Birth Doulas or postpartum doulas out there?

[Jtingle44]

Hello All!

I am a Pre-nursing student and wanting to specialize in L&D once I graduate nursing school. Are any of you guys certified doulas? If so, how did or do you like it? Does it help for when you started your nursing career? Also, did any of you get certified as a CNA and as well as a doula? I was thinking of doing both. Please share! Thank you guys.

[goal:midwife]

Hello! I'm a CNA and a Birth Doula and am doing my pre-reqs, starting Nursing School apps this fall. Ultimate plan is to pursue a DNP in Midwifery, or a CNM. (depending on the program.). (I realize my name may give this all away. hahahaha) I've also been trained as a Childbirth Educator. I am not certified as either (though I am a member of DONA) because once I decided that Midwifery was the goal, school started and its very hard to be on call while in classes. I've only doula-d for friends since starting school, one each quarter. :)

One of the CPM programs out here mandates doula training (Bastyr) and I think the training helps to generate some really well rounded care. I also think that, with the rising use of doulas, the more that nurses and doulas understand where each side is coming from the better. My experience in hospitals (as a doula) has been the RN's being VERY wary of me coming in and trying to either take over, or advise the laboring party to ignore the caregivers. This is not how I was trained at ALL, and am very much about trying to be part of a cohesive caregiving team. However, clearly they have experienced many doulas that have given them reason to be suspicious when a "Doula" walks in the door. It's a hard position to walk into, and I've spent a lot of time trying to establish trust with the RN's when I'd prefer to feel like I'm coming into a place where my help feels welcomed.

I got my CNA as well to help me feel more well rounded. Its solid basics of care, and working as a CNA can really help as you start your applications. So I think both Doula and CNA training are great places to get a good baseline understanding and will help you make a more well rounded RN as well as a great candidate for nursing school.

(All that said, Doula training, like anything, should be taken at a great place. Do your research and really find a well-respected spot that abides by good, research-based care guidelines. I recommend anyone that is a part of DONA, or teaching Simkin's methods, myself.)

:) Feel free to PM me with any specific questions! GOOD LUCK!