How I became a doula/birth advocate

Many people don't understand how I became a doula before I have even had children of my own, but today I will share with you my journey to my life's work.

When I was in high school, I was studying to become a pre-school teacher. I LOVE kids at that age! When I was barely 18 I started teaching in a local pre-school and quickly realized that I love playing with kids that age and watching them play. To attempt to get 14 hyper 3 year olds to do an art project was harder than herding cats! And the school I worked at didn't really appreciate their staff. So that was it for me, good-bye teaching.

While in school the best class I ever took was infant development (conception to 2 months of age) and it was taught by a doula. So we spent almost 3/4 of that semester on pregnancy and at least 3 weeks on birth. I WAS HOOKED! I thought it all was the coolest thing I had ever learned!

But I didn't gravitate towards birth right away. I finished my sign language degree program and became an interpreter for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. While working for an interpreting company as an assistant to the President, he and I were on a business trip and I was rattling on about my future as an interpreter. He turned to me and said "I don't think you are going to be an interpreter for very long." My defenses raised and I replied "What the hell is THAT supposed to mean?" In turn he stated " You are going to get bored, just like I did, and want something more for yourself." I was shocked, and mummbled "Thanks...." SO, I went home that night, recapped the discussion with my husband and was again shocked by his response. He told me he couldn't believe that I had gone through with the whole "interpreting thing". Again, jaw on the floor! He couldn't have told me this BEFORE I finished 3 years of schooling. So I sat and pondered all night. What DO I want to be when I grow up??

Then it came to me. That doula thing sounded kinda cool. So I plunked down my $600 and took the training. It was 3 days of the best stuff I have ever learned. I was in love. So I started doing births and got a job at the local birth center. Now I do almost all of the births at The Birth Center in Fair Oaks, CA and I work in the front office so I get to build a great relationships with all of the couples I will be helping in birth.

My website www.BetterBirthAmerica.com is an extention of my business skills and my passion for educating women about their options.

I LOVE MY JOBS!!!