Calling all doulas who studied online...

**The[cookie]Doctor** · April 19th, 2008, 07:20 PM

Alright, so after much thought and deliberation I've decided I'm going to enquire further about doing doula training and practising as a doula before applying for midwifery.

The problem I have is that I can only study online so I'm looking for your recommendations.
& just general information.

I've heard of Optimum Birth & CBI.
Are there any other online study opportunities?
Which did you choose and why? Is the much of a difference?
How easy/difficult was it for you to get your three births?
Are you able to do more than this?
What are the costs like and do you pay upfront? I've looked at O/B previously but I think I got the wrong information.

ANY information you can provide WRT or not WRT these questions will be incredibly helpful!

TIA.

xx

**The[cookie]Doctor** · April 21st, 2008, 11:37 AM

*bumpity bump*

**Emma1979** · April 21st, 2008, 12:10 PM

we meet again!!

im planning on doing the child birth international one, from what i have heard, it is a bit more thorough, and the thing that really appealed to me is you get course manuals, as in hard copy paper manuals of 650+ pages, so great to refer back to, i think with the Optimum Birth course its ALL online....

there is a thread comparing the two courses somewhere, i will see if i can find it.

**Emma1979** · April 21st, 2008, 12:11 PM

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...la-course.html

**Tobily** · April 21st, 2008, 12:54 PM

I trained through CBI - loved it, fantastic course and didn't have single complaint the whole way through. I looked at both CBI and OB beforehand - they are definitely very different courses. I found the content of the OB course to be more "touchy feely" if that makes sense. The CBI course had that but it also had really good nuts and bolts stuff to back it up. Alot of theory on the physiology of normal pregnancy and communication...which is a massive part of being a doula. They each have their strengths but for what I was looking for I found CBI to be great.

Are there any other online study opportunities?
Not that I know of

Which did you choose and why? Is the much of a difference?
Oops already answered that above

How easy/difficult was it for you to get your three births?
Easy. You'll find that there are lots of women out there want a doula but can't afford to pay, or who are interested in the concept enough that they'll have one if it's free but not interested enough to pay for it

Either of these groups will go for a trainee.

Are you able to do more than this?
I did two more than I had to because the mums approached me and I wanted the experience. I was very glad I did because the very first two births I did were second babies and they were smoooooth sailing and very quick. But the next two had longer labours and other issues during pregnancy and labour so I got to "practice" a bit more lol.

What are the costs like and do you pay upfront? I've looked at O/B previously but I think I got the wrong information.
I can't remember now what CBI was, but I know I paid upfront but you can pay it off. They just don't let you have the manuals until the full amount is paid. You just work off the student website until then (which is excellent anyway!)

Good luck

**Pretty Butterfly** · April 21st, 2008, 01:07 PM

I have been wanting to go into this sort of work for a long time, and I think its something I will be very good at!!

(lots of experience!!)

I'm looking at the CBI one as well. Let me know how you go Ash, we could end up study buddies!!

**The[cookie]Doctor** · April 21st, 2008, 01:20 PM

I've just had a read through the other thread and i think im leaning more towrads CBI.
It just seems that everyone has said so many more positive things about them. Maybe that's just as more people have studied with them, not sure.

Jodie mate you'd be an excellent doula! I think you'd have people lining up without the training!

Flea - does that mean i can still do studying online while im paying the hardcopy modules off?
Not that it would matter i dont think from what i think i saw the modules are 110 each which means that id surely have the money by the time i finished one? And if thats the cost i could easily just sign up today.

Things im worried / skeptical about:
Who'd mind alexander? People in my family have all had smooth sailing, easy, no intervention, drug free births. So i guess its going to be hard to promote doula-ing to them as necessary, let alone having them available to mind Alex if it's a daytime birth IYKWIM.
Being so young, are women going to be less inclined to utuilise my services? I don't know many 'young mums' that could necessarily afford a doula and I just wonder if older women would be less inclined to use me because i am so young?

**Tobily** · April 21st, 2008, 01:34 PM

With OB you can pay per module ($110) and you just download them as you go. Or you pay for all 4 at once and get a discount. OB does not supply hardcopy manuals it's all electronic.

with CBI you can pay in installments and get electronic access to all of the materials on line in the student area of their website. Once you pay the final instalment they post you all the hardcopy manuals (there are three). If you pay upfront (which I did) you get the same access to the website and they send you all of the hardcopy manuals when you start.

I have to say I really liked the CBI manuals and I still refer to them now.

**Pretty Butterfly** · April 21st, 2008, 01:39 PM

I am definatly leaning towards CBI as well.... It has "more" to it and seems very suited to type of Doula I'd love to be....

I'm getting all excited now!!!

My only prob will be what to do with the kids if someone needs me between 7 and 4.30 mon to fri when Ad is at work... All the family works....

**Pretty Butterfly** · April 21st, 2008, 01:52 PM

Running over to sign up for the little free course on CBI..... just to see what I really think of it....It feels good to finally do something I'm really passionate about!

**The[cookie]Doctor** · April 21st, 2008, 01:54 PM

ooooh jodie what is it?
can you pm the link to me?

**Pretty Butterfly** · April 21st, 2008, 02:01 PM

I dont know how to add links!!

On the CBI main page, on the left is a menu. The last option is "Intro course.. Free". It takes you to the sister site where you can register. I'm just doing it now!!!

**The[cookie]Doctor** · April 21st, 2008, 02:14 PM

Oooh ok, ta

I like the fact they have payment plans available.
And to combine the birth and postpartum doula course makes it cheaper.
I think I might just sign up to it today.

Flea I assume I will find all this info on the website but how soon are you able to attend births?

**Pretty Butterfly** · April 21st, 2008, 02:19 PM

Yeah, I love that you can add the courses... I want the Doula and Breastfeeding one, but they wont be available together till sept... But If I get the breastfeeding one later, it'll still be a little cheaper...

If I read the site right, your births count any time from registering and being all paid up and receiving your package. Once you have your package, your a "trainee"...

**Tami** · April 25th, 2008, 09:18 AM

Hey guys I am new to these forums. I too want to train as a doula and child birth educator and am going to be training with CBI. I think they have alot more to offer and after comparing them to OB I think they are the one for me.
I did 2 yrs towards my Bach Mid in Nz and for various reasons was unable to complete my degree, but have always had a passion for this field and after 50+ births know that this is my calling.
Before coming to Oz I didn't really know much about the role of a doula but am so thankful that I discovered it and am looking forward to my studies which I hope to start in the next week or so.
I would be really keen to keep in touch with anyone else training as a support network etc if you are interested.

**The[cookie]Doctor** · April 25th, 2008, 08:21 PM

Tami - at this point I've decided not to go ahead with my doula training as being on call is not currently something we can do with little family and friends around.
Finances are also a little "low" atm

Good luck with your studies!

**Tami** · April 26th, 2008, 04:54 PM

Hey Ash,
Yep definitely know where you are coming from, but there will come a time in your journey when the timing will be just right for you to do whatever it is you choose. You'll know when you are ready.
I wish you well in your endeavours.

**Tami** · April 26th, 2008, 04:58 PM

Purplemama have you signed up to CBI yet? I am hoping to do so in the next 2 weeks and were just wondering how you felt with maybe keeping in touch throughout to maybe offer each other support etc. I am fairly new in OZ and don't know any like minded people that I can throw ideas around with. Let me know what you think.
Tami