Doula Fresno

Posts Tagged ‘DONA’

I recently acquired my birth doula certification through DONA International (Doulas of North America) so now I can proudly display the credentials of CD(DONA) after my name. Here is short excerpt from the DONA website that explains a little more about the organization and the certification process:

“With over 7000 birth and postpartum doula members and growing, we are the largest doula association in the world. We support doulas by providing quality training and meaningful certification. We serve mothers and families by providing access to information and research about doulas, childbirth and the postpartum experience. DONA International certification sets the bar for doula education and professional development. It indicates to families that a doula has achieved a high level of training and professionalism.”

To become a DONA International certified birth doula:

One year ago, I began my journey into “Birth World” when I took my doula training workshop.  My trainer wasn’t from this area and I didn’t know too many doulas in Fresno so after the workshop, I had to really seek out other Fresno doulas.  I was able to connect rather quickly with some wonderful ladies who had been doing doula work for awhile.  My good friend, Amy, was one of them.  She had actually attended the birth of my first baby so she was one of the first people I turned to for mentoring and advice.  Lisa Gartin, Gena Kirby and Marie Santos were a few other ladies who I began to call for advice and direction in getting my business off the ground.

They all encouraged me to get involved with Childbirth Resource Network (CRN) a network of parents, birth professionals and other service providers in the central San Joaquin Valley. CRN’s goal is to help guide anyone seeking to know more about their options in creating a healthy and happy pregnancy, childbirth, and transition to parenthood.

So I got started right away attending CRN meetings and doing my best to connect with other birth professionals in the area.  In the meantime, I was also working hard to plug away at the other requirements for my doula certification through DONA (Doulas of North America).  For more information on requirements for doula certification, click HERE.

Through Amy, I was able to attend my first birth in June of 2009.  Amy had asked me to be her “back-up” doula since she knew she would be going out of town close to the mother’s due date.  I was able to meet the mother beforehand and get to know her and what she was hoping for in her birth experience.  After attending the birth in June and getting the business part of my doula work set up, I was ready to go.  Things have been moving at a good pace ever since.  I feel blessed to have been present for five births (as of today) as a doula.

In some ways, I had to be very outgoing to get the information I needed to get started.  I had to gather a little from one place, a little from another and glean what I could while trying to maintain organization all at the same time.  A few months ago, I started getting emails and phone calls from other ladies in the area who were wanting to become doulas in the central valley.  They were calling me for some of the same advice that I had been seeking just a short time ago.  I then learned that my doula trainer would be returning to the area in March of 2010 to do another training.  The doula profession seemed to be growing quite suddenly and I found this to be very exciting.

Some of us “veteran” doulas have decided to set up regular doula meetings so we can learn from each other and help the newer ladies get started.  As of now, a directory of sorts is being compiled so that it will be easier to find all the doulas in the area, all in one place.  You can check it out by clicking HERE.

I’ve also started to partner with Mommy Matters Online to do back up for births and to help teach classes.  Mommy Matters offers a wealth of information and resources to pregnant women and new families alike.  I’m proud to partner with the other doulas in this area.  We are all doing what we do for the same reasons- to educate, support and nurture parents as their families evolve.