BEING A BIRTH DOULA | 5 Lessons Learned in 15 years of doula work

Being a birth doula comes with many challenges. In the 15 years that I have worked as a birth doula, I have learned many lessons. Doula burnout is real is one of the big lessons learned. What are your lessons?
0:00 Intro
01:17 Lesson 1
03:08 Lesson 2
07:55 Lesson 3
10:04 Lesson 4
12:23 Lesson 5
Links mentioned in the video
👉 VIDEO 5 lessons Learned in 10 years of doula work • Doula Work - 5 Lessons...
👉 VIDEO 5 More Lessons Learned in 10 years of doula work • Doula Work - 5 MORE Do...
👉 SupportingHer online course for partners supportingher.teachable.com
#childbirth #birth #pregnancy #lamaze #childbirthclass #doula
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If you are pregnant and expecting a baby or work with people who are expecting a baby, then you are in the right place. I'm Alice Turner, doula and Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator and I work with people from pregnancy through the early newborn time. My mission is to help people have a positive birth experience.
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[@birthtoolbox]

Please enter any lessons that you have learned in being a doula!

[@motherwelldoula]

Congratulations on hitting 15 years! I'm at 5 this year and - WOW. I'm really excited to think about being at 15 years myself one day :) I really value your insights, especially being mindful of the burnout and difficulties of working as a doula - as hard as that can be to face. I would say something I've learned in my 5 years that being a doula is a delicate of balance of following the mother and guiding/leading the mother.

[@birthtoolbox]

Great lesson Victoria! Thank you for watching the videos and giving feedback too.

[@Mamaroo92]

As a Seattle area birth doula, I can say it’s definitely the doulas who came in decades before who worked tirelessly to cooperate and teach other local birth workers all the great helps and aid we have to offer - both to women and hospital staff/midwives!! It didn’t used to be that way here but thankfully it seems to be the norm at most hospitals in the area now ❤ very grateful to be doulaing in the PNW!

[@birthtoolbox]

Yes, I am so grateful for all of the work that was done in this area to improve the birth world for families and doules too!

[@leslierb3484]

@Mamaroo92. I'm just now considering whether to get into the Doula field in the Seattle area. I'm wondering if you'd be open to connecting as I start this journey? Your wisdom and advice would be so helpful.

[@leslierb3484]

This was so very helpful Alice...I can't thank you enough. I'm just now considering becoming a Doula at age 58 yrs, living in the Seattle WA area and partnering with my daughter who is an LPN. These tips will certainly help me with making the best choices and consideration as I enter this field. I will definitely check out your other helpful videos and stay in touch. 😊 Congratulations on 15 years supporting Mom's and babies!🎉

[@birthtoolbox]

I'm so glad the video was helpful. Your plans sound exciting! Here is a link to a play list of videos that I have made for doulas that you might like kzbin.info/aero/PLciWO0dQpkW8bFg0sBX_3L9FmGtS5YUvi&si=yElW4YqJiTdiRmKv.

[@poohtunia077]

Alice, congratulations on 15yrs!! I also want to thank you for your content, knowledge, and wisdom shared. I just attended my very first home birth as a doula this past Sun and just made it back home today. Wow! Wht a beautiful experience, unfortunately mom had to end up going to the hospital at the very end. I have to THANK YOU because my training was great but your videos gave my some different insight and very helpful tips. I was able to incorporate this in my practice and my client and her family were so grateful and truly impressed since this was my first time working as a doula. Continue making a great impact in the birth world and we all truly appreciate and respect all you do here on youtube! Peace and Blessings to you -Katrina, sending luv from Dallas,TX

[@birthtoolbox]

Katrina, THANK YOU for sharing your experience and your kind words. Sometimes it is hard to know if the videos are helpful and comments like this really help me stay focused on keeping them going. Best of luck on your doula journey!

[@daniellestell1954]

Love this video so much! Love that you have such a supportive system in Seattle! Such great positivity in this video!

