Doula-what?

I decided recently that I want to become a postpartum doula, and true to form, I am attending a workshop next weekend! In Pennsylvania. On days after I will be working the night. But it's fine! Wish me luck :)

It came about in a quite interesting and flow-y way, actually. I have been thinking about becoming a baby nurse as a step-up from nanny, but I am pretty much philosophically opposed to the whole idea of baby nurses, plus the schedule (24-6 for 2 weeks at a time or more) is not exactly conducive to a life.

So I've been pondering, and mulling, and like the Universe always does, it started throwing the word "doula" at me. I always knew of birth doulas, of course, but I wasn't familiar with postpartum until just now. Kris said she always thought she'd like to be one when I mentioned the baby nurse thing, then Erika (my new *boss-mom*) talked about hers and told me they get paid A LOT per hour. The kind of money I deserve, LOL!!  There's definitely an upper limit to what you can earn as a nanny, no matter how overqualified or experienced you are. 

I started looking into certification... there are quite a few online programs, but I wanted something in person like DONA. I don't really believe you need a 3rd party certification to do something you want to, and are qualified, to do, but I like to attend workshops (lots of knitting time!) and I wanted to make some connections. And this woman in PA LITERALLY wrote the book on postpartum doulas!

So that's that. I am really excited about this!! I think it will be a great thing, if not my *forever career* - I still plan to start a school! and maybe a bookstore/wine bar - then something to fall back on between jobs, when I have a small baby and don't want to work full-time, etc.

I'll keep you posted on how it goes!

Comments

[korin]

this is awesome Devon!! Awesome!

[Michelle]

OMB, this is so up my ally... I've considered being a birth doula for a long long time, but now.. I have a new avenue to consider... I hadn't even heard of a post partum doula... I'm soooo checkign this out! My youngest is just getting ready to start Kindergarten next year... so I want to start a training program sometime soon.. this sounds perfect... thanks for blogging about it! :-)