For those who are looking into an exciting and rewarding path as a birth doula, there are a few things which come along with the role which can be challenging. For some, these challenges are not a big deal. For others, they can be difficult to overcome.
For aspiring birth doulas, it’s common to be curious about the hardest parts of being a doula. Here are the top three challenges doulas struggle with and how to navigate them.
Birth Doulas Are On-Call
Being on-call is a challenge. There are many paths which do not require being on-call. However, for most birth experts, like birth doulas, being on-call is necessary. Yet, unlike some other birth experts (e.g. physicians) many doulas are unable to share the responsibilities with a coworker. Most doulas do not have set days on and off call.
Sure, it is possible to collaborate with a group of doulas to take turns being on-call. However, many birthing people prefer to work with just one doula, unless there’s an emergency. When families decide to have a doula, they are looking for guaranteed, familiar, continuous support throughout their labor. This means, that in most cases you are on-call every day for a few weeks for each family you work with.
The good news though? Most birth doulas have just one to four clients per month. So, while you are on-call every day, you are unlikely to be called away every day.
The easiest way to handle life on-call is through balance. Do not take on more families than you can support without burning yourself out. With the exception of alcohol or traveling more than an hour away, you can go about your day as normal even when you’re on-call. Try not to sit staring at your phone stressing about when you will be called away.
Then, when you are gifted time off-call, indulge in all the things you couldn’t. Take a day trip (or even a weekend getaway!). You can enjoy a glass of wine and binge a show without stress of needing to get enough sleep in case you are called away at 2am. Enjoy the highs of attending births. Savor the moments in between life on call. Yes, it is challenging, but it is also very rewarding!
Childcare For Birth Doulas Can Be Hard
For birth doulas who have children, navigating childcare can be hard. As a doula, you need reliable childcare that is available outside typical business hours and with minimal notice. Some doulas are fortunate enough to have partners or nearby family with flexible schedules. For those fortunate to have that, childcare is less of a challenge.
However, for many doulas, their partners also have work hours. Their family may still be working or not live nearby. For those having to navigate childcare, you can look into extended hour daycares and drop in facilities. You can also consider an on-call babysitter who can come to you or who can receive the kids in the morning from your partner on their way to work. For on-call sitters, a monthly stipend for being on-call as well as an hourly fee can help secure on-going reliable childcare.
Most importantly, appreciate and show gratitude for your on-call childcare providers. Even if you were not on-call, maintaining a positive and respectful relationship with care providers is a great way to establish long-term reliable care. You can even refer your doula families to the childcare provider and help establish mutual support.
Navigating Other Doulas
Just as with anything else, a few bad apples can give the whole bunch a bad reputation. Sometimes other doulas can be the worst—while at the same time, others can be the best. By choosing who we associate with and choosing to be kinder than necessary and conscious of what we say, we can bring a positive impression to birth doulas as a whole.
When you associate with positive, like-minded doulas, you’re not only aligning with a professional alliance, but with someone who will be there for you through everything.
There are times you may need to win over a nervous nurse or objecting OB because they’ve only had negative experiences with doulas. In those situations, it is best to be very conscious of your role and scope of practice. Be polite and professional. Let your excellent support for the family done in a safe and evidence-based way speak for itself. And remember, any negativity they have about doulas is not your fault or responsibility. You are there to support the family.
While being a birth doula is not always easy, it is by far one of the most rewarding paths to take on. Find a path that you are passionate about and see first-hand the positive impact that you can have on the families you serve. The International Doula Institute teaches new doulas how to be successful, and how to have a rewarding experience serving growing families at all hours of the day or night!
Author: Aliza Juliette Bancoff
Aliza Juliette Bancoff is a well-known doula and doula trainer who has been providing doula services to families for over a decade. She is the founder of Main Line Doulas, a doula group providing doula support in the great Philadelphia area for the last decade, the International Doula Institute, which provides online doula training and lactation training and certification programs and the International Breastfeeding Institute which provides lactation training and certification. She is the co-founder of United Birth, a company devoted to increasing access to doulas across the country to make the perinatal time safer both physically and emotionally. “Every birthing person deserves access to quality doula support. And we are working to make that a reality across the country. The work we are doing to get doulas to every birthing person will decrease the black infant and maternal mortality rate significantly by 2030.” Says Bancoff. Aliza is known for her compassionate and empowering approach to doula work, and she has been featured in numerous media outlets, including United Nations Maternal Health Report, Parent Magazine, CafeMom, theBump and many more. Aliza's journey into doula work began when she gave birth to her first child and felt a strong calling...