Hello everyone:)

I hope its OK to share it here. If not please let me know where I could share it 🙏

I’m a trainee psychologist working in the NHS Maternity and Neonatal Psychological Intervention Service. I’m currently looking for pregnant participants for non profit study on wellbeing and anxiety during pregnancy. This is an important area of maternal mental health where more research is needed. The findings may help us better understand the psychological factors linked with antenatal anxiety and how mental health support during pregnancy could be improved.

The study has received sponsorship and ethical approval from the University of Edinburgh.Ethics Committee Reference: 25-26CLPS111

The study involves completing a short, anonymous online survey which takes around 20 minutes. If you would like to take part, please click the link below:

https://edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dmrLWMfpa4aV4Kq

If you have any questions, you are more than welcome to email me at [M.Domka@sms.ed.ac.uk](mailto:M.Domka@sms.ed.ac.uk)

Thank you so much for supporting pregnancy and maternal mental health research 🌷🙏

Hi, I know y'all talk about programs in here enough as is, but I am hoping to find someones input that has completed coursework from one of the trainings below. I've been looking at several doula programs, and have about 20 tabs open comparing and contrasting. Its came down to:

1. Elemental Birth School with Amapola Pacheco and Aya Maria Maldonado.
2. INNATE Traditions with Rachelle Seliga
3. MaternityWise/Bebo Mia , and then eventually taking a secondary/complementary immersion training with one of the above for further study.

I really hope to find training that covers all things postpartum as well as somatic bodywork that could be therapeutic for PP. I would also hope that said training and $ could teach me something of running a business and possibly even include curriculum and materials I could offer on my own website. Anyone whos completed work thru these programs, please feel free to share your thoughts and opinions. If there is any other programs out there similiar to the above, please feel free to share those too. :) TIA!

Hi fellow doulas! I am debating between "Hypnobirthing International The Mongan Method" and Hypnobabies Academy. I know The Mongan Method is highly revered. However, it requires you to be available for live online sessions, and it is very expensive. Hypnobabies Academy is self-paced and significantly cheaper.

If anyone has experience with either training, I would love to hear your experiences.

Thanks

Before having my baby earlier this year, I never even thought about getting involved in the birth world. But like many people, the experience was a transformative one, and I am now so passionate about birth, infant feeding, and helping families during pregnancy and postpartum!

I am currently on maternity leave (I'm in Canada, so I get about a year) and have been putting any spare (haha) time to use by taking a prolonged doula training program and a breastfeeding support course. I cannot get it out of my head that this is what I want to be doing. I think about that every day and have been desperately trying to figure out a way to make it work. With each live class and module, I just want to do this even more, so I don't think it's a passing hyper fixation or something that I'm going to forget about. I also did not register for the class on a whim, I carefully researched for a couple months to get an idea of what doing doula work was like before I even signed up for one, and then it was over a month between registration and the first class, and now I've been in the class for a month and a half.

I am just not sure how I am going to make it work with a little one of my own, not living super close to family or trusted caretakers (they're close enough to help sometimes, but not close enough to drop my child off every day or to rely on them for on-call childcare), and my husband working a job that is not very flexible (and, is going to grad school next year, full time- this is really the best thing for our family and part-time isn't an option for the program). We'd also like to avoid daycare before preschool if it's possible, but if finances are tight enough for me to be going back to full-time work, it probably is not time to be starting up my own doula gig.

My husband is in full support of my dreams and thinks I'd be good at it, we just don't know how it can fit our family at this time with our circumstances.

Suggestions and personal stories would be welcome! Do I need to wait until my kids are in school before I pursue this? Can I start the work sooner than that? What was your stage of life and circumstances when you started to attend births? Would it be silly for me to start networking now with no set business plan and ability to commit to backup services?

Thank you all in advance!

Hi!

I need your help and guidance. Im a postpartum doula student. And im meeting my first client as part of certification.

What shall i do? Like what do i need to do when meeting them? What did you bring?

Thank you in advance!

