BECOMING A DOULA
For starting certified Doulas in Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia, we offer mentorship programs to help them get off to a good start of a rewarding career. If you want to work for us this could also be a good starting point. Either way, feel free to drop us a note and we are more than happy to talk with you!
Doula Nathalie Owner: When I started my Doula career in 2018, it was like being thrown into the deep end of the pool! As a student I was eager to lean more from an experienced mentor. However, because birth is such an intimate event, many experienced Doulas were not very open about asking their clients to allow me to shadow them. With the Pandemic beginning in early 2020, it became even more difficult or impossible to find someone to train under. I have a medical background, so the hospital setting isn't new to me, but how would that feel for someone without any of that experience? Although we are trained by a doula organization, we always benefit from the knowledge of a more experienced Doula.
One of the roles as a Doula, is to provide our clients with education. I love doing this! Education is the key for success, and I have come to the idea of offering a mentorship program for new doulas. I would like to be a coach for new doulas, to teach them so they grow into their Doula role. Part of teaching must include reflecting back on each birth, or postpartum visit, and providing coaching to help mentees understand what other options could have been taken and to learn from this feedback.
If you improve your skills, you will become more competent for your clients. You will build confidence in your work and the result will be more happy clients and a thriving business. We work better together than apart. Sharing wisdom and building strong doula communities is very important.
Don't look at each other as competition, each of us does this work differently, each with a unique touch. YOU make the job special, and this allows your clients to fall in love with YOU! I would like to be your guide to becoming a GREAT doula!
The best advice I can give you:
keep reading, ask yourself questions, and be vulnerable enough to seek answers, be curious, be pro-active, be amazed. Don't take things for granted.
One of the roles as a Doula, is to provide our clients with education. I love doing this! Education is the key for success, and I have come to the idea of offering a mentorship program for new doulas. I would like to be a coach for new doulas, to teach them so they grow into their Doula role. Part of teaching must include reflecting back on each birth, or postpartum visit, and providing coaching to help mentees understand what other options could have been taken and to learn from this feedback.
If you improve your skills, you will become more competent for your clients. You will build confidence in your work and the result will be more happy clients and a thriving business. We work better together than apart. Sharing wisdom and building strong doula communities is very important.
Don't look at each other as competition, each of us does this work differently, each with a unique touch. YOU make the job special, and this allows your clients to fall in love with YOU! I would like to be your guide to becoming a GREAT doula!
The best advice I can give you:
keep reading, ask yourself questions, and be vulnerable enough to seek answers, be curious, be pro-active, be amazed. Don't take things for granted.
Mentoring Birth
Doula Support
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Hourly Consults:
I offer hourly consults (to answer all your questions) as you learn to spread your wings as a birth doula. I am here for you as a sounding board or exchange of ideas or when you need to process something. $75 up to an hour via zoom/skype/Facetime day or night (also during a birth, if discusses upfront) available. A 6 weeks program: A 6 weeks program to build up your business, the DO's and DONT'S. (6 hours/$300) via zoom/skype. We will go over many subjects like: how to organize your business, setting boundaries, an on call schedule, working alone or via an agency, your doula bag, what else can you add to your service.....how to expand your service....evidence-based information, practical tools. On call schedule: Being on call for you (day/night) while you are having your first doula jobs. You do not have to do it alone, I go "on call" with you for the entire birth experience. For 20% of your doula fee I can help you to:
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Mentoring Postpartum
Doula Support
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Hourly Consults:
I offer hourly consults (to answer all your questions) as you learn to spread your wings as a postpartum doula. I am here for you as a sounding board or exchange of ideas or when you need to process something. $75 up to an hour via zoom/skype/Facetime A 4 weeks program: A 4 weeks program to build up your business, the DO's and DONT'S. (4 hours/$200) via zoom/skype We will go over many subjects like: how to organize your business, setting boundaries, working alone or via an agency, your postpartum doula bag, what else can you add to your service.....how to expand your service....evidence-based information, practical tools. Newborn care, breastfeeding...... |
Mentee Testimonials
Testimonial from Suzanne Galat:
I have been Nathalie’s mentee for 6 months now, and have been able to enhance my skillset and build confidence through her guidance. Her knowledge and experience is deep and varied. I discovered Nathalie in my Google search for doulas to learn more about becoming a doula and loved how personal and informative her website was. I wanted to talk to her so, I sent an email. She was immediately responsive. That began our mentoring relationship throughout my doula coursework. Nathalie spent a lot of time over the months answering my questions and giving different scenarios about breastfeeding, recommending her favorite books on various topics, sending me loads of articles, products and websites to follow and groups to join. We also role-played possible situations where she would critique how I performed as a Doula and how I could be more personal and informative with a prospective client. She invited me to a pre-natal zoom she was leading for her expectant clients. Nathalie is very engaged, available and wants her mentees to succeed.
After graduating from my courses and receiving two certifications, I started working almost immediately as a postpartum doula and situations arose quickly where I needed problem solving skills or to fact check my hypothesis in real time. I was able to text Nathalie and get responses from her quickly which gave me confidence on how to proceed with my clients. More and more I have the answers now from our time together but sometimes I like Nathalie to weigh in too, which feels empowering.
In addition, Nathalie helped me set up my business by saving me time so I didn’t have to research what I needed in terms of insurance, website, working with agencies. She is super smart, patient, kind and direct. I trust her because she has decades of experience in nursing, birthing and postpartum care. It has been a great experience so far! I highly recommend Doula Nathalie as a mentor to you as well.
Testimonial from Katya Healy Daily:
When transitioning from the education field into doula work I felt it was really important to connect with another doula, before starting my career. I decided to reachout to a handful of local doulas and was overjoyed when Nathalie responded.
Nathalie was amazing! She offered to facetime and we talked about the basics of doula work for over an hour. We clicked immediately and Nathalie offered to stay in contact. Once I started my certification process and wanted some practical mentoring, Nathalie was again more than willing to help.
Within a couple months of mentoring with Nathalie I was able to shadow her for an interview, prenatal appointment, and then a virtual birth. This experience was invaluable. Nathalie taught me so much about birth and gave me the confidence to take my own solo births, only a few months later.
Nathalie has also helped me in my journey towards postpartum certification, teaching me various tips and tricks of the doula trade. Her mentorship has helped me start my doula journey, gain confidence to quit my day job, and start working as a doula full-time. Becoming a doula can be a hard and confusing journey, but Nathalie made that journey so much easier and continues to be a wonderful resource and friend. If you’re thinking about mentoring with Nathalie you won’t regret it!
Testimonial from Molly Casey Duffy
I am forever grateful that I found Doula Nathalie. As I was nearing the end of my birth and postpartum doula certification, I began to wonder and worry what was next. Was I really ready?
I came upon Nathalie's website when searching for local doulas to potentially connect with and was thrilled to see that Nathalie offered a doula mentorship program! Nathalie replied quickly, and within the same week, we had our first of 6 weekly virtual meetings. We instantly connected and I looked forward to meeting with her every week. We often lost track of time as we chatted easily, sharing stories and experiences, resources, tips, role playing, and as she patiently answered my many questions.
Nathalie's warm and friendly demeanor, wealth of knowledge, and unwavering support were just what I needed to move forward in my doula journey! Toward the end of our official mentorship program, Nathalie was confident enough in my abilities to invite me to shadow her with clients and to refer me to families to support on my own. Her confidence in me helped me to believe in myself and my ability to support families during this amazing time of transition.
We continue to work with one another and I'm so thankful to have a mentor that I can turn to as needed. I can't recommend Doula Nathalie enough, especially if you are just starting out as a new doula. You will learn so much from Nathalie!