Moved Our Blog

Jami my wonderful daughter and social network extraordinaire has redesigned our  blog to be easier to view and find things within. Please visit it at Labor of Love Blog. Thanks!

Experience

Today I was adding the numbers of births each labor doula in our group has done over the years. These were births where they offered labor support. And within our group I was totally amazed to figure out that we have more than 1000 births of experience. Experience is not the only reason to hire a doula. There are a lot of factors to consider: how you feel when you are around her, how vulnerable you feel you can be with her,  how your partner feels about her, and many more factors that are as individual as you are. But with our group you hire a doula or a team of doulas (Ladies of the Labyrinth), but you get the whole gamete of experience. Because when a doula is at a birth, she knows she can call any of the more experienced doulas in our group for insight and guidance in a situation with which she may not be familiar. I can guarantee you that there is no more experienced doula group in Atlanta than our group. I hope you will consider us when you are selecting someone to be guiding and supporting you in your labor!

Info on hiring us!

“I am interested in hiring a labor doula. What do you need to know and what do I need to do next?”

Real Savvy Women

A few years ago I had the pleasure of being a part of a PBS special show about doulas. Here is the link you can view and enjoy!

I was interviewed a few years ago with a client who I have been the doula for two times previously. Here is a video online you can access to see it! http://www.realsavvymoms.com/season-5/episode-2/doulas/

If the link stops working above- then go to
Real Savvy Moms is the location of the video- I wish I could upload it but it won't upload here- so go to this link- click on watch videos on the left hand sidebar. Then click on pregnancy. Then in the section at the top in the middle- it says search by topic. Put in Doulas. Then click on Doulas. The segment has Penny Simkin in it as well as me!

It is the video we usually show at our teas. Hope you can figure this convoluted way of finding it to watch it.

Teresa Howard's training

How Do I Know What I Know?
by Teresa Howard

Experience is something that comes from many sources. I feel that I learn something from each birth I attend. I have personally given birth three times unmedicated. I think my experiences were good ones and I want that for others. I have breastfed all three of my children and was a La Leche League leader for many years. That too is an experience that I cherish and love helping new moms make this a good experience for them as well. Experience comes in many ways- personally having done something, training by other in techniques and being involved with someone else while they are doing it.

I began as a doula in May of 1992 when a friend asked me to come and be with her as a companion to her and her husband. I did this again for a friend in February of 1996. Later that year, in July, I was asked by a friend to be there for her at her fifth birth, my third as a companion. In 1997 I again offered to come and offer guidance to two friends in April and again in November. Then a special invitation to accompany a mom who was my second birth came in January of 1998. I offered my help to a teen friend in March of 1998 and soon after took my doula training as I was hooked at being at births!

My first professional doula birth was in May of 1998. By year end I had attended my 27th birth. The year 2000 allowed me to attend my 100th birth on Christmas Day! In February my youngest daughter gave birth to a son- I attended as her mom and she had a doula- but I feel I used my doula skills at that one for sure! In May 2003 I had the privilege of doulaing my oldest daughter at her birth - that was my 200th birth! At the end of 2008 I had completed my 400th birth as a doula. I average three births per month now and stay really busy.

In the past I have enjoyed being the state representative for CAPPA as well as a labor and postpartum doula trainer and a lactation educator trainer with them. I now stay quite busy running a company of a dozen doulas who cover most of the metro area. I really get affirmation after each birth, after each childbirth class I teach, I know what I am doing now is definitely what i am supposed to be doing. I have found my calling! So many people don't enjoy their work or don't find it fulfilling. That is certainly not my situation!

As a company we have done close to 900 labor supports as a group!

