Job Posting—Experienced Birth Doula

Role of the Doula

A doula is a woman experienced in childbirth who provides the pregnant woman and her family with continuous emotional support before, during, and after the birth of her baby.

A doula:

• Is trained in the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labour.
• Assists the woman and her partner in identifying and carrying out their plans for the birth.
• Stays with the woman throughout her labour and delivery, utilizing non-medical comfort techniques.
• Facilitates communication between the woman, her partner, and her clinical care providers.
• Works together with the partner to provide support to the mother at home and hospital births.

Since ancient times, women have sought this encouragement and support from experienced and caring women called doulas. In modern days, labours attended by doulas have been found to be shorter, with less complications and requiring fewer medical interventions, resulting in an easier and safer birth for mom and baby.

Birth Roots Doula Collective Inc. provides birth and postpartum doula services as well as teaches childbirth classes.  We are looking for a mature, reliable, and knowledgeable birth doula to round out our team of doulas.

Job Posting
This position entails:

• Attending 1-4 births per month (as per your availability--may not be consistent), which includes 3-5 prenatal visits, phone and email contact with clients, attending the birth, and 2-3 postpartum visits per birth

• Acting as a back-up doula for the other Birth Roots Doulas.  In turn, the other doulas will act as a back-up for you.  Therefore, this aspect of this position is unpaid.

 The successful candidate will be:

• Knowledgeable in pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, postpartum and infant care

• Experienced as a birth doula in a variety of birth settings and with families from diverse backgrounds

• Trained by DONA (or be willing to take birth doula training with DONA at her own expense).  Additional birth or postpartum doula training is an asset.

• Reliable & responsible

• Personable

• Comfortable working within Birth Roots Doula Collective Inc.’s Values Statement (You may view our Values Statement at: http://www.birthrootsdoulas.com/values.htm)

• Able to keep accurate records

• Willing to certify with DONA

 The successful candidate will have:

• Exceptional communication skills

• A satisfactory Criminal Record and Child Abuse Registry check

• A pager and access to reliable transportation

• Access to a computer and email account

• Additional training in breastfeeding is an asset

Rate of pay: variable—details will be discussed with applicants selected for an interview

To apply for this position, please send us your resume and cover letter.  In your cover letter, please address the following:

• Your experience as a doula, the number of births you have attended, some of your experiences attending births, what you find challenging about being a doula, and what you enjoy about being a doula

• Your understanding of the role of a doula

• The other life experiences you bring to your work as a doula

• If you have children, your plan for childcare when you are attending births

 In addition, please provide us with five references:

• Three former clients

• One midwife, nurse or doula that has worked with you at a birth and/or in prenatal or postpartum visits with clients.

• One former employer 

 Please send your resume, cover letter, and references to:

 Birth Roots Doula Collective Inc.
Box 3661 Redwood Postal Outlet
Winnipeg, MB R2W 3R4
Fax: (204) 783-9694
Email: info@birthrootsdoulas.com

CLOSING DATE: ONGOING

Thank-you for your interest in this position.  We will correspond with all applicants.

Job Posting—Postpartum Doula

 Role of the Postpartum Doula

A postpartum doula provides in-home care to families after the birth of a baby.  The postpartum doula’s role includes helping with breastfeeding, sharing information about maternal adjustment, teaching about infant care and development, processing the birth experience, light housekeeping, meal preparation, and whatever else the mother needs done.  The doula’s focus is usually on taking care of everything else so that mom can take care of baby, however the doula may also do some baby care while mom is in the bath, napping or out of the home. 

A postpartum doula generally begins working with the family right after the baby is born, and depending on the family’s needs, she will continue to work with them from a few weeks to a year or more. 

Birth Roots Doula Collective Inc. currently has three postpartum doulas and is looking for another two sensitive, mature, and reliable postpartum doulas to join this team.

Job Posting
This position entails:

• 10-20 hours per week (variable, contract to contract) 

The successful candidate must have:

• Healthy working knowledge of pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and infant care

• Additional training in breastfeeding is ideal

• Experience as a postpartum doula and/or birth doula is an asset

• Current Infant & Child CPR (or willing to obtain ASAP)

• Criminal record check

• Child abuse registry check

 The successful candidate must be:

• Reliable & responsible

• Knowledgeable about maternal postpartum adjustments and infant care and development.

• Able to keep accurate records

• Comfortable working within Birth Roots Doula Collective Inc.’s Values Statement (You may view our Values Statement at: http://www.birthrootsdoulas.com/values.htm)

 This position is suitable for a practicing doula, as it can accommodate attending births.

 Rate of pay: $15/hour (Contract work)

To apply for this position, please send your resume and cover letter detailing your knowledge and experience, as well as three references to:

Birth Roots Doula Collective Inc.
Box 3661 Redwood Postal Outlet
Winnipeg, MB R2W 3R4
Fax: (204) 783-9694
Email: info@birthrootsdoulas.com

Thank-you for your interest in this position.  We will correspond with all applicants.