula services, and will volunteer to give talks/free services where I can. I am prepared to start all over again, but it genuinely surprises me that Doulas are basically unheard of at home (although I can understand that in the past, our society has been family-oriented and the role of the Doula was readily filled by family members as support groups).
How do you do your part to get the word out about Doulas, or do you try to only generate interest in your own particular individual services?
Have you seen the bubhub listings re doulas? http://www.bubhub.com.au/servicesdoula.shtml
Hi draught,
Yes I have visited the websites listed on BubHub (actually, I found them long before joining BubHub). Unfortunately, although well thought out websites and full of important information, they really weren't what I was looking for.
These are the same women I have contacted in readiness for my move, but have only heard back from one organisation (which proved to be very helpful and I was delighted that she was accepting and open to questions and understood the importance of Doula networking).
When professing my dismay at the lack of greater awareness, I was mainly referring to the W.A. community (as the Eastern states seem to have embraced the worth of Doulas, and is flourishing). While I realise there are some wonderful Doulas in W.A. I am also aware of the public being basically ignorant in general as to what they are and the services they provide (in some cases people have heard of them but still refuse to accept that a Doula is a wonderful addition to the birth setting, and a resourceful supporter for the labouring Mum - somewhat frustrating!).
Seeing how the Doula market has taken off in other parts of Australia, my question I guess is: how long did it take for them to become popular after they were introduced to the community, and what kinds of advertising materials and efforts proved to be more worthwhile than others?
Being such a strong birth advocate, I am not afraid of hard work. My main goal is not to change the way women birth, but to change the way women THINK about birth. Knowing they can trust their bodies is so important, and I am eager to start using the tools, education, and experience I have been accumulating.
What worked best for you and other pioneer Doulas?
I found a list of about 12 doulas in Perth and surrounds and some of them are part of a group that works together. Perth is a little different from some birthing cultures in Australia because they were the first to get a commnuity midwifery programme with publicly funded home births for a small percentage of women deemed acceptable. Have you been in contact with Birthrites in Perth? There is also an Australian doulas yahoo group and several forums online which have areas for doulas/birth attendants to advertise and network. I'll PM you some :) Doulas are slowly taking off but it's difficult in a country with the kind of obstetric madness we have here. Last year we had a higher c-sec rate than the US :thumbsdown: We are currently 5th highest among OECD nations! I'd rather we were world leaders at something worthwhile! :banghead:
I realise what the climate for birth is like in the US (the land of the free where midwifery is illegal in some places!) but like you say, doulas have been more established there. For some women here, doulas are a fashion accessory so you hire one but you also hire a surgeon and ignore everything your doula says and then claim it didn't "save" you from your supposedly necessary surgery.... Um yeah... So there's not a keen understanding or appreciation of what genuine birth support means and in the mainstream where the agenda and discourse are set and dominated by surgeons, surgery with all it's attendant risks and poor outcomes, is not seen as undesirable. Hospitals largely do not encourage doulas (that's worldwide too, isn't it?!) because obviously your capacity to make money is reduced when women don't want drugs or need surgery. Compliance is a virtue in our appalling hospital system despite what it does to women and babies.
We need all the doulas we can get! :smiliedance:
Until I read a couple of threads here today I had NEVER heard of a Doula!
I think Doulas would be very popular if they were widely heard of. I recently went to a Parents, Baby and Childrens expo (in Adelaide last weekend) and it would have been a great place to spread the word.
I personally think they are a great idea and I could imagine that it would be a great comfort to have an experianced person there that was totally focussed on helping you through this experiance (c'mon how helpful could daddy-to-be really be! lol).
Although we are no pregnant yet (will be starting to 'try' in June) I will definately look into having a Doula with me. Some say the cost can be expensive, it was estimated at around $200-500 but considering the multiple meetings and help on the day I think it is quite reasonable. Fair enough some people might struggle to afford it along with the other baby related costs out there but I would say many would and others could save bit by bit if they really wanted it. It really should be covered under Private Health insurance also, considering it can reduce the likelyhood of complications and other procedures!
Also ensure you Doulas are getting onto all the baby forums, thats where all the expectant mums are hanging out and like me they just might learn about the option.
:thumbsup:
Don't forget the baby bonus too. What better way to spend it than on the safest birth possible? :smiliedance:
Last year we had a higher c-sec rate than the US :thumbsdown: We are currently 5th highest among OECD nations! I'd rather we were world leaders at something worthwhile! :banghead:
I am very dismayed to know the rates for c-sections in Australia, especially knowing that they come with the tendancy for Australians to mimic American lifestyles. With the USA in the public eye so much, I often wish that people at home weren't so ready to blindly follow what they perceive as the leading force for trend and society (being here and seeing the downfalls first hand make it more frustrating). I absolutely think that a greater public presence and an awareness campaign about independent midwives, birthing "naturally", Doulas, and enforcing/supporting a womans trust in her own body and abilities is essential to helping people establish a healthy view on how birth is supposed to be.