TRAINING
• DONA Labor Doula Training, Anne Tumblin, RN
• When Survivors Give Birth, Penny Simkin, PT
• Precipitous Labor, Emergency Childbirth, Debbie Pulley, CPM
• Birthing From Within, Pam England, CNM
• Joy of Labor, Northside Hospital
• Prenatal Parenting, Frederick Wirth, MD
• Lactation FastTrack
• Midwifery Workshop, Ina May Gaskin, CPM
• Psychotropic Medicine during pregnancy and lactation, Z.Stowe, MD
• Infant and Child CPR
• Another Look, Breastfeeding and HIV, Miriam Thompson
• Physiologic Closure of the Cord, Anne Frye, CPM
• Spinning Babies, Gail Tully, CPM
• Advanced Doula Training- Massage and Reflexology, Donna Johnson, CMT
• Advanced Lamaze Training- Mission Impossible, Ann Tumblin, RN
• Supporting Women through Perinatal Death, Miriam Maslin
• Escorting Women on their Inner Journey, Miriam Maslin
•1st Advanced Skills for Birth and Postpartum Professionals with Leadership from CAPPA

• Dancing For Birth Trainer Certification Workshop with Stephanie Larson

CONFERENCES
• LLLI conference 1980
• DONA conferences 1998, 2000
• CAPPA conferences 2000, 2001, 2002* 2004*, 2007, 2008
• Georgia LLL Conference 2001
• Summit for Safe Motherhood 2001
• Gentle Birth World Congress 2007
• International Cesarean Awareness Network 2009

*also emceed

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
• Georgia LLL Conference 2001
• Joy of Labor Training, Northside Hospital 2001
• Stillwater Yoga Prenatal Workshop 2002
• Prenatal Yoga in Athens, GA 2002-2007
• Natural Mama Expo 2002, 2003
• Interviewed and Appeared on REAL MOMS, REAL STORIES, REAL SAVVY Leading the Way in Women's Health Programming on Public Television
• Panel for questions and answers Birth, the Play by Karen Brody
• International Cesarean Awareness Network:Concurrent Session 2009

Our Labor Doula Fees

Sometimes there is a question or confusion regarding fees that we charge at Labor of Love for our different doulas. We have over a dozen doulas in our group and have varying levels of experience, expertise and experience. Therefore, our fees vary. Our total of experience exceeds 900 births! This should allow you a better understanding of our fees. At Labor of Love we determine fees based primarily on experience. But experience alone does not make a doula a great doula. It is her heart and hands that are the most important thing to her work. Her experience enhances that, but is only one part of the recipe for a good doula. Meeting a doula and finding a great fit is the most important thing. Just as each woman has an "ideal" birth, the doula who is the "perfect" match is different as well. Within our group we offer the same services but a variety of women to meet your specific needs.'

Every one of our doulas has been through some international or national certifying organizations training to become a labor doula. Some have several certifications in several areas, and others are working on their certification currently.

We also offer an apprentice program that allows a newly trained doula to attend the childbirth series with one of the Birthing in Awareness childbirth educators. After doing so, she can then attend a birth with a more experienced doula to shadow her and assist her at a labor and birth. This allows her some hands on experience without the full responsibility to the laboring couple. We offer having an apprentice come along with your doula at no additional fee. So you get two doulas for the price of one! This is subject to if we have apprentice doulas available.

Many doulas outside of Labor of Love set their fees as to what the market will bear. At Labor of Love we try to keep our fees fair and within a reach that most couples can afford. If you are unable to afford our fees, talk to Teresa. We may be able to offer a reduced fee if there is a need or provide you with an apprentice doula for a deeply reduced fee. There are many doulas outside of Labor of Love who start their fees at our top, most experienced level. No one regulates doula fees and many doulas do not base their fees on experience level. You may find a doula elsewhere that charges $650 and is just beginning her journey as a doula. Don't assume from her fee that she is experienced. The best way to know what level of experience a doula has is to ask. If you love your doula and feel she is the perfect match for you, it is not important what her fee is if it is affordable to you.

