DOULA - Support for mums to be and new mums

painted_lady

Sounds good! I am finding I am providing a lot of support to people who have given birth since I did in April. I would love to do something like this.

Caterina

HI folks

I have been a doula for some 5+years, both birth and postnatal, and also a member of Doula UK, great stuff, love my job!

There are some voluntary doulas in London and as mentioned this is mainly for Orthodox Jewish families, I have met a couple of them during a Doula UK training event and they seem really lovely and very committed.

I would also like to point out that there is something in Doula UK called the 'Hardship Fund', which is in place for doulas to help mothers in need who cannot afford the full fee. The doulas work as volunteers and receive a reimbursement of expenses from the Fund (there are always expenses such as mobile calls, mileage, sustenance during a long labour etc...). The mothers can, if they wish, donate up to £50 to the doula as a gesture of thanks, but this is not mandatory by any means!

Also, if someone cannot afford a full fee doula, they can ask for a Trainee, who will charge no more than £150 for a birth package (this usually includes 1 or 2 antenatal visits, on-call time 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after due date, birth as long as it takes and 1 or 2 postnatal visits).

There is also a postnatal service that trainees offer at a reduced rate of up to £10 per hour.

To give you an idea, birth doulas in London charge around £600 for a birth package service and for postnatal it is around £18-20.

The service of a doula is a really worthwhile investment if a woman feels that she needs that type of support.

For more info check www.doula.org.uk

Hey, happy doulaing!

Caterina
(from Greenwich Doulas)

ambyuk

I am a doula... or was I should say. I still feel I am in heart though, and one day I will take it one step further and be a midwife! I had a doula with both of my births too and I would recommend them 100% to anyone having a baby.

npsmama

I have just had my 2nd baby and this time had a doula with me.
I now cannot imagine giving birth without a doula. It made such a difference!
A complete contrast to my 1st birth, even though this birth was harder.

One of the most worthwhile jobs in the world. I wish i had what it takes to be a doula but i'm too squeamish!

Caterina

Ambyuk, I think that midwife is not a 'step further than doula', it is a different role. It would be great if midwives could do what birth doulas do, on the NHS (independent midwives already do!) but unfortunately the cash-strapped NHS does not employ or even trains enough midwives for the needs of the mothers who go to give birth. There is a political unwillingness to support women that creates a really hard situation for midwives.

I also thought for a long time that I wanted to train as a midwife, then after all these years realised that I am actually performing a different, and just as important, role, the role of carer, encourager, being quietly present for the labour and birth and protecting the birth memories for after the birth (and if necessary help with the first bonding and breastfeed).

Npsmama: You could always be a postnatal doula, if you find being at other women's birth challenging.

Goodness knows that mothers out there need so much more support in the immediate postnatal period, because while you are pregnant everybody looks after you, during birth someone will more or less look after you (even if you do not have a doula) but after the birth the mother becomes invisible and everybody concentrates on the baby.

The mother really needs someone to make her feel valued, to guide her through the first weeks, to ensure that she looks after herself and teaches her to look after her baby (esp. first time mothers!).

Best wishes

Caterina

shed_head_2

I have read the thread with intrest. In Hull there is a volunteer doula project. I believe the woman who runs it was trained by doula UK. I think the project runs differently to how Doula UK work though. The following link is the home page http://www.newlanddoulas.org/contactus.php

I hear mixed reports in our local area, some people really praise the project however many say it does not work as the volunteers generally want to be midwives and use it as a way to gain experience. I have also been told that the breast feeding training aspect of the doulas is not partcularly comprehensive. They do have a very good breast feeding take-up rate but that is mainly put down to the fact that most of the women they support are assylum seekers or migrant workers who would have breast fed their babies any way.

The main point though is that the service is free to women who live in or around the HU5 area of hull and is not paid for by the hospital. THey are funded by grants which were initially given by sure start and now are sourced by the goodwin trust.

shed_head_2

Just had a second thought, the NCT (National child birth trust) train women as breast feeding councellors, antenatal teachers and postnatal supporters.
Breast feeding counsellors volunteer and are available to any new mum not just NCT members. Antenatal teachers charge for their classes, however there is a hardship fund if needed to cover the costs. I am unsure what postnatal workers do as the role and training is relativly new. Most Local NCT branches do offer postnatal support in some form for new mums. A great way to form contacts if you are new to an area.

Caterina

For anyone who needs breastfeeding counsellors, breastfeeding information or any breastfeeding support, this is a comprehensive list:

Breastfeeding Organisations

The Breastfeeding Manifesto
http://www.breastfeedingmanifesto.org.uk

Association of Breastfeeding Mothers:
http://www.abm.me.uk

La Leche League:
http://www.lalecheleague.org

National Childbirth Trust:
http://www.nct.org.uk

Breastfeeding Network:
http://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk

Dipex - Videos of breastfeeding accounts
http://www.dipex.org.uk/breastfeeding

UK Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative:
http://www.babyfriendly.org.uk/

Baby Milk Action:
http://www.babymilkaction.org

WABA World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action:
http://www.waba.org.my

Another Look (Breastfeeding and HIV/AIDS):
http://www.anotherlook.org/

National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (May):
http://www.doh.gov.uk/nbaw2003/

UK Association of Milk Banking:
http://www.ukamb.org

Hope this helps.

Caterina

batgirlbrostol

Hi there, I've just become a Doula in Bristol and I'm looking for a way of volunteering my services in this area. I don't think that there is a charity in Bristol like there is in Hull. But if there is one anyone knows of then please let me know!
I agree, Midwives and Doulas have such a different role. I went to train as a Doula to then go on to be a midwife but it didn't take me long to decide that this is what I want to do. (as long as there is enough call for it around here)

If I can't find a way of volunteering I may start out with only charging £50 for births and make sure I keep it affordable for all. I don't think I would be able to get away with charging london rates anyway!:rolleyes:

Rachie_B

batgirlbrostol wrote: »

Hi there, I've just become a Doula in Bristol and I'm looking for a way of volunteering my services in this area. I don't think that there is a charity in Bristol like there is in Hull. But if there is one anyone knows of then please let me know!
I agree, Midwives and Doulas have such a different role. I went to train as a Doula to then go on to be a midwife but it didn't take me long to decide that this is what I want to do. (as long as there is enough call for it around here)

If I can't find a way of volunteering I may start out with only charging £50 for births and make sure I keep it affordable for all. I don't think I would be able to get away with charging london rates anyway!:rolleyes:

try placing ads on www.netmums.com and www.gumtree.com

Good luck