View Full Version : What do YOU do? As a Doula. And students too!
How many 'meetings' do you have with your potential mums before their birth?
How long for and what sorts of things do you talk about?
And what about things like birth plans?
If your 'mum' wants one do you go through one with her?
Provide a template?
Fine tune one she has written?
If your mum shows some interest in something, say Calmbirthing, do you find some information on it for her or do you let her do it for herself?
Do you go to any antenatal appointments with them?
Do you initiate contact? Email and call frequently?
Sorry for all the questions but I'm just interested to see how others operate and to see how students plan to operate once they are out in the world of Doulas?:)
MimiGrace
03-03-2009, 11:23
i haven't done the course yet (so i'm not even a student yet :(:p), but i shall be watching this thread closely!!!
and subscribing to it ;)
so i know what to do when the time comes
missie_mack
03-03-2009, 11:46
I am interested too :) (but just to get a understanding of what a doula would do if I employed one with my next pregnancy :o)
Hopefully some will pop up soon :idea:
I'm interested too in what other doulas/student doulas do/plan to do!
My doula does it all and is an amazing person to talk to about anything at all that I have going on. She is my angel. I wish all doulas were like that so a women can feel truly supported and connected to her doula. She's a gem!
Maybe it would help if answered my own questions?:laughing:
How many 'meetings' do you have with your potential mums before their birth?
It depends when they get in touch with me- but the first meeting is generally one to see if they want to hire me and then generally there will be 6-7 more after that. Depending on the situation of course.
How long for and what sorts of things do you talk about?
Well some meetings have gone for an hour or two and some have gone for hours. We talk about family, their birth of course, the weather...anything and everything but I like to leave each meeting with more knowledge on them as a person and how they want their birth to go.
And what about things like birth plans?
If your 'mum' wants one do you go through one with her?
Provide a template?
Fine tune one she has written?
Yes to all of that! If the mum wants a birth plan or wish list then we start at the top and work our way down the list she has. It can take hours, days or not too long at all. I will then take all the notes with me, write it up properly and drop it off so it can be taken to the Dr's, midwives etc.
If your mum shows some interest in something, say Calmbirthing, do you find some information on it for her or do you let her do it for herself?
I do it. It's part of the job description.
Do you go to any antenatal appointments with them.
Yes- I like to go to at least one.I like to meet with the other people who may be present so that there are no awkward introductions and explanations in the labor room.
Though I did have a mum who I went with to every single antenatal appointment from 20 weeks. She was single and I felt bad her sitting there for hours on her own so I went with her.
I loved my Wednesdays with her and her child.
Do you initiate contact? Email and call frequently?
Yes- but more so toward the end. Though I generally will send an email to ask how the mum is going, emotionally and physically and if she needs anything before my next visit etc etc....
I know we all 'run' it differently but I am just really interested to see how other's do it. We could swap ideas etc..help each other out?
Well it depends really :p Still a student....will finish one day!
How many 'meetings' do you have with your potential mums before their birth?
4-5 is my aim. More if needed, less depending on the circumstances (like one now who is 2 1/2 hours away. We have met once and she is comfortable with just the one meet. I did suggest two but she is happy with just one right now).
Maybe I'd do more if it was easier for me to get away but as it currently stands this is what I can manage with our family situation.
How long for and what sorts of things do you talk about?
About 2 hours...longer if it happens that way. Talk about birth, family and general day to day stuff. Birth is the main topic but I also want to know them as a person.
And what about things like birth plans?
If your 'mum' wants one do you go through one with her?
Provide a template?
Fine tune one she has written?
Yes to all of that. Although I have attended a birth with no birth plan because th emother just wasn't interested in having one. That was fine too, I knew what she wanted enough to be able to support her.
If your mum shows some interest in something, say Calmbirthing, do you find some information on it for her or do you let her do it for herself?
Depends....if she wants me to find info. on it I will but some things I find they have already done their own research on and came to their own conclusion. If it's a technique like calmbirthing then I would do my own research on it so I knew more about it so I could be a better support to them.
Do you go to any antenatal appointments with them?
Again it depends. I am happy to, and I have been in the past but it depends on what for. If they were having the once careprovider then yes I would go along to meet their care provider but if they were gonig through the public system and they were getting a different midwife and all was going smoothly in their pregnancy then probably not. I have been with a client while she had an ultrasound to check her baby's kidneys (there were potential issues and she was getting monitored for it). Her DH couldn't be there and I didn't want her to be alone. I think I was there for about 3 hours.
Do you initiate contact? Email and call frequently?
Yes email all the time. The client of mine who is 2 1/2 hours away, we are in touch every single week by email, generally more than once. I will initiate phone calls once she's a bit further along, so she gets used to my voice etc. She has to go to a rather stressful appt. soon and I offered to drive to her and sit with her if she wants me to. She hasn't asked but I wanted to put the offer out there.
