Can I go ahead and start offering my services??

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Doula.Com General Discussion : One Thread

I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING STARTED ON MY TRAINING/CERTIFYING,READING BOOKS.I HAVE HAD CHILDREN OF MY OWN,& HAVE ALSO ATTENDED SOME OF MY FRIENDS & SISTERS BIRTHS BEFORE.I KNOW THAT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.I HAVE TWO OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN MY SERVICES.I TOLD THEM I WOULD DO IT FOR FREE OF COURSE,BECAUSE I AM NOT CERTIFIED YET.HOWEVER, SINCE I AM REALLY STARTING TO GET RESPONSES FROM FRIENDS /RELATIVES SPREADING THE WORD,WOULD THERE BE ANYTHING WRONG WITH ME CHARGING AT LEAST A SMALL FEE ?OR DO I NEED TO WAIT UNTIL I AM CERTIFIED?SOMEONE ONCE TOLD ME ,THAT A DOULA DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED! SURELY,THAT ISN'T TRUE,IS IT?ALSO,ONCE I DO GET CERIFIED, DO I NEED TO GET A LISCENSE IN MY AREA IN ORDER TO OFFER MY SERVICES? IF ANY DOULAS OUT THERE LIVES IN THE MEMPHIS ,TN AREA ,& WANTS TO BE OF EXTRA SUPPORT TO ME IN MY QUEST TO BECOME A DOULA,PLEASE E.MAIL ME! AT - THERESALACEY@AOL.COM THANK YOU IN ADVANCE, THERESA LACEY

-- Theresa Darlene Lacey (theresalacey@aol.com), July 14, 2001

Answers

Hi Teresa. That is great that people are responding to you already! I say go for it. There is absolutely no reason why you cannot charge for your services. Of course you will pick up new tricks as you go along and leave some behind. That is called growth. It sounds like you are already a doula though and you should take pride in that and say that you are a doula. A doula does not have to be certified at all. There are no regulations on being a doula. As far as a license, there is noting specific to the doula profession however if you want to be sure that you comply with all city and county regs then you can check to see if you need a business license. I dont know of any doulas that have done this, but somewhere someone is sure to want your money and if you want to be in total compliance then perhaps you should check into it. Rest assured though that you are a doula and you may charge whatever you feel is a fair fee.

Good luck!

Tricia L Saxbury, CD (AmDN) www.americandoulanetwork.com Baby Steps Birthing Solutions www.americandoulanetwork.com/babysteps

-- Tricia Saxbury (babysteps@americandoulanetwork.com), July 14, 2001.


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