Just started thinking about CNM

**LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM** · Jan 14, 2014

No, currently there is no push to make a DNP the entry level degree for midwifery practice. I would encourage you to explore the American College of Nurse-Midwives' website, midwife.org, for a ton of info about the profession and about the various educational programs in the U.S. I can tell you off hand that NYU, where I graduated from, did not require nursing experience, but there are a couple dozen more programs out there, I'm not sure of the specific requirements for each. Best of luck!

rse3 · Jan 16, 2014

Thank you for the input. I talked to a lady at Vandy yesterday, and they don't require experience either. I was feeling very hopeful after that phone call. She kept emphasizing that they look for "we'll rounded" students, and she HIGHLY encouraged me to become a volunteer doula while I'm in school.

I talked to my dad about it, and he said that after I do the doula training, I can volunteer for his practice. I know that ideally I would volunteer for one mother, follow her through pregnancy and all the way through postpartum, but as a full time employee, a full time student, and a mother, I just don't see that as a reasonable responsibility to add right now. Basically, I'll volunteer every other Thursday (or however often I can), and be a doula for a lady partsl delivery that day (or deliveries).

I'm really looking forward to the possibility of this being my future.

rse3 · Jan 16, 2014

Now I've got a doula question (I hope it's okay to post here, but I assume y'all would know the answer). Does it matter who the doula certification is through? I mean, which "governing body" I guess?

**LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM** · Jan 17, 2014

There are many doula training and certification organizations. The one I am most familiar, and who I trained with, with is DONA International (dona.org). But it shouldn't really matter. Any doula training and experience is a good thing!

CNMidwife2Be · Jan 17, 2014

Now I've got a doula question (I hope it's okay to post here but I assume y'all would know the answer). Does it matter who the doula certification is through? I mean, which "governing body" I guess?[/quote']
Hi there! I'm a doula, RN and student nurse-midwife. I started my doula work when I realized my calling to midwifery. I then completed an accelerated BSN and then went directly into my midwifery program.
Because doulas provide emotional and physical support but never do anything clinical, they do not need to be regulated the way nursing is. There is doula certification available from several organizations (CAPPA, DONA, Birthing from Within, Etc) and typically requires documentation of a specified number of births, extra courses, and an exam. But certification really only serves to make you more marketable, and is not required. Many doulas, myself included, never complete certification. If you were thinking of having a career as a doula than I'd recommend it, but since you're planning on becoming a CNM it may not be worth the extra time and money. But def take a look at the requirements for the different organizations.
Technically you could start as a doula immediately- It sounds like you have an excellent opportunity through your father's practice! But Id recommend taking a doula training course first (Id recommend CAPPA, DONA is also good). This will not only make you more confident but will also help you provide the best support for the women you work with. I hope this helps!

phoenixnim · Jan 20, 2014

You don't have to be a volunteer doula. You could make it your job. Obviously, you have to do what is best for you and there are so many variables to that equation. But that is an amazing opportunity that your Dad is an OB and open to having doulas on staff! That is great news! Would he be interested in having more doulas on staff? If you network with other local doulas, working in a team can make scheduling and long shifts in labor easier.

I work as an independent contractor doula through a family wellness center. We work as a doula team, generally. This means we can work in 12 hour shifts, and we always have a back-up doula rotation in case something major comes up, for instance in my case, an exam.

I did my doula training with Childbirth International. It's completely web based. I also attend various local workshops when I'm able or it makes sense. I took a rebozo certification workshop, which I feel was a wonderful opportunity and it has helped a lot in my work!

I know of a few schools that accept doula work as experience.

rse3 · Jan 23, 2014

I helped my dad deliver a baby for the first time yesterday, and it was absolutely amazing. I wasn't actually of much help (everything went VERY smoothly... it really was pretty much a one person job), but I was there and way more involved than I've been able to be as a student. It was not my ideal first birth to "assist" with (she wanted an epidural, had NO interest in breastfeeding), but I realize that most CNMs have to deal with pregnancy and birth on both ends of the spectrum.

My reason for being a volunteer doula is because of my very restricted schedule. I know that babies are unpredictable, and that as a CNM, I will not be scheduling deliveries around my life. However, at this point in my life, my husband and I both work full time and we're full time students, which would sometimes (or often) require me to find after hours child care at the last minute. I'm really not sure that my dad's practice would be interested in hiring doulas (especially not more than one). I know that people think that being a physician and owning a practice is big money, but it's not (at least not in our area where the vast majority of patients are on Medicaid), and I don't think that a "luxury" like hiring doulas is a feasible option, and I understand that.

Does anyone know anything about some online doula courses? Are they even worth the time and money?