How does one become a doula?

[Super Trooper]

Hey all

Ive been thinking about what it would involve to become a doula, how much study is involved, for how long, etc etc.

also, what sort of personal traits are good to have... im not sure im nice enough

I would like to get involved, and see more women have more natural births (at hospital or home), but im already studying veterinary science, so i dont want to start another uni degree and be a midwife... so i thought doula might be the way to go?

I have a very light uni workload over the next two-three years, ive spread my study out due to DD... so im looking for something to do, and if things turn out good i may even transfer to do nursing then midwifery?

any information would be greatly appreciated

[deesalie]

I'm currently studying through the Australian Doula College. It's reasonably flexible, which is handy with small people, for 2 semesters. The biggest challenge for me will be to attend trainee births, as I can't really leave a 3 month old for long and if it was me in labour, I wouldn't want my doula fussing over a baby.

As far as personal traits are concerned, I think you have to love birth, but be prepared to do absolutely anything the labouring woman needs. It might mean you're looking after kids, cooking, cleaning, filling/unfilling birth pool... whatever needs doing in order to "hold the space" for her. Plus you've gotta be strong enough to leave your own personal agendas or birth experiences behind you. I'm fairly fiesty against hospitals, and tend to go in swinging before anything's actually happened so I know i'm gonna have to calm down on that.

You've just gotta have the passion