something new

[maine_girl]

I am seriously considering undergoing doula training in October.  I have been thinking about this since Abbey's birth, and thought it would be something I would do after I am done having children.  But I think I am going to do it now.  I very much want to be around birth; and I want to be an advocate for women and their choices.  I had a long

Comments

[birthingway]

Such fun you will have, and such cool women you will meet!

[maine_girl]

I am really thrilled. I am filling out the registration and really looking forward to meeting some amazing women through this process. I'm even looking forward to the required reading!

[legitimatelove]

I think that is an amazing goal. I also have an interest in becoming a doula (wanted desperately to become a midwife but nursing school got put on hold a couple years ago and I've not been back), but I know I can't make the commitment right now. Perhaps in a couple of years.

Having had my older son at 17, I can definitely say that there is not (or, at least, there *was* not) a lot of support for teenage mothers, esp. within the health clinic and hospital that I dealt with. I was lucky in that I had family support at my birth (son's father, my mother) and had an excellent team of midwives aiding me, but I know there were plenty of girls who didn't have the support I had. Looking back, I cannot believe I got thru all of that at 17. I was a baby myself. I went to a school for teenaged mothers and so many of them had no one, and could really have used the guidance of a doula before, during and after birthing their babies.

Best of luck!

[maine_girl]

You know, I thought so much about teenage moms during my pregnancy. I had a lot of support from my husband and family, but it was still hard at times. I can't imagine being 17; you must be so thankful that things went well for you and that you had the support of midwives! Most 17 year olds I know have never heard of a midwife. I think teenaged women who go through pregancy, labour and delivery deserve an incredible amount of respect. It takes real guts.

[yellowdominatri]

You should really do it! I think you'd be great and they always need people. But why would you have to move if you wanted to become a midwife?

[maine_girl]

The closest midwifery program (you need a university degree to be a midwife in Ontario) is in Toronto.