For some women here, doulas are a fashion accessory so you hire one but you also hire a surgeon and ignore everything your doula says and then claim it didn't "save" you from your supposedly necessary surgery.... Um yeah... So there's not a keen understanding or appreciation of what genuine birth support means and in the mainstream where the agenda and discourse are set and dominated by surgeons, surgery with all it's attendant risks and poor outcomes, is not seen as undesirable.
I have encountered women who claimed to be adamant about trying to achieve a birth with no/few interventions, only to have them do a complete turn around and ask for an epidural as soon as they are admitted to hospital. It is extremely frustrating to know that your job is to support a woman with whatever she chooses, while gently reminding her of the plans she had previously discussed with you, only to be told to leave the room or have her shut you out. It's difficult and uncomfortable to later go over the birth with a woman who felt you are to blame for her "giving in" to suggestions from her doctor, even though you made valid counterpoints and provided the same loving support when she chose not to listen to you. My job as a Doula is not to bully women into sticking to their birth plans, all I can do is remind them of it and talk about options as they arise. Sometimes I think it would be easier to only attend home births, because then I would be more certain that an intervention-free birth is really what they wanted. I also have views and guilt about whether I am only somehow endorsing hospital births and having your pregnancy and labour managed by a doctor by attending births in hospitals, but that's another story, hehe... :ecomcity:
Hospitals largely do not encourage doulas (that's worldwide too, isn't it?!) because obviously your capacity to make money is reduced when women don't want drugs or need surgery. Compliance is a virtue in our appalling hospital system despite what it does to women and babies.
This is true of most places, certainly here. Doulas can be treated quite rudely by nurses and other hospital staff, and even asked to leave. My clients expect and deserve my continuous service, and I make it known in a diplomatic way that I am there for the mother and will be providing support for her in whatever ways she needs for the duration of her birth. Some nurses seem to think that a Doula can be their own personal assistant, by asking to do various small hopsital tasks but I am strictly there to support the mother. In some cases, hospital staff have genuinely been interested in seeing what a Doula can provide, and have subsequently had their views on birth changed forever just by knowing that a woman can labour on her own with no interventions merely by having adequate emotional, physical, and spiritual support and guidance. Those types of outcomes are all worth it and obviously preferred.
Anyways, sorry for rambling on and on, I'm going on the 4th day of the 'flu here, it's 6am and I haven't slept yet (I'll be in trouble when my toddler wakes up!). Thanks for the input ladies, I enjoy throwing ideas and information around and sharing my passion about birth with others! :D
Doula Jane
03-04-2006, 10:24
Hi
I'm a certified Doula with DONA and currently live in San Antonio, Texas. I'm so glad to have found another Doula that has similar feelings to me regarding support networking. I'm involved with San Antonio Birth Doulas and we work with teen mums and low-income women, as well as having private clients. It's absolutely invaluable to have the other doula sisters to talk to......we vent, we swap ideas and thoughts, we cry, we ask questions, we back each other up.......everything including wonderful social gatherings. We have monthly meetings and usually have a talk on something. In the past we've had massage therapists, infant massage, establishing paternity, home birth midwives - some wonderful informative issues that help us do our job better.
I'm so concerned that I won't have that when I move to Perth and would welcome the chance to meet with other Doulas to get some sort of network going. I have contacted Australian Doulas, but as yet haven't had a reply, and they seem to be the only group in Perth......
I absolutely love my job - it's what I was born to do. I dearly want to continue but have to say having read the last few posts I'm feeling a little worried about the possibilities!
When are you moving from Kansas? Are you going to Perth? How do you feel about getting together online to discuss this further?
Look forward to sharing thoughts!
Doula Jane
I'm so concerned that I won't have that when I move to Perth and would welcome the chance to meet with other Doulas to get some sort of network going. I have contacted Australian Doulas, but as yet haven't had a reply, and they seem to be the only group in Perth......
I absolutely love my job - it's what I was born to do. I dearly want to continue but have to say having read the last few posts I'm feeling a little worried about the possibilities!
I want to be a doula, and I live in Perth, and because I am paying for a private midwife to attend my HBA2C, I am endeavouring to use a student doula as well.....
I think it would be good for you to come out here to Perth and put some 'oomph' behind the doula situation, as one of my dreams is to be a labour assistant to women in need, like you have done with teen mums etc, even on a volunteer basis - but how can this be done if doulas are not even recognised fully by 'every-day' pregnant women?