And when looking at fees that a doula charges, it is important to know what is being offered for that fee. Other doulas may charge for "false starts" where you return home from the hospital after determining it was false labor. We do not. Sometimes other doulas charge more after a set number of hours. We do not agree with this. We feel this causes undue anxiety to the mom who may not call her doula at times she may need her, for fear she will go over that set number of hours. We do not charge for extra long labors just as we don't refund for fast ones since both are out of your control.

Parts of our services include having an extensive back up system in case of a situation where your doula is unable to attend you for a family emergency or sickness. This is extremely rare. We provide the "Meet the Doula Tea" for you to meet the possible back ups and have the ability to let us know your preference for back up. Although not guaranteed, we try to meet that request when possible. We try to provide photos and a birth story or time line for you within our services which are included in our fee. We stay for the first hour or so after the birth to help with breastfeeding at no additional fee. And we provide a free follow up meeting to get your photos and notes or story from the birth.

But we have tried to determine our fees to be reflections of levels of experience, expertise and/or certifications. As their level of experience increases or their certifications multiply, the Labor of Love doula's fees increase. If you want to know how many births a doula has supported, or what her level of expertise is, ask her directly.

Most of the Labor of Love doulas also offer a discount to repeat clients. The suggestion is to offer whatever the most previous fee was prior to the current fee to repeat clients. This is also up to the discretion of the doula. I have had several clients and their partners tell us that our fees are too low after they see what we provide. Keep in mind, just as you tip your waiter or stylist for excellent service, you can tip your doula as well! It is not necessary or expected, but always appreciated! If you have any questions regarding our fees, please don't hesitate to contact Teresa at teresa@alaboroflove.org. Thanks!

Apprenticeships

Labor of Love offers apprenticeships to aspiring doulas and an extra pair of hands to our labor doulas if parents desire to include them.

If you are a new doula... who wishes to be involved in our apprentice program, please read the requirements below and contact Teresa for more information.
One of the requirements of being an apprentice is assisting Teresa,with a Birthing In Awareness Childbirth Series. This offers a new doula a new perspective in childbirth education that all the doulas of Labor of Love have shared. We feel this is an important approach to supporting women.

Although we support women in whatever choice of childbirth education they choose, since so many of our clients do take the classes we offer, it is important for an apprentice to understand this approach. We only have one apprentice per childbirth series. You may begin the apprentice program without having completed the childbirth apprenticeship if a class series is not available for you to have completed, if you have read the book Birthing From Within and have observed some of the techniques that are used within the method. But ideally we would like you to participate in this area of the apprenticeship.

The next step to apprenticeship is to have attended a certifying organizations doula training. We all are either certified with CAPPA or DONA. One of our apprentices has completed her training through ALACE. But we feel it is important if you are looking to become an doula to have completed the certifying training.These apprentice births can even act as your qualifying births toward certification. This step shows your seriousness toward becoming a doula. This investment we feel is a good one.

The final step to being an apprentice is to attend births as an assistant to one of the LOL doulas. After attending a few births and completing your training toward certification through either CAPPA, DONA, ALACE or BIRTHWORKS, you may choose to begin to do "solo" births while being a part of this apprenticeship with LOL doulas backing you up. It is up to you how many births you feel you want to attend with another doula before beginning to "solo". You are not bound by any limitations of building your own practice once you have completed you apprenticeship with Labor of Love. This apprentice program does not commit you to becoming a Labor of Love Woman of Love in any way.

New doulas who have attended the childbirth series, completed their training for certification to become labor doulas and have shadowed an experienced doula may then be invited to join the collaboration of Labor of Love Doula and Childbirth Services, Inc. This is dependent on several things- how busy our practice is, where you live and want to do births, and how you fit into our practice with matching philosophies. Or you may choose to act as a solo practicing doula during this time. There are no financial covenants or restrictions placed on you at all because you have taken the opportunity to apprentice with us. As a new doula working with Labor of Love, you may be offering your services at a reduced rate with the expertise of the experienced LOL doulas providing help and education along the way as well as back up services, if you join Labor of Love's practice. Increases in your rates for doula services will be based on experience.

