By Cally Edwards
I work both as a birth doula and a postnatal doula, but I tend to get more enquiries about birth doulaing.
My work before training as a doula had nothing to do with birth at all! I have worked in public and private art galleries since I’d completed my Masters in Museology (Museum Studies). I’ve worked at Denver Art Museum, Norwich Castle Museum, Hampton Court, Tower of London, The Tate Gallery helping to fundraise for Tate Modern and Tate Britain and then I worked in London