Below are some of the most common questions we get asked by aspiring doulas. We have created this page because we are absolutely inundated with emails from aspiring doulas and we simply have trouble keeping up.  At the same time, however, we also remember how excited we were as we embarked on this path, and how desperate we were for local information.  We hope this page will answer your questions. 

How do I apply for your mentorship programme?

Unfortunately, the mentoring programme is still in its infancy.  We are really committed to doing it, but as a collective, we don't currently have the resources to give a programme like this the attention it needs. 

However, the folks we would consider for this programme are folks who do not have access to births in any other way.  For many doulas, the process of getting started is very challenging and lonely.  We recognize that it can be very difficult to convince folks to let you attend their birth when you either don't have the hands-on knowledge or don't feel confident enough about your academic knowledge to sell yourself well.  Our goal would be to mentor you through no more than three births--just long enough  to get your feet wet and get some hands-on training.  Our expectation would be that you would have already taken a training, or else done sufficient self-study to be prepared to attend births,  We would expect administrative help in return, likely somewhere in the ballpark of 5-10 hours per week.

Is there any way I can register now for when you start this programme?

You certainly can send us an email, which we file away.  However, we are far more likely to remember you if we've actually met face-to-face.  Come out to our Parenting & Birth Fair, for starters, but you should already be planning to come anyway, because its a great opportunity to learn about birth-related topics. 

What kind of training is involved in becoming a doula? 

Typically, folks start with a three day training, such as the one offered by DONA.  However, it takes far more than a weekend workshop to actually be a doula; for us, what made the difference was attending births.  We all take advantage of almost every educational opportunity that we can, so after a few years you will probably have a very impressive resume of courses and workshops under your belt.  Basically, the learning never stops!

Can you help me get any information on training? 

We have posted many links and will post any new trainings we hear of on the Doula Education page of our site, so you should check back regularly.  

Is there anything else that is available right now or in the future that I should know about?

We strongly suggest signing up for the Childbirth Community Manitoba Listserv, which you can do at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChildbirthCommunityManitoba/   Most local birth-related events and opportunities are announced on this list.  Apart from that, just keep your eyes and ears to the ground.  There are many courses and workshops that aren't called "doula education" but that will still help educate you as a doula.  Be creative!