Childbirth education

[MorningDove030202]

I'd like to take some kind of class or certification to be some kind of Childbirth Assistant, or Attendant, etc. I'd like to provide somekind of birthing assistance as part of my Clergy services, but with the least expense. What's the minimum certification? At the least I think I should take the baby cpr class, any other ideas? Also, my only real experience is the birth of my own son, and the childbirth education class the hospital provided. I also nursed for 14 months with few problems.

I've read about Traditional Birth Assistants, and that's kind what I'm thinking of... being a TBA for Wiccans/Pagans. Except that we don't have an established birth tradtion, we are in the process of starting one! LOL

Dove

[Autumn]

This is a website for Doula's in North America...I hope it helps

http://dona.org/

[MorningDove030202]

This is a website for Doula's in North America...I hope it helps

http://dona.org/

Is there a certification below a Doula? Or is Doula the lowest certified labor assistant?

Dove

[Rhianna813]

Is there a certification below a Doula? Or is Doula the lowest certified labor assistant?

Dove

I am not sure if I can add any insight but I am happy to try :bubbles: I had a homebirth last year and did a lot of research about midwives and doulas in such. So that's my qualification for giving advice hehehe

I think it depends on what you mean by certification, why you need or why you want it. If it is for legal reasons laws vary from state to state in the US, but I think that only counts for those who are actually aiding in the prenatal care and birth. Such as a OB or Midwife. I know in Oregon you can have a midwife legally attend your birth and she does not need any certification and would be called a laymidwife. But there are other midwives who seek certification or are actual nurse midwives who work in hospitals.

For labor assistants.... i am not sure if the laws are so strict. Of course also in Oregon you can't be paid money for giving someone a massage without a massage license.

From looking around the WWW it seems a Doula is the lowest level of birth/labor assistance and a few places offer a certification but you may need to attend in person. When certified you can put CLA after your name.

http://www.naturalresourcesonline.com/training.html
http://www.alace.org/ca.html
http://www.cappa.net/

I also saw reference to a Montrice as a type of labor assistant but it looks to be a higher level than a doula. One may provide pelvic exams and other medical procedures.

You may just want to contact someone at DONA and ask. Women working in the midwifery and doula fields seem to be the most helpful and supportive I have met!

Rhianna

[MorningDove030202]

I am not sure if I can add any insight but I am happy to try :bubbles: I had a homebirth last year and did a lot of research about midwives and doulas in such. So that's my qualification for giving advice hehehe

I think it depends on what you mean by certification, why you need or why you want it. If it is for legal reasons laws vary from state to state in the US, but I think that only counts for those who are actually aiding in the prenatal care and birth. Such as a OB or Midwife. I know in Oregon you can have a midwife legally attend your birth and she does not need any certification and would be called a laymidwife. But there are other midwives who seek certification or are actual nurse midwives who work in hospitals.

For labor assistants.... i am not sure if the laws are so strict. Of course also in Oregon you can't be paid money for giving someone a massage without a massage license.

From looking around the WWW it seems a Doula is the lowest level of birth/labor assistance and a few places offer a certification but you may need to attend in person. When certified you can put CLA after your name.

http://www.naturalresourcesonline.com/training.html
http://www.alace.org/ca.html
http://www.cappa.net/

I also saw reference to a Montrice as a type of labor assistant but it looks to be a higher level than a doula. One may provide pelvic exams and other medical procedures.

You may just want to contact someone at DONA and ask. Women working in the midwifery and doula fields seem to be the most helpful and supportive I have met!

Rhianna


Well, maybe you can answere me this, what exactly does a doula do, and what arn't they alowed to do?
Dove

[Rhianna813]

Well, maybe you can answere me this, what exactly does a doula do, and what arn't they alowed to do?
Dove

From my understanding a doula or labor assistant provides non medical assistance for birthing moms. While a midwife or OB might come to the birth well into the labor or just for the birth the Doula is there for (the many many hours) of the labor. She coaches the birth mom with breathing techniques, labour and birth positions, pressure points, light massage, playing soothing music, adjusting the lighting, helping friends/family respect her privacy and boundaries, helping her to the bathroom and getting her water. She may work closely with the husband or other family attending the birth. In some cases she may help the birth mom understand the medical terminology and equiptment used. She may be somewhat of a facilitator between hospital staff and the birth parents assuring that their needs and birth plan are respected. A doula is very recommended when a regular hospital birth is needed because the chance for uneeded interventions increases.