[@birthtoolbox]

Thank you for the sweet comment Danielle! I absolutely have found my calling in birth work. If you are interested in hanging out with me during a live childbirth class on KZbin, mark your calendar for tomorrow night Dec 1st at 8:30pm ET/ 5:30pm PT. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWaalJyMmrKUd6c

[@reallyrechema]

Thank you for these videos..I really feel this is my calling..honestly it's beyond feel I know this is my calling. I constantly hear about the challenges of working with the clinical staff. I already work in Healthcare and can most definitely believe this.. I can't lie this is a worry for me especially being African American woman. However I know it will work out. Thank you for you advice and information. You are so real with it! 🙂

[@birthtoolbox]

Yes, it will work out! You will learn and grow and help people! It’s an amazing career and the world needs more doulas. You got this. 👊

[@jennifercole402]

Thanks so much for sharing your 15 years of wisdom, Alice! I've been seriously considering getting my certification in birth education for a while now. Watching your video has pushed me over the edge where now I'm going to do it!

[@birthtoolbox]

YES Jennifer! You will be so happy that you did.

[@jenna.w.9041]

Wonderful information! Thank you! At 57 years of age I am working on obtaining my certification. I’m rethinking my plan! I’m already tired. I am doing this to be my daughter’s doula, but thinking I will definitely need at least 2 partners to develop a successful business.

[@birthtoolbox]

Partnerships are wonderful. Wishing you so much success with your daughter’s birth! Please let me know if there are other topics on childbirth that I can point you to. I have loads of videos. 😜

[@kirstenbarbero1099]

You seem like the sweetest person! Im glad gour got the respect you deserve! Helpful video!

[@birthtoolbox]

Thank you so much 🤗 Next week I'll be sharing about my doula journey. I'm excited to share the highs and lows!

[@nataliemariewinkels]

All wonderful points!

[@birthtoolbox]

Thanks!!

[@dancingprincessmj]

I just started my doula training certification in the Bay Area of California and this video was very valuable and eye opening for me. Thank you so much for posting this and congratulations on 15 years of hard, very dedicated work!! A huge inspiration 😊💕

[@birthtoolbox]

Best of luck on your doula journey!! Thank you for your kind words. ❤️❤️

[@dancingprincessmj]

@@birthtoolbox thank you! 😊

[@theempresstarot374]

Thankyou for this !!

[@birthtoolbox]

You are welcome!!

[@CharityVictoriaJones]

Great tips! Just now finding your videos. Look forward to seeing your content and learning more about this field. I've always loved anything to do with babies and will soon be getting certified!

[@birthtoolbox]

Welcome to the channel!! Glad to have you here.😀

[@ThePaternalPartner]

This is so valuable! Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@birthtoolbox]

You're so welcome!

[@ThePaternalPartner]

Watched a ton of your videos. Good work ✌🏼

[@reginanohelaniyoga]

Love this video very informative!! I will be looking into child birth education. Thank you!

[@birthtoolbox]

You are so welcome!

[@dianacronin5176]

Congratulations to you! You did it!! 15 years is incredible! I see you get emotionally when you talked about #3 to feel welcome and be part of the team. I understand you, sometimes its really hard because we take this very personally. I am a birth doula with DONA . I worked at the birth center or I do homebirth, sometimes hospital. Thank you for sharing your stories with us.

[@birthtoolbox]

Thank you Diana!!

[@roxannetiu5855]

I am a newer doula ... these are wonderful tips and sound advice. I've had the same thoughts and I agree with everything you shared. Thank you, Alice! 🌺 Roxanne from Petaluma, CA (DONA Trained Birth Doula)

[@birthtoolbox]

Thank you Roxanne! Best of luck our your doula journey.

[@alidelatierra]

Luckily at sf general they have been very respectful to me as a new doula and most importantly to the moms I’ve supported (black and indigenous mamas) 🥰

[@birthtoolbox]

That’s great!!

[@alidelatierra]

@@birthtoolbox thanks for the video very informative and helpful💜

[@skyleranderson3977]

Hi Alice! I love your content it’s really helped me in the decision to become a doula. Do you teach certifications of any kind or have a recommendations for certifications? Picking a program to go with has been challenging for me.

