How I Got Into Doula Work
When people find out that I don’t have kids they quickly question, “Why ARE you a Doula then?” So many other Doulas and Birth Workers get into this industry because they experienced trauma and wanted to make a difference, or someone made their birth so magical that they were also inspired to get into this line of work. I don’t fall into either of those categories, so where DO I fall?
I was one of those kids growing up that was OBSESSED with dolls, playing house, then “Midge & Baby” - the pregnant Barbie. I was always the kid in the group that was taking care of the smaller ones, mothering my younger sister since birth (and well into her teens, she LOVED that haha, not.)
Midge & Baby
The so called “inappropriate Barbie” that got pulled off shelves, but I was OBSESSED with it.
In Grade 9 school science class I was fascinated by how the body worked, especially the reproductive sciences section and how DNA works. Grade 10 came around though and my confidence was shaken, so I was convinced that I didn’t have the sciences brain to be able to get into midwifery. So along came Careers class, and “Career cruising” suggested Interior Design (after pyrotechnic specialist, which was still quite appealing, but, science). I followed that path through to College, completed 3 years of work for my Advance Certificate in Interior Design at Fanshawe College, and jumped into the industry.
While working away I would still get Fanshawe updates and saw they added a new course, “Doula Studies”. I looked into it and was hooked. The only problem was that it was a full time course, I had financial commitments, and existing student loans that I couldn’t justify leaving my full time job. Plus as several people pointed out “if you haven’t even given birth yourself, how would people trust that you know what you are doing?” “People will trust your knowledge more once you’ve had a child of your own”. I kept taking those to heart and decided with my husband that maybe it was a down the road goal, and not an anytime soon goal.
As time went on I started following birth accounts, and looking into other means of Doula certification. In the midst of COVID I ended up attending my first birth as a support person. I watched all the support person videos, articles, you name it, leading up to it. It was an absolutely magical experience (sprinkled with a scare, but we got through that). It lit a fire in me. After that I started diving deeper into how I could make things happen. With the pandemic Doula certification schools started offering self lead courses online, with virtual 2-3 day “in person” courses. I had arranged a virtual meeting with Brittany at The Doula Tree to pick her brain and ask her all of the questions around how to get into Doula work, what the income was like, what living life on call was like, etc. The thing stopping me was the financial aspect of it again. So for another little while I let that goal go to focus on other things. A few months later I saw an email come through. Doula Training Canada had a scholarship program open up. When I applied my husband and I were in the midst of getting our first home ready for sale. Things were busy, and I didn’t have much time on my hands between that and trying to get a new side business off the ground. I told my friend (the birth that I attended) about it and she encouraged me to apply without hesitation. She said “Christina, I know you are meant to do this work. There was a spark in your eyes the day he was born and I’ve seen that fire in you ever since.” I applied with the mindset of “If I get in, it was meant to happen. If I don’t, then it’s not meant to be right now and I’ll try again later.”
The day that we sold our home, June 4th 2022, was the day that I got the email. “Re: Congratulations! Doula Canada scholarship recipient!” I was a whirlwind of a day to say the least. I got to choose from 6 programs. For me though it was down to 3: Perinatal Educator, Birth Doula, or Postpartum Doula. I decided that even though the other 2 were more likely to bring in better income at first that my soul was in helping women through the amazing process that was birth. I accepted my scholarship, and was enrolled in the Labour & Birth Doula program by July. Brittany was looking to hire that August. We met and immediately clicked. I was signed on with her that month, and my crazy journey as a Doula officially began.
I am so incredibly proud of myself for how much work I have put in to get this far in such a short amount of time. I am more successful than I ever thought I would be and I am honestly blown away by that. I have my family, friends, and ultimately Brittany to thank for that. I am so incredibly grateful for all of it, and all of you ♥
One major thing that I have learned since that put to rest one of the doubts I had before I started:
“There’s all kinds of male OB’s. They’ve never had, and never will have babies themselves. Women across the world trust them to manage their births. Why wouldn’t a woman welcome support from a Maiden that is drawn to birth and is inherently nurturing and loving?”
