"glorified birth junkies"

RNKitty · Jan 22, 2006

It depends.

To be a doula, you can take a few certification courses. To obtain my RN, I went through 4 years of college.

To be a doula, you support the family and woman and help her clarify her choices but do not make/impose medical decisions upon her. As an RN, you do this and more, by giving pain relieving or lifesaving medication if necessary, documenting the process, keeping the woman and baby SAFE.

To be a doula, you are there for the whole birth, 2 hours or 48 hours. As an RN, I show up for my assigned 8 hour shift, do my work, and go home. (For my family with kids, this works better as it is predictable.

Do you need a steady income with benefits? Can you leave your family at a moments notice for 2 days to support a birth. It is very rewarding but not a great income or predictable life. Good luck.

nursemelani · Jan 22, 2006

It depends.
To be a doula, you can take a few certification courses. To obtain my RN, I went through 4 years of college.
To be a doula, you support the family and woman and help her clarify her choices but do not make/impose medical decisions upon her. As an RN, you do this and more, by giving pain relieving or lifesaving medication if necessary, documenting the process, keeping the woman and baby SAFE.
To be a doula, you are there for the whole birth, 2 hours or 48 hours. As an RN, I show up for my assigned 8 hour shift, do my work, and go home. (For my family with kids, this works better as it is predictable.
Do you need a steady income with benefits? Can you leave your family at a moments notice for 2 days to support a birth. It is very rewarding but not a great income or predictable life. Good luck.

I agree. I think it would be a really rewarding and fascinating job for someone who doesn't have young children, and who is un-attached, or has a very understanding husband/partner.

Selke · Jan 22, 2006

Find a doula training program and start that while taking your nursing courses. Do you have a college degree? Have you attended college? If not, a good plan might be to start taking nursing pre-reqs, which are courses needed for most college degrees -- english, science, math, &c. I recommend doula training for anyone wanting to work in L&D, anyway - you learn a lot about labor support, supporting a mom in labor, &c, that you're not likely to learn in nursing school.

CallMePatti · Jan 22, 2006

I've been working as a doula (and childbirth educator and lactation educator) for the past 5 years and am now in nursing school with the intention of specializing in L&D and maybe become a midwife someday.

For me, being a doula wasn't enough. I wasn't busy enough. I didn't have enough opportunities to help a woman and her family the way I know I can.

Being a doula and educator has given me valuable insight on many things- stuff they don't teach you in nursing school. Things that will make me a really good, caring, L&D nurse. I am very familiar support techniques that many L&D nurses don't use or know about.

So, for me, doula was a great starting point. But my calling is nursing and I'm really proud of that.

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 22, 2006

I am a total birth junkie. Glorified as an RN? HARDLY. I just stand amazed at the human female body and what it can do----and the birth of new families still sends chills up my spine. Yep I am a junkie alright. But ain't NOBODY glorifying me. OK by me.

OB_or_NICU_hopeful · Jan 22, 2006

Thanks so much

The "glorified birth junkie" came from the lay midwife thread.....my "wheels" starting turning after I saw that. I remember this post from long ago (I hope it's ok to reference it here) from Dayray:

L&D is much different then what it appears to be. Very rarely will you hold babies and although it is a very happy time for families it's mostly business for the nurse. I'm not saying you won't enjoy it or that there wont be warm fuzzy moments but for the most part you are there to keep people safe and that can be stressful.

To clarify, I don't expect or need to hold/cuddle babies (though I would NEVER turn down the job ), and I know it will be stressful a lot. What I want (and have envisioned) is for ME to support the laboring family, for me to work through contractions with them. I don't want to be SO consumed with duties that I can't truly be there for the mom. Does that make sense?

SmilingBlueEyes ~ For YOU to say that you're a birth junkie is all I needed to hear! Hearing that you still get emotional at your deliveries is awesome!! You probably don't recall me sharing my RN shadowing experience, but I couldn't get enough of L&D!!!! Unfortunately, I was with a float nurse all day, so I didn't get to see how labor nurses support the family.

Would any of you mind sharing how you support a laboring/birthing family? Thanks so much

OB_or_NICU_hopeful · Jan 22, 2006

To answer a few other questions....

No, I can't imagine leaving my family for a super long labor & delivery (as a Doula). That is a HUGE drawback, and the reason I never took the training. I plan to begin my Doula certification and possibly lactation educator training once I decide about nursing school. I am taking prereqs for the RN program, but I'm still unsure of whether I want my ADN or BSN. Either way it will take 4 years (2 year waiting list for ADN). I was set on getting my BSN b/c it costs $12,000 for an ADN and $24,000 for a BSN (plus, like I said, I finish in the same amount of time), but frankly, I want to be at the bedside. I don't want to be in management. And if I do, I can always do an RN-to-BSN program. UGH. I just can't decide.

webbiedebbie · Jan 23, 2006

Although I no longer work OB, I still can't get enough of watching deliveries on the TV. Yea, I know!!! I worked L&D and PP and Mother/Baby for 15 years. I miss it terribly! But I don't miss the changes!!!! When I trained in L&D as a grad nurse, I was at the bedside to monitor and assist with labor. I did this for 2 years. Then my first husband and I moved to another state and my manager in my new position told me I spent too much time with my patients!!!!!! They wanted me at the nurse's station watching the monitor. I only stayed there 3 months. Went to another hospital where I was the only labor nurse and would have 2 patients in labor, and would have to shut down pit when the other was delivering. I hated that!!!!

I did get to be in the delivery of my granddaughter this past October! I was in heaven!!!!

sandys · Jan 23, 2006

In reference to an earlier comment regarding holdingng babies", it makes me think I might have made my l&d nurses day. After a long medication free labor and eventual C-section, when I was finally alone in my room with my 1st, he was fussing and nothing I did would make him happy, I finally called my nurse and asked her what I should do. She took him from me, sat in the rocking chair in my room, and rocked and soothed him until he was quiet. As more time goes on, I realize what a blessing she was, and how that was probably a very peaceful moment for her on her long shift. People who are called to that particular line of work and definitely special.

nursemelani · Jan 23, 2006

I am a total birth junkie. Glorified as an RN? HARDLY. I just stand amazed at the human female body and what it can do----and the birth of new families still sends chills up my spine. Yep I am a junkie alright. But ain't NOBODY glorifying me. OK by me.

That's beautiful. When I did my OB rotation for LVN school, I saw 5 births, and cried at every one of them. I wonder how many I would have to see before I stop tearing up.

Altalorraine · Jan 23, 2006

What is a glorified birth junkie? I think I might be one of them :rotfl: Seriously though. I think the responsibility of being the RN during the deliver will not allow me to experience the process in the way I'm imagining.
I know I sound so wishy washy, but I truly believe it's better for ALL involved that I found out exactly what goes on in L&D (as an RN) before I even take one more step.
I believe in my heart that I have a calling to be a Doula more than an RN. Though the cervix checks and helping the mom push are incredible (IMO), I think as a birth junkie I want to just be there with the parent(s) and not off charting and worrying about losing my license.
Can anyone help me sort this all out?

I think you're very perceptive. RNs and doulas have very different jobs during labor and delivery, though there is some overlap- as different as an RNs and an OBs jobs. Just because you love one doesn't mean you'll love the other. I am a birth junkie too, though that part of me isn't completely fulfilled as an OB nurse. On the other hand, I happen to love nursing- even non-OB nursing- so it works out just fine.

Altalorraine