[@birthtoolbox]

WOW! I am so honored to have played a roll in your journey. I don't do any certifications, but I do recommend DONA as a certifiying organization. Send me an email if you want some suggestions for trainers. [e-mail]

[@victoriasana8426]

I just subscribed after finding this video! Do you have tips for knowing when it’s time to go to the birth location for doulas that are new to doula work?

[@birthtoolbox]

Hello! Welcome to the channel. I don't have a specific video for doulas on that topic, but this one explains the 5-1-1 rule that a lot of care providers use as a guide for when to come it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2SUipuAjbuWisU Also, you might enjoy joining (or watching the replays) the live childbirth series that I am doing March 1-14th. Here is a link to the first class supportingher.com/class1. Tonight will be class 5 and you can find that here supportingher.com/class5

[@victoriasana8426]

Thank you very much! I will look into it!

[@reginanohelaniyoga]

Also, any recommendations on how to get a certificate for child birth education?

[@birthtoolbox]

I highly recommend Lamaze! www.lamaze.org/become-a-childbirth-educator

[@ericagoehring1089]

I just went through a season of burnout. I am now considering stepping back into doula work, but I am really afraid of those feelings coming back.

[@birthtoolbox]

Yes! Yes totally understand.

[@gabby1499]

Advice for how to make connections with the staff at hospitals?

[@birthtoolbox]

1) Make sure you introduce yourself to every nurse that you work with 2) Have something memorable that you wear or bring every time you are at the hospital. I always covered the birth ball with a bright cover and the nurses at one hospital used to say "you are the doula with ball cover". Also, you can point this out like "hello, I'm Alice, the doula that covers the ball with the bright cover"

[@montanagalaxy22]

Do you offer online childbirth classes, and if so, do you offer the course for free or at a discounted price for doulas working to get certified? I loved watching your video! So much helpful info for someone working to become a Doula.

[@birthtoolbox]

Hi Mandy! My next online childbirth classes will actually be held LIVE on my KZbin channel. The classes will start on December 1st and will run for one hour a day for 2 weeks. I would love for you to join.

[@jbeezy8245]

What program did you use to get your child birth educator certification?

[@birthtoolbox]

Lamaze International lamaze.org

[@darcygerhart8198]

I'm a new doula in the Atlanta area! What's your experience with north Fulton? Advice specifically there?

[@birthtoolbox]

It’s one of my favorites!! No specific advice, but enjoy it!!

[@dossip2882]

Every profession must be respected, too bad some doctors or nurses don’t appreciate this role!

[@birthtoolbox]

💯

[@yourmamadoula_bakersfield]

I've been a doula for 4 years. I have only been able to work in the hospitals in my community. The city I live in has only 2 midwives and I haven't been able to work with them. I would love to coach a home birth, but I don't know how.

[@birthtoolbox]

Home birth isn’t too different. I think it’s a lot less complicated. Keep up the good doula work!!

[@kathybranch8133]

I've created a self care routine for anything that calls for long hours of work....massage first, walking and or outside quite ness and hugs from little ones... No order needed here just actions

[@birthtoolbox]

Love it

[@charlenecross9068]

I would love to chat on your doula and child birth educator experience.

[@birthtoolbox]

Send me and email and I can share about some options. [e-mail]

[@ingridhernandez9756]

Me trying to become a doula in Atlanta....🙃

[@birthtoolbox]

You can do it!

[@lalaadcock4745]

Has anyone gone through birthing advocacy?

[@birthtoolbox]

Do you mean a specific program?

[@bluehillhomestead6835]

Now that you have moved to Seattle have you started working on your inclusive language? I mean no disrespect at all. Just trying to gently remind you that not all birthing people are mom's and not all partners are dad's. I found your tips extremely informative. Thank you for sharing. Congratulations on your lovely journey.

[@birthtoolbox]

Yes! I try to use variety in my language. Thanks for your comment.

[@devinamandavillanueva1780]

Hey Alice! Just starting out on my doula journey and found your video. Excited to watch the other 2 videos from your 5 and 10 years. Do you have Instagram? I’d love to connect!

[@birthtoolbox]

What an exciting phase to be in!! Yes, I’m in IG at @birthtoolbox