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ASKThe basic characteristics of both types of doulas can be found in the questions a potential client might ask:
• Are you warm and kind when dealing with people you may or may not know well?
• Are you enthusiastic and eager to please?
• Are you knowledgeable about the process of delivering a child or caring for a newborn?
• Are you able to communicate clearly to prospective parents about the delivery process or to new parents to help them learn to care for their child?
Certification as a doula shows prospective clients that you have the basic training needed to do the job. You can continue to improve your skills as a doula by staying up-to-date on all delivery techniques and procedures including new equipment you and your clients might encounter during a delivery. Networking with other doulas as well as other childbirth professionals such as nurses and midwives can give you new insights and help you improve your skills to provide the best possible care to your clients.
Further reading:
• What is a Birth Doula?
• What is a Postpartum Doula?
• How to Choose a Doula
Sources:
DONA International
International Childbirth Education Association
Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association
American Pregnancy Association
The Journal of Perinatal Education
Add a Comment4 Comments
Im trying my best to learn more about doula and how to become a doula. I really didn't know what they were at first and I was interested at first by it and now I know a lot more things about it and I feel better about it. Thank you for the great blog!
March 29, 2012 - 1:00pmThis Comment
Why did you limit the article to the "old school" doula training programs? There are other programs out there that are just as good and offer a lot more structure (Childbirth International and Birth Arts International to name a few)
August 6, 2011 - 9:48pmAs a postpartum doula it's insulting to see that photo of a baby with a bottle shoved in it's mouth.
PLEASE REMOVE IT!
Look at DONA.org short video about the history of postpartum and birth doulas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u792CxDT7cE
The existence of postpartum Doulas came about to support breastfeeding. We are NOT interchangeable with baby nurses.
Please Read anthropologist Dana Raphael's book "The tender girt: Breastfeeding", she coined the word DOULA. Postpartum doulas are there for women who want support with breastfeeding.
December 12, 2010 - 12:52pmPoor photo for this article! Not sure what is going on there. The uncomfortable mom is shoving a bottle onto her awkwardly held baby. What does that have to do with doulaing? A large part of being a doula is helping to support the new mother's nursing time. Perhaps a better picture could be used?
November 23, 2010 - 11:23am