To Recertify or not

This is the year I must recertify with DONA. I have been debating on if it is better to do it or not.  I have tried to keep track of where my clients have found me. Mostly it is the VFDC in our area or by word of mouth. 

Last year I only took 4 births.  Is it worth it for me to recert?. I am still a Doula and follow what I have been taught and believe in the support that every birthing mother should have.  I would do nothing different without a certification from DONA.  I just do not know.

I guess I will have to see what parents think about hiring a Doula without a certification.  I am still DONA trained and keep up on reading and things to enhance by practice.  I guess I feel it crazy after 25+ births I would need to get 3 more births signed off.  Have I not proven my worth already? 

This is the question of the week.  I would no be able to use this upcoming birth because I have not ordered my packet to re-certify so I would need 3 birth by November of this year and if things are like last year....well...I may not get them anyways..

I better makeup my mind and fast I suppose.

Changes

This is now the time where my sleeping patterns begin to change.  Hopefully that is!.  Trying to take mid afternoon naps is not always easy.  I am trying hard not to get sick now.  For the next month I must stay healthy. So that means increasing my Vit C intake, much more hand washing and lots of hand sanitizer.

I have yet to miss a birth and I really have no desire to begin now!. 

I know I really need to update my doula bag so this week I shall be out refilling it with my essential oils, hot/cold packs, hand massager etc. All to help mommy when the time comes.

I try not to go out of town if possible but this year I am going once again to our family's crab feed at the end of the month.  I will only be 2 hours away and of course I have a back-up ready. I will know more as time gets closer but I start planning now. For this type of thing I am not a last min. person. I like to have my ducks in order (part of my control freak side I guess).

Its a New Year

Welcome 2011!!!

This year I welcomed it in with some very dear friends.  I am glad to close last year out and begin with a fresh start.  As with most lives I have experienced both good and bad in my personal life.  In my work in 2010 I had the privilege of supporting a few women and their families and it brought a lot of happiness my way. 

I am trusting that this year bring much more happiness both in life and in work.  I am finally able to close some doors that needed closing and now that I have done that I believe I can move onto bigger and better things.  I no longer will dwell on things, situations and people I am unable to change. It is rather draining to keep pulling when no change is desired on the other end. 

I am hoping this year, that I am able to devote more time to my work. I begin this year with my first birth in February (a Valentines baby perhaps??). I still believe I am at every birth for a reason.  I want to bring my personal best of course but more than that I want to be able to have them see in me my love for God and the peace in which it has brought me.  If  I can somehow convey that to them in my support for their family then I feel I have done my job. 

Wishing you the best for this New Year.

Interviews

I have to say that I really dislike interviews. I have never been good at them first of all but second I feel like I am on an auction block selling myself!. In a way I actually am. Still I get rather uncomfortable in them.  I am secure in the knowledge I have regarding my Doula work. I have studied, continue to study and keep current on things to help my clients.

Each time I go into an interview I first pray that I could be of aid to this mother/couple/family.  I take all my information and as much character I can.  I want them to see the real me not some "fake" person who faulters under pressure. I am human afterall and I get nervous, hands get sweaty, mind goes blank.

I can ususally tell when I walk out the interview if it went well or not.  I have learned that I am not only being interviewed but I too am interviewing.  To see if we are a "match". Either way I eagerly await the phone call or the email to let me know if I am to be a support at the birth of their baby.

All that being said..I now wait to schedule the first prenatal appointment.  The time is ticking and I am already excited for the birth.

October 26th

Now that summer has been over for a bit and fall is here I am back to doing doula work....well hopefully. I usually do not take client from June thru September due to family vacations and such.

This year as with all previous July's since I started this work I said yes to yet another birth. I was not totally sure if I would get this one as I told them in the interview I was to be on vacation the last few weeks of the pregnancy.  I like to say that "If I am meant to be a part of this birth then I will be hired"...and I was. Believe me I slept with my phone close and made sure I had reception everywhere I went.  I have never missed a birth and I was not about to start then.

I must say in all the births I have been a part of this one was a suprise! You see they were told the baby was a girl so when the baby was born SUPRISE!!! IT WAS A BOY!!!. Needless to say the parents were shocked but still happy as can be.

Hopefully, I can take on a few before the year ends. It would be fun to end the year with a holiday birth.

I know taking this much time off hurts my business and my involvement in the Doula Collective but I do so many things through the year, I feel it very necessary to take the time for family.  I know I will not regret it when my children are older.

I have my second fall interview on Thursday.  EDD is Feb 2011.  It would be nice to get this one but again as I say "If I am meant to be there....I will be"