Hi everyone! I’m an experienced nanny and full spectrum doula seeking my next opportunity with a family whose values align with mine and who is looking for someone to become a trusted part of their support system.
I’ve worked in childcare since 2009 and have been a doula since 2017. Over the years I’ve supported families through pregnancy birth postpartum recovery newborn care and the everyday joys and challenges of raising children.
My approach to caregiving goes beyond the children. I believe in supporting the whole family. That means creating a nurturing environment for the children while helping parents feel supported and making everyday life a little easier for everyone in the household. I bring a calm attentive and nurturing presence into the homes I work in. I value open communication mutual respect consistency and building meaningful relationships with the families I support. My goal is for parents to feel confident in their childcare choice and for children to feel safe loved and encouraged to thrive.
With my background in childcare and birth work I bring experience in newborn care infant development postpartum support family routines developmental activities and household organization. I’m comfortable adapting to the needs of each household and believe the best working relationships are built on trust communication and shared expectations.
I’m looking for an opportunity in the Richmond Virginia area with a minimum rate of $30 per hour. I’m open to travel nanny positions and live in opportunities for the right family. Having weekends off is non negotiable for me and I value a healthy work life balance with clearly defined responsibilities and working hours.
Ideally I’d love to find a family whose values and expectations align with mine and where I can build a genuine long term relationship. My hope is to stay with a family for at least one year and hopefully grow with them beyond that. I’m not simply looking to fill a position. I want to find the right fit where I can provide consistency for the children offer meaningful support to the parents and contribute positively to the household as a whole.
For privacy I’m keeping identifying details off this post but I’m happy to share my résumé references and additional information privately with serious inquiries.
If you know a family looking for an experienced nanny postpartum doula or travel nanny please feel free to send me a private message with the location schedule responsibilities and compensation.
Here’s to finding the right fit for everyone involved! 🤎

This is currently trending here in Canada. If you haven’t seen it / heard of it, it’s about a woman who scammed & sexually assaulted around 50 doulas.

I’m curious on how people feel if this documentary will raise awareness on what a doula is / potentially change how people feel about doulas or any other general discussion about this case & documentary.

I did just post about this in a different sub but figured I’d ask here if this is normal.

I hired a doula for $2400 out of pocket- I worked overtime for months to afford this because I am totally alone in a new state. No friends, no meal trains, so parents, no in laws. Just me and my spouse as first time parents. I was terrified of the birth and labor process.

My pregnancy was overall uncomplicated. Then my baby just wanted to stay inside. At 10 days overdue, the midwives scheduled an induction. My doula sent me a thick packet of when I was allowed to contact her for support throughout the induction. Then Everything went terribly wrong and an emergency c section was done.

Because I never went into active labor, she was never expected to come.

And she kept my money. I asked if we could apply the service to a birth in the future if we ever needed one. She said we could have a “$450 discount/credit but could call it an even $500.”

So not only did I get absolutely traumatized with a PTSD diagnosis from the delivery process and everything that went on as I crossed the threshold of motherhood alone, I paid a lot of money for service I never received. I can’t even put into words how that is just the icing on the cake of such a clusterfuck of an awful experience. I lost a lot of faith in people during this time in my life.

Is that normal? No refunds if she doesn’t attend birth? Then the money is just lost to the ether?

Hello!

I'm a postpartum doula and I'm looking to get a certification in postpartum nutrition! Any recommendations for programs? I originally got my PP cert through Childbirth International. I've looked at Oh Baby! and IDI for their nutrition programs but none have really jumped out at me. Oh Baby! doesn't give me enough info on the course to feel confident forking over $3200, and I'm just not loving the design of IDI's website. So much upselling and popups just browsing for info. Would appreciate any advice!

Thank you!!

Hi all! I'm looking for the physical copies of the required readings for my MaternityWise Postpartum Doula certification. I hate Jeff Bezos and my eye twitches when I have to buy things from Amazon. Anyone know of a bookstore in the NYC area or another online shop I can purchase the books from?

The books are:

The Next Level Postpartum Doula: A Comprehensive Guide by Marjon Murphy

The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother

Natural Health after Birth: The Complete Guide to Postpartum Wellness

Thank you!

Hello! Looking for hypnobirthing playlists and/or app recommendations for clients that are free. Every app I've gone to so far has 0-2 tracks you can listen to without a subscription free. Please let me know what y'all typically recommend to clients who are wanting hypnobirthing but may not be able to afford it? Also, is it possible to do hypnobirthing playlists on YouTube without ads?

Hello! I'm a new doula, and I'm wondering how many clients do you accept, considering their due date for a given month? And if you've had cases where two mothers had their babies on the same day, how did you manage that overlap when time came? Those are things that concern me because I want to make this my life, being self-employed, and I also consider that being present during birth is very important, and sometimes I worry about how I can manage that. Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

Okay so I am looking into becoming a doula. I have doing some research and there are SO many training programs and I don't know how to pick one. What online programs are worth the money? What online programs do people trust. Would I be better off finding in person classes. I want to be a lifespan doula or I don't k ow what to call it. I think it would be cool to have the training to do both. I'd love advice. Thank you.

Hello friends!!! I am a 19 year old college student who feels a strong passion and connection with birth. Being a doula or midwife is my dream career, but when I did some shallow research before college I saw a low salary and inconsistent hours.

After spending a year exploring other career options and being unable to find anything that I feel even close to as moved by as birth, I am reconsidering this as a career path.

I see that most doulas also work in lactation consult and will hold childbirth classes, and wonder what salary looks like when you combine these 3 incomes. I also wonder about the classes, and how people are able to hold those regularly, or even schedule lactation consultations, if they are on call for their birthing clients? People who work all three of these jobs, how does that work and what are the hours like?

