So, how did I get to be a doula?
Well, I was a primary school headteacher so a large amount of my working life has been spent supporting families, most often mothers, in varying circumstances. Looking for a change, I investigated breastfeeding support as it was something I felt passionately about and this googling led me to look at doula training websites. Reading them I realised that I had 'doula'd' for various friends both through birth and postnatally and it sowed the seed that this could be something I wanted to do more of.
I'm the sort of person for whom 'accredited' is important when looking at training, so I found myself on Doula UK looking at the courses which would lead to DUK membership. I quickly decided that I wanted one covering both birth and postnatal support, and locality was important too (though I was the only Cambridge person on my course of 12 in the end, so people travel quite far for the right training - Newcastle was my group's furthest flung participant). I was very lucky to find that an accredited DUK course was being held right on my doorstep - Developing Doulas in Cambridge, so I called the course leader Maddie for more information.
Maddie and I had a long chat about breastfeeding counsellor training (which I was also committing to), doula training and me and my journey. I really felt valued and embraced in that call, as if I could be part of the team of doulas that were Developing Doulas. Maddie went on to 'doula' and mentor me even before the course started, offering infinite support and suggestions as I made my first forays into offering voluntary postnatal support for some local women.
I was a little apprehensive about the training as I am not a 'woo' or at all hippy person - I like facts, evidence and preferably a randomised control trial for efficacy where my maternal health is concerned! Fortunately as the course progressed I was treated to a session on evidence-based practice, and although there were aspects which appealed to people more at ease with group sharing and alternative practice than I, it was a really good mix which I felt appealed to the broad range of people in the group I was fortunate enough to be in.
The group itself was one of the most important aspects of the course for me, alongside being educated and exploring my own knowledge and potential. The group of 12 quickly bonded and shared deep truths and stories about ourselves, knowing that our feelings and emotions would be 'held' and respected by the group. The group was diverse culturally, geographically and in their past experiences and future plans. My group contained hypnobirthing practitioners, ex children's and healthcare professionals, new mothers and grandmothers, community leaders and scientists. As someone who generally has more male than female friendships, I found a solidarity I wasn't expecting and a group of women (though men can and do train) who I could solidly rely on and trust. We have continued our support through a private facebook group where I continue to learn and be supported by them and I genuinely feel that if I turned up on any of their doorsteps in a crisis I would be taken in without question.
Having completed the course I think I turned around the fastest assignment in DD history, so keen was I to start my mentoring process with DUK. As a mentored doula I feel like there are layers of support radiating around me: there is my local group of Cambs Doulas who via facebook, phone, and in person offer both support, challenge and crucially, the majority of my current workload which comes from internal referrals from other doulas and the Cambs Doula web presence. Then there is the DD layer, comprising a facebook group for all DDs and my cohort's personal group page. This really extends out the experience I can access whilst being secure that the doulas posting have had similar training experiences to me and thus are likely to hold similar core values. On top of that there is the DUK layer, which via facebook and my excellent mentor offers a mix of professional and personal support and a wealth of experience and back up through policies and professional structure.
As I now grow my business I feel that being part of the Developing Doulas community gives me a solid base of support to draw upon in new or tricky situations and it is great to be able to be part of its community.
