Getting into the birthing world.

Well it is finally happening. After all of my hard work and dedication, I will be assisting women at their births as a doula. As of right now I have two for sure clients and one potential client. I am so proud and excited because I have worked, so very hard for this. The best part is, I will be working with my best friend. It will be kind of a joint doula job!

I am learning that there is so much work to do, in setting up a doula practice! There are so many things that you have to decide to do. Things such as: what do I want to do, if the mother decides to get an epidural? Do I want to be a doula for someone who decides to have a c-section? What about payment plans? Draw up a contract for financial reasons, Do I want to include other services? etc.

Tori and I sat down and hashed out what we want to present in our child birth education classes. We have decided to include in our services a child birth education class. Hopefully providing these classes will help empower the family to make their own choices and be in control of their own births. I feel very good about our lesson plan, that it will be fair, very comprehensive, and flexible for individual families.

My knowledge of pregnancy and birthing has also been improving, by leaps and bounds. The Childbirth International communications manual has been such a great help for me in learning how to communicate with the mom's that I will be assisting. I am learning effective language, and listening skills, someting that I didn't realize was so hard. I have been using what I have learned when I talk with Adrian and I have noticed that it has made communication between us much much better.

This path is going to take a lot of work and dedication. I forsee some very work intensive and exhaustive times ahead, but it still feels like it is worth it.