I know that postpartum doulas make more, but spending possible weeks overnight at another persons house with their baby is not something I am particularly interested, especially considering I want to have my own family someday and am not sure I would be comfortable not being home for that long. Maybe in the short term/while I am starting out, but want to know more long term options that don't include this. That being said, I am obviously comfortable being on call for birth and spending the night for maybe up to 2 nights.

If anyone doesn't have the answers but know someone I could reach out to, please drop their name! It is so hard to find information on this outside of combining the 3 salaries on Indeed, which is obviously not realistic.

Please help!!!!!

Hey everyone, I could use some advice on a sticky situation with a potential client.

For context, I have 20 years of experience as an infant nanny. A client wants to hire me, but her employer offers childcare/family care expense reimbursements specifically if she uses a certified doula. I am an experienced infant caregiver, but I am not currently a certified doula. She’s willing to hire me if I get certified, but the onus seems to be on me to make it happen.

My dilemma is this: I feel like I shouldn't have to pay out of pocket for a certification course and fees just so she can check a box and get 100% reimbursement or write off her childcare expenses. Has anyone navigated this before? Is it reasonable to propose that she absorb or split the cost of the certification training since she’s the primary beneficiary of the employer's reimbursement perk?

Secondly, what are standard rates for postpartum doulas in the Washington, D.C. area right now? Given my two decades of high-end infant and overnight experience, I want to make sure I'm pricing myself appropriately if I step into this formal designation.

Would love to hear how others would handle this conversation!

FTM looking for advice on scheduling an overnight doula!
We hired an overnight doula for 15 nights over four weeks, initially planning for 5 nights/week for the first two weeks, then tapering down to 3 and 2 nights.

When I asked about scheduling, she suggested every other night but also said we could decide week by week based on our needs.

Im getting induced tomorrow and I’m a little concerned about the lack of a clear plan or guidance around scheduling. I was hoping for more thoughtful recommendations rather than just figuring it out ourselves.

Is this typical? For those who used an overnight doula, how did you structure your nights? Would you recommend consecutive nights, alternating nights, or something else?

It has been a busy, busy, busy year. This week, I am celebrating my 100th Mom of 2026! Lactation, bereavement, postpartum care, birth, workshops, crisis therapy, baby care education, abortion, ethics consults, and a PhD candidacy…. just as I’m about to turn 30 next week! Feels symbolic. Tired, grateful, and appreciate the advice so many of ya’ll have given me, especially about how to better take care of myself when things weigh so heavily. Don’t let anyone diminish what a doula does.

I am looking at becoming a birth/postpartum doula and would eventually educate on lactation and childbirth education, and would be located between Prince George and Quesnel. But servicing surrounding areas. Is there a big enough demand? I am thinking of reaching out to the existing doulas to hopefully start a conversation, but hopefully I can get some responses here as well.

Thanks!

I am beginning to do my research on certification programs and I am overwhelmed! So my first questions are:

- What programs offer inclusiveness and go in to depth and make sure their doulas feel prepared?

- Did your program educate on how to support different types of families (LGBTQ, different cultures, etc.) and do they acknowledge and educate about things like medical racism?

- What programs offer discounted or free recertification?

- Are there any programs you would recommend avoiding and why?

My next questions are about the expenses to get started and to continue a career:

- What resources did you feel were worth the investment?

- Was there anything you felt was a waste of time/money/resources?

- Did you ever feel like you were spending too much to profit from your career financially and what can I do to avoid that?

- How can I offer fair pricing and how do you break down your clients payments (per visit, month, trimester)?

- How should I network and promote myself?

Hi all! I'm looking into getting my postpartum doula cert and was wondering if anyone has gone through international childbirth education association? I would like to get a childbirth educator certification as well so I like that they have a dual certification program but honestly there are so many different certification programs and I have no idea how to pick.

I am tired of the wasted hours i spend doomscrolling and comparing myself to other birth workers that have a huge following and make all these beautiful reels.

I spend more time in paralysis with my own content…whether it’s good enough, is it gonna get me clients that I end up giving up halfway through creation and not even posting anything. I spend a lot of time on Facebook doula/parent groups, but have literally only ever gotten 1 or 2 jobs from there.

Has anyone else quit social media and still been able to run a successful business? I should note, I do have an online presence otherwise. I have a website with a blog, and am on DoulaMatch. I’m thinking i’m going to completely focus on blogging, even though I end up in the comparison trap there as well😩.

Hi I’m a mom to two littles and had a doula for my second birth and I feel like it was life changing. I’m starting to question becoming a doula cause I feel like all women deserve that support. Give me the good the bad the ugly. I feel more empowered that I gave birth on my own without hospital intervention and was thinking becoming a doula is starting to pull at me. It would just be maybe 1 or 2 births a month maybe only 1. Thank you