Hmmm....Interesting.
How many 'meetings' do you have with your potential mums before their birth?
3 antenatal appointments before the birth. I am available for unlimited phone, text and email support aswell. More appointments can also be arranged should mum feel she needs to discuss anything or work on anything further.
How long for and what sorts of things do you talk about?
I don't really keep a timer but I aim for 2 hours per appointment.
We usually discuss many issues from previous pregnancies/birth if any
Birth plan "draft"
We discuss any information or questions mum/couple have
As DA said, I also like to form a friendship with the couple.
And what about things like birth plans?
If your 'mum' wants one do you go through one with her?
Provide a template?
Fine tune one she has written?
Birth Preference guide "help" is something I like to do with all mums/couples. I do provide templates and also "fine tune" the birth plan if it needs it.
If your mum shows some interest in something, say Calmbirthing, do you find some information on it for her or do you let her do it for herself?
I provide most the information mum/couples want more on. If I have book/cd's/dvd's which relate to what they want to know about, I provide those aswell.
Do you go to any antenatal appointments with them?
I haven't thus far, but if its something that mum/couples would like from me, I am happy to go along with them.
Do you initiate contact? Email and call frequently?
I email 1-2 a f/n usually. As we get closer to the EDD I keep in contact a lot more. And as I said, I am available for unlimited phone/email/text contact.
Tylersmumdoula
04-03-2009, 09:37
Hi ladies
I'm a student doula so it's really interesting for me to see what you guys do as established Doulas. Pretty much what I figured to be honest so it's reassuring to see I'm thinking along the right track....
Really glad we can share information :)
Well, I will be answering your Q, also I haven't worked yet (I am not finished...), but I have a rough idea in my head...
How many 'meetings' do you have with your potential mums before their birth?
About 3 meetings, all depening on the client.
How long for and what sorts of things do you talk about?
First of all, get to know each other. giving the mother/ couple a feeling of comfortable confidence :) A "good" feeling. Then mainly they guide me with their Q or expectations.
I also think it would be around the 2 hour mark
And what about things like birth plans?
If your 'mum' wants one do you go through one with her?
Provide a template?
Fine tune one she has written?
I will mention the idea of a birthplan and see what their thoughts are. If they already have written one I am more than happy to go through it with them and fine tune it.
I also have templates available.
If your mum shows some interest in something, say Calmbirthing, do you find some information on it for her or do you let her do it for herself?
Depends. If she wants me to, yes. If she only wants to know what it is or what my thoughts are on it, I am fine with that too.
Do you go to any antenatal appointments with them?
Maybe once, to see where they will give birth, get a bit a feel for it myself and give the mum confidence.
Do you initiate contact? Email and call frequently?
Yes, staying in touch is important. Just an email every now and then (1-2 weeks).
And calls more frequently the closer the EDD comes.
deesalie
04-03-2009, 09:53
Basically the same as everyone else. One thing to add though is I do cook breastfeeding friendly meals post partum
The only things I can really add or this is different to what others have said is:
I attend visits as regularly as my lady wishes. For some its been 1 visit (elective c/s) for others its been 7 prenatal and 3-4 postnatal (first time baby = twins). It depends on the requirement.
I dont encourage or discourage birth plans but I do encourage them to write them themself if they do want them so its their own words and thoughts. I will provide info in helping them get started then we go through them a few times and tweak them and expand upon them but I prefer it to be the mums thoughts and words, not mine.
I do not attend pre-natal appointments with caregivers (unless asked). I dont see this being of great benefit considering its quite unlikely the person seen in prenatal appointments will be the one caring for the mum for the majority of her labour. What ever my client wishes to share with me about her appointments she does so afterwards when we can speak freely about her feelings on what was said if we need to.
Thats it I think.
erinjacob
04-03-2009, 16:11
How many 'meetings' do you have with your potential mums before their birth? i have beetween 3 and 6 more or less if needed
How long for and what sorts of things do you talk about? about hour just to chat bout how she feelig an so she can get confortable with me i also like to meet patners an family members if possible
And what about things like birth plans?
If your 'mum' wants one do you go through one with her?
Provide a template?
Fine tune one she has written?
we go through a birth plan together and i can give her reaserch for any think she may need if she has one we just go through it so i no what she wants an for each meeting we go through it again just o make sure nothin has changed
If your mum shows some interest in something, say Calmbirthing, do you find some information on it for her or do you let her do it for herself? i find the info an go through it with her then leave it with her thats if she wants my help or she can do it
Do you go to any antenatal appointments with them? yes if thats what they want
Do you initiate contact? Email and call frequently? yes every few weeks to see how thre feeling
i try to accomadate the family as much as possible if they what me to do anything i will do (within reson) after all it is there pregnancy and birth not mine im there to help.
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