As an expectant couple...you may choose to allow an apprentice to attend your birth with your doula at no additional cost. But this is totally up to you. This is totally based on availability of apprentice doulas as well. Meeting the apprentice and making a decision after that meeting is a great way to determine if you feel you would benefit in this addition to your labor team. We will not include an apprentice without your prior permission. You may choose to include an apprentice without having met her, as a way to increase the amount of help you are to receive at your birth.

Your primary doula is the doula who will be guiding you along at your birth. The role of the apprentice is to act as her helper, not her replacement. Her role is one of learning by doing but only under the guidance of the more experienced doula.

Apprentice doulas are desiring to attend births along with your LOL doula. These doulas may also be ready to begin to do births on their own as well at a reduced rate. The beginning rate for one of our newest doulas who have completed their apprenticeship and would then have Labor of Love Doulas as their back up in case of a conflict, is $450.00. These would be doulas who have completed their doula training, have apprenticed with more experienced doulas within Labor of Love and are working towards the completion of their certification.

Labor of Love is one of the only true mentoring- apprenticeship labor doula companies around. We offer our apprentices an opportunity to work along side by side with a more seasoned and experienced doula. Your primary doula is just that- the one responsible for doulaing for you. But the apprentice is an extra pair of hands to help you as well. Our apprentices have completed their doula certification training. They have attended a childbirth series with Teresa, Pam or Guina. They are there to observe and assist the primary doula.

Many times these apprentices are also using their attendance and involvement at this birth as one of their three certifying births that they must attend in order to complete their certification. But they are not there as the primary doula – they are somewhat invisible when they are not needed but highly advantageous to have in some situations. If your labor is really long, she can tag team during less needy times and allow your primary doula a break for food or rest. They can offer massage alongside of the primary doula. They can be there to hold a video camera or catch photos from a different angle. They can offer support to other family members- if you plan to have a child attend or have a partner or parent who may need some extra support.

You can occasionally meet our current apprentices at the upcoming tea. If you don’t meet the doula apprentice, you can speak to her on the phone and issue your invitation at that time. If you have her come to your birth and feel it is too much support, then she can easily be asked to leave. Her feelings are not hurt at all. She understands this is your day and you need to feel most comfortable during this time with everyone around you.

All you have to do in order to include an apprentice in on your birth is let your primary doula know. She will call the apprentice and check on her availability. If they are available, they will do their best to commit to being at your birth. Thanks for considering this option and we look forward to assisting you in your upcoming births soon! Take care and call Teresa if you have any questions regarding this fabulous program we offer- 770-923-6914.

Call of email Teresa to determine if we have any current apprentices.

The other doulas in our group can be found on our home page: www.alaboroflove.org. Labor of Love is always looking to add some new apprentices along the way.

Introductions of sorts

Seems my grown children feel I may have a legacy of ideas to share...whether it be quips and quotes or anecdotes... so I am going to try to share ideas and thoughts- some random and some specific to my work as a doula, to my life as a cancer survivor and as a woman warrior.

Sometimes our lives seem so normal to us but as we share what is going on in our specific lives they seem to fascinate others... and at the same time sometimes the things that we find exciting and wonderful seem mundane or uninteresting to others. I guess you can take or leave that which interests you.

If my words in any way can inspire or guide you, great. If it causes you to think differently than you did before, that is expansion. And if it causes you to rethink some things that you had not given thought to before, that is growth.

I feel blessed with my given career- which I feel is a calling to serve in such a wonderful way. I am led to be a doula by the life I had lived up to that point and the life that I must have lived in the past somewhere. I feel blessed with having had cancer and being able to view the journey from the side of survivor. I think it is important to listen to our voice that God has given us from within... I will share with you how doing that probably saved my life and indeed kept me from having to have chemo...

I thank my kids- specifically Jami and Brok for encouraging me to make this blog... thanks for believing your mom has something worth sharing!