Discussions

What course are you thinking of taking? You can pm me if you don't wish to post the answer here.

There is a group of doulas working together in Brandon under Natural Beginnings Doula Services. You can find us online or on Facebook. Www.brandondoulas.ca We would be happy to answer any of your questions.

I am a doula as well if you need another source

What other things might you be considering or are good at?  
 
Maybe we can help take some of the confusion out of your situation and help give you a clearer path to pursue.

Is there a lot of demand for doula's in Brandon? I have also considered this as a career, but really didn't think there would be a lot of demand, so not a lot of opportunity to make a living. I also wasn't sure how good of a job it would be for a person with a young family, as I know that hours can be odd especially when attending a birth at any hour of the day.  
 
Maybe a doula could give some insight on here as to what a typical work day or work week looks like, how busy they are, and the chances of making a decent living.  
 

I can't imagine a doula having a typical work week. There are too many variables. Also, I can't see it being a reliable sole income. Again, there are too many variables.  
 
Doulas I know always have a second "job"/interest or are doing it as a supplemental income. They are not in it for the money, but instead have become doulas to help educate and otherwise support the mom and family.  
 
If you would like a job/career that pays a steady salary and is roughly in the same way of thinking, I think you might be better off looking into midwifery. I do not know what they make here, but I found a link that put BC midwives at $60,000-$90,000/yr.

Flutterby said "I can't imagine a doula having a typical work week. There are too many variables. Also, I can't see it being a reliable sole income. Again, there are too many variables.     Doulas I know always have a second "job"/interest or are doing it as a supplemental income. They are not in it for the money, but instead have become doulas to help educate and otherwise support the mom and family.     If you would like a job/career that pays a steady salary and is roughly in the same way of thinking, I think you might be better off looking into midwifery. I do not know what they make here, but I found a link that put BC midwives at $60,000-$90,000/yr. "

That's pretty much what I figures in a smaller area like Brandon. I also know that Doula services can be quite expensive, and in a city like Brandon, likely most people don't want to pay for those types of services.  
 
I would imagine in a larger city you would have more of a chance of making it a career, rather than just a second job.  
 
As a stay at home Mom, I could likely make the hours of a doula work, and I know I would very much enjoy doing something like this, but when I do go back to my full time job, there is no way I could make time for this as a second job.  
 

Amygirl1980 said "So confused on what I want to do "

Pm'd you again.

Flutterby said "I can't imagine a doula having a typical work week. There are too many variables. Also, I can't see it being a reliable sole income. Again, there are too many variables.     Doulas I know always have a second "job"/interest or are doing it as a supplemental income. They are not in it for the money, but instead have become doulas to help educate and otherwise support the mom and family.     If you would like a job/career that pays a steady salary and is roughly in the same way of thinking, I think you might be better off looking into midwifery. I do not know what they make here, but I found a link that put BC midwives at $60,000-$90,000/yr. "

However, to become a midwife you needs at minimum 4 years of university for a Bachelor of Midwifery, and most midwives have more with either a science degree or nursing degree prior to that. You also need to be registered as a midwife with the College of Midwives to be able to use the title "midwife".  
 
Whereas a doula, because it's not a regulated profession, there's no set standard for education and usually involves an online course or two from what I've seen. So the commitment in terms of education, time and money is quite different.

... that I'm not suggesting that doulas are not committed to their calling and their clients, but they are very, very different from midwives in terms of "getting into the business".

But it does depend on what the OP is looking for. If she is looking into helping others and not concerned with making lots, a doula might be a good choice. If she wants a career that pays those kind of bucks like I posted, then the midwifery route might suit her situation better.  
 
There are differences, for sure. One that you did not mention is also responsibility. The doula informs & supports, while the midwife may make medical decisions in addition to that.  
 
I am glad that doula courses are not regulated. Regulation is not everything and does not necessarily make something better nor safer. The client always has a choice about if they want one and whom it may be, just as the traditional midwifery model had. Having the choice is important.  
 
If you do read different course descriptions and what the doulas have to agree to uphold to retain their status, it is not something to be taken lightly just the same. They have fairly strict standards even if it is not government mandated and regulated.