October Doula Update

I have shared a few blogposts about my journey to becoming a certified doula.

Doula WHAT?! - I broached the idea of becoming a doula.  

Doula School: half way through - I documented being half way done doula classes.  

HereDrumroll Please - I announced my official certification!

So what has happened in between and since then?  

With gaining credentials out of the way, the business end of things had to be tackled.  I picked a business name (which was no easy task, major mental block there!).  I figured out my branding: the colors, style, and feel of my business and then I dusted off my graphic design hat and went to town creating:

graphics 

logos

business card

and more.

I also built my website from the ground up: www.babylovebirth.com... page by page and piece by piece.  

I wrote up my client contract and pieced together a welcome packet to hand out at interviews.

I met and continue to network with the other (amazing) doulas in the area.

In the midst of all of that I gained three clients who are due now,  December, and February.  

I have completed interviews, contract signings, prenatal visits and one birth, which happened this week.

This birth was for a client *and* friend and it was a beautiful experience.  Mom labored phenomenally, and birthed a beautifully perfect little seven pound boy.  It felt good to walk along mom and fill the role of birth doula.  

I am still a newbie and am committed to my goal of being a doula for years upon years upon years... I have more to learn and will slowly build my business and follow this path, but it's been a pretty awesome few months.  School filled the Summer and budding business tasks filled the Fall.  I am only falling more deeply for this doula work.  I adore my clients (seriously, they are the BEST people) and feel so perfectly connected to this role.  

Can I step back and say... WOO HOO for all this happening?!?!

As time passes,  I will move into silently completing my doula work, not boasting of births or marking my progress, but silently serving others and building my reputation and strengths and business.  I wanted to document my journey today, however, since I've blogged about it from the beginning.  All that is written above has made this vision a true reality... feels good.  Although I won't be doing a play-by-play of my doula life on here, I do plan to log my births, posting a photo of baby if mom consents.  That will be here: Baby Love Birth Log if you are curious about my births.

Overall, though, what I walk away with is... birth doula, hands down, best job ever.