How do you ?

[missing]

I thought some of you would know the answer to this.

I'm considering looking into becoming a childbirth educator, but I have no idea how to go about doing this, how much it would cost, etc.

I also am concerned about the time and effect this will have on my family if I go through with it - Owen isn't quite 2 months old yet.

My mom thinks it would be something I'd be great at doing - as does my midwife (if that isn't just a pat on the back!), and my doula thinks I'd be a good doula - but I couldn't do the 24 hours on call thing, at least not at this point.

I've taken a portion of my ECE courses, I don't know if that will help me at all though.

Any suggestions on where to start looking for information ?

If it matters (and I'm sure it does), I'm in Ontario, Canada.

Thanks ladies.

[BrandiL]

Lea,

toh...

You could call a local childbirth educator and ask where they got their training...

Good luck!

[miche]

You could also train to be a doula and take only one client a month. My doula has been one for years. She wanted her foot in the door and wanted to be a doula, but her family came first. She is very picky about her clients and only takes one a month so the on call thing isn't a burden. Unfortunately she pulled a looooong night with me! I warned her that it might be another false alarm at around 6pm (I'd been having prodromal labor for weeks), told her it was the real thing around 10pm (water broke). She asked for an hour's notice so she could hop in the shower (she lives 15 mins from me) and she hopped into bed. When I called around 1am saying I needed her now, couldn't cope alone, she was there in 15 mins. She couldn't sleep anyway :) I didn't deliver until 8:15pm the next night, and she stayed with me until I was transferred to the post-partum room around midnight. Then she kept coming back the next two days (they were keeping the baby for observation).

Well I went off on a tangent, but my main point was don't give up your dream about being a doula if that is your dream. You can find someway to work with the on call thing!

[CatherineS]

Hi Lea!

If I'm not mistaken, Andrea and Karin are both CBE's, and I'm sure they can tell you everything you need to know! ;) Might as well throw in my 2 cents too. lol.

I sent you links to ALACE, ICEA and CAPPA. Those are three organizations that certify for Childbirth Education. You can read more about it on the sites, and each site includes their certification process. There are many other organizations as well (Bradley, Titus 2, Lamaze). Costs vary. I know the cost of ALACE is around $500 or so. Some are less (I think CAPPA is less $ than ALACE), and some are more (last I checked, Bradley was $1000)

I am reading the required reading for ALACE, and then sometime next year will hopefully have enough money to "officially" start my certification training.

I too would love to be a doula, but I cannot leave my children for that long - even if it was once every 6 months - until Hannah is a bit older. She still nurses at night, and while I do not feel comfortable leaving her for such a long period of time day or night, my daughter is too old for me to bring with me. I am holding on to my desire to be doula (and maybe even a midwife!) until the timing is right. Until then, I'll teach (that phrase that I've heard over the years "those who can't do, teach" keeps popping into my head! lol!)

[rebeccav]

One of the colleges near me has a perinatal education department and they offer courses in doula training, postpartum doula training, CBE training, and various other related programs.

You might find a college or institution near you that has the same. Other than that, I would contact a CBE and ask how she got her training, like someone else suggested.

Good luck! I'm also planning to take CBE training, as I'm finding doula work is a little tough for me to handle while my child(ren) is/are so young.

[missing]

Thank you for all your responses.

Catherine - I got your email, and will definately check into the sites when I have some time (hmm . . . I hope that means I will check them out at all - time ? What's that?)

I'm glad I posted here, it's a definate stepping stone, and I know I'll be glad for the support as time goes by.

Thank you ladies.

[Andrea_G]

I think this is a great idea!

I am STILL in the process of certifying with ICEA (http://www.icea.org) and since it is taking me so long, I will probably just have to start over.

ANYHOW, the process of becoming a CBE or a doula entails A LOT of bookwork and reading and reading and more reading. You can do a lot of that now while Owen is just a baby. It becomes harder to do the seminars and going to births while he is a baby and as a toddler. But there is so much reading to do, that'll probably keep you busy enough for the next year or two.

That would be my suggestion. "Special Women" by Polly Perez would be a great start if you are considering becoming a doula. And anything by Penny Simkin - ANYTHING by her would be another great start!

Good luck!

[missing]

I've looked at the reading list for icea - that's like 5 years worth of reading there !!

:( Ah well . . . it was a thought . . .

Who knows - one day I just might have the time to curl up with a book again.

[missing]

I'm not sure what you mean by what kind of childbirth instructor - I've only been through one set of classes myself.

If you're asking about lamaze or whatever, that's not what I'm interested in - more the concept of teaching the process of birth, and of informed choice in the birth process.

Also, I would like to work with younger women, or teens if it's possible - but that's just an ideal, not a real set thing.

Is that what you mean ?