I think they are not allowed to give medical advice to the birthing couple but they can help to translate the medical jargon into plain english. They do not take blood pressure, fetal monitor readings or handle any medical equiptment, and they do not birth the baby. In cases where a homebirth needs to be taken to the hospital a laymidwife will often act as a Doula while the OB delivers the child. Based on the above this is the same "service" the husband or close friend could also provide. So maybe one does not need a certification?? This is where I am confused.

There are also post partum Doulas who provide in home care for new moms and babies. They would check on the new mom, bring her food, help her into the shower and watch the baby while she bathed and ate. They may even do some light housework.

In my town a birth assistant Doula runs about $300-500 dollars.

Rhianna

[fahawk]

I took the labor assistance class - 3 day class with ALACE..
plus the class, you have requirements to finish on your own..like attending 5 births?? ( cant remember right now) ...taking CPR , a book reading list, etc.. to get certified.

[MorningDove030202]

I took the labor assistance class - 3 day class with ALACE..
plus the class, you have requirements to finish on your own..like attending 5 births?? ( cant remember right now) ...taking CPR , a book reading list, etc.. to get certified.

Do you have a link for ALACE?

[MorningDove030202]

From my understanding a doula or labor assistant provides non medical assistance for birthing moms. While a midwife or OB might come to the birth well into the labor or just for the birth the Doula is there for (the many many hours) of the labor. She coaches the birth mom with breathing techniques, labour and birth positions, pressure points, light massage, playing soothing music, adjusting the lighting, helping friends/family respect her privacy and boundaries, helping her to the bathroom and getting her water. She may work closely with the husband or other family attending the birth. In some cases she may help the birth mom understand the medical terminology and equiptment used. She may be somewhat of a facilitator between hospital staff and the birth parents assuring that their needs and birth plan are respected. A doula is very recommended when a regular hospital birth is needed because the chance for uneeded interventions increases.

I think they are not allowed to give medical advice to the birthing couple but they can help to translate the medical jargon into plain english. They do not take blood pressure, fetal monitor readings or handle any medical equiptment, and they do not birth the baby. In cases where a homebirth needs to be taken to the hospital a laymidwife will often act as a Doula while the OB delivers the child. Based on the above this is the same "service" the husband or close friend could also provide. So maybe one does not need a certification?? This is where I am confused.

There are also post partum Doulas who provide in home care for new moms and babies. They would check on the new mom, bring her food, help her into the shower and watch the baby while she bathed and ate. They may even do some light housework.

In my town a birth assistant Doula runs about $300-500 dollars.

Rhianna

Thanks for the info, that's kinda what I'm looking for.... so is that $300-500 per hour or for one labor?

[fahawk]

Hi..
www.alace.org :)

[MorningDove030202]

Hi..
www.alace.org :)

Thanks! That sounds perfect!
Dove

[fahawk]

Always wondered if (lay) midwives or others would be willing to have an assistant..(get experience that way..such as attending the required births etc..)- is there another approach to becoming a Doula then just the classes or through organizations??

I had lay midwife for my births, and it would seem a good way-person to learn from/ to teach the skills???

[MorningDove030202]

Always wondered if (lay) midwives or others would be willing to have an assistant..(get experience that way..such as attending the required births etc..)- is there another approach to becoming a Doula then just the classes or through organizations??

I had lay midwife for my births, and it would seem a good way-person to learn from/ to teach the skills???

I think it depends on the laws of your state..... If you are going to aprentice, I think some other classes might be a good idea. like Infant Child CPR, and my community college offeres a class on Lost of Child Counceling.

As a clergy person, I'm considering doing the Labor Assistant and the Grief counceling, and the CPR class.

It's kind my retirement plan...to be a doula and clergy person.....

Dove