So dont be disheartened, maybe this is a brilliant opportunity for you to start something big here ;)
I originally was looking into becoming a doula when I was pregnant with my 3rd son, but the doula group I contacted discouraged me until my son was at least a year old, and here I am pregnant again with number 4 and it looks like I would have to put it off longer again. I would start sooner if there was a way....
It's 5am and I haven't been to bed yet...
Doula Jane:
I would certainly love to chat with you! At this time, I am rarely on the bubhub forums, but have been regularly visiting one commonly used here (and where I believe I have seen JanetF strolling about hehe). Not sure if I'm allowed to say, so I can message you the website if you'd like.
I too, made contact with Australian Doulas and received an email a couple of days later with a delightful response! Rudely, I haven't responded since I have been so busy with my toddler (who has recently decided to become extremely independent). I'll have to email them soon to keep the channels open and because I feel terrible knowing I haven't had time to respond! *blush* :o
becca74:
I think it's wonderful that you are an aspiring Doula. We can certainly use more of them! I definately think that volunteering your services not only helps women in need, but also DOES accomplish getting the word out by making yourself familiar to others in the birth indistry and being around pregnant women. So, don't feel discouraged, I think we are at the beginnings of a wonderful progression toward viewing birth as a natural process and in the next few years perhaps women will seek out Doulas and ways to become actively involved in their own births, choosing to become empowered and educated about birth and what their bodies are capable of!
I certainly believe that the area is in need of "a good ooopmh" where Doulas are concerned (although I don't want to assume too much, considering I have been away for 5 years). Luckily, I'm not afraid of hard work and the possibility of starting at the bottom.
I'm sorry the doula group you contacted discouraged you from pursuing your Doula dream until your son was atleast a year old. While I agree that your own children come first and they need 100% of your attention (I'm an attachment parenting Momma), there are so many other ways that you can help in the birthing field aside from being an actual Birth Doula.
For example, giving women information before birth to educate and empower them without you actually attending the birth itself (prenatal doula) or focusing your assistance on helping women after birth with their newborns etc (postpartum doula) are closely related ways to offer your services on a schedule that is still convenient to yourself (ie you can work when YOU choose to do so, thus enabling adequate care for your children when Hubby is home from work etc - I am presuming you are married or have a significant other, please don't take offense if you don't). Anyways, my point is that there is so much you can offer, and any experience will help you in the long run. So, if you're wanting to start sooner, it might be with something like that (less demanding/time consuming, and you won't have to be on call for births). Just a thought. ;)
OK, there's my 5am ramble, I think I'm getting my second wind haha! Off to look at the other new posts in this section I have missed in the last few weeks! :ecomcity:
I would love to start sooner in my quest to become a doula.....:fingerscrossed:
Doula Jane
04-04-2006, 23:51
Hi Dace101
I really don't know yet where we'll be living - trying to work on that now. We'll be living in some short-term accommodation at first until we get a feel for the place and decide where we want to be.... We should be moving over to Perth around end of June/beginning July if all the paperwork goes according to plan!
I'm originally from England (came to Texas 2 years ago with DH's job).
Do you have MSN Messenger? If so we could chat that way....... If you PM me your hotmail address I could add you to my contacts.
I'm feeling some trepidation about the acceptance/non-acceptance of Doulas in Perth. I know that there is negativity from nurses and OB's in the US who seem to think that Doulas are there to interfere rather than help and work WITH them as a team. I really don't relish the thought of having to deal with that on a larger scale in Perth! How do you feel about it? That doesn't mean that I intend to stop! NO WAY!! :shame: I love this job way too much!:D
Look forward to chatting to you!
Doula Jane
Doula Jane,
I want to reply in detail but don't have the opportunity right now (taking my toddler to story-time at the library). I will respond later in depth as soon as I can.
becca74,
I wish you only positive advances in your Doula quest, and that you have the opportunity to begin as soon as you are ready (like I said, even beginning with antenatal and postnatal visits offers SO much to women, postpartum support is SO essentially important!!!). Good luck!
There are a few of us working hard to promote the work of Doulas, my teacher has been a Birth Attendant for around 30 years and seen over 1,000 births. She is getting more and more requests for training so it is getting there, just slowly. Plus I have been working hard promoting it on my site. Some Doula networks are kicking off here in Melbourne too, which is finally great to see. Lisa from Australian Doulas is beautiful and a great contact for you.
Good luck, it's hard work getting it out there but worth it - we'll be a household name one day soon and we'll be seen as the ones starting off the game, even though its been around some time...
emma2938
09-05-2006, 16:13
HI everyone,
I am seeking a doula in the Northern Territory (Darwin to be more precise). Any hints on where to find one? From what I can see there does not seem to be any up here!!
Any help would be great!
Em.
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