Doula training

Hi there,

I am new to the fourm and have found it very helpful so far in helping me find out much appreciated advice on applying to midwifery.

I am hoping to apply for either 09 or 10 start but have been advised to try and get some experience before applying to strengthen my application.

I have looked around and found various things, one of which is to train to be a doula. Has anyone in the forum had any experience of Doula's and/or the training and do you think it would help?

Thanks

Amy

Hi and welcome to the forum

Google Doula UK it will come up with a great website that gives details of all the accredited courses, when you have completed one of their courses they allow you to advertise thru their website as well as on your own. My friend is on their website and gets a fair bit of her work off them, its by no means regular work if you live outside of London but it is spreading and becoming a more popular choice with mums.

Defo avoid British Doulas course speaking from experience I did this one because they said it was accredited by C&G huh didn't teach me anything I didn't already know or anything anyone with a bit of sense wouldn't, wish now I had done a Doula UK one but thats with hindsight...a wonderful thing!!! But I am sure that it was doing this course and being a doula for a lovely family that helped secure my place, my interviewers seemed really impressed, but having said that another local uni and the interviewers (a lecturer and practising midwife) seemed very disapproving and I think meant they didn't offer me a place. You have to remember that some midwives have had bad experiences with pushy doulas and this can sometimes cloud their judgement but a good doula experience can only be a positive.

If you have any other questions feel free to pm me and I'll do my best to answer.


Christa

Hi Rosieribbons

Welcome to the site. We have a section on volunteering on here that may be helpful. To train to be a Doula would probably cost you some money and then you would charge to provide the service so I personally think that something that is voluntary would look better. Sure Start are always looking for volunteers and this could be a good starting point.

Good luck and if you have any questions,please feel free to ask and someone will answer.

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Coffeebean xx


Student Midwife

i would recommend contacting the nct. my local branch have been fantastic - i'm currently observing a course of antenatal classes and i've been invited to meetings and events and everyone's been really helpful. they're really keen to get future midwives on side because, traditionally, it's been quite "them and us" when it comes to the nhs and nct.

the lady who teaches the classes i'm observing says she often gets student midwives contacting her and asking to observe her classes during their training, at the suggestion of their uni, so i figure it can't hurt to put it on my application form that i've already been involved with the nct.

Hi RR

Have a look at this...

Doulas and doula training UK - information please!

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StudentMidwife.NET Founder & Director

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Hello Rosieribbons, welcome to the site!

Hopefully you have found and seen the info on here now?

Good luck with it and keep us posted?

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Thank you all ever so much for getting back to me, your advice has been great.

I spoke to my local NCT coordinator on friday and she was really helpful and has offered to let me go along to observe some antenatal classes and also has some ideas for other volunteering opportunities which might be suitable.

I also emailed for some more info about Doula training but this hasnt arrived yet, I am in Scotland and the organisation that seems to do the training is called Birth Consulancy but to be honest I havent looked into this one too deeply yet so there may be others.

I havent found the volunteering opps part of the site yet - but off to do that now.

Thanks once again - I feel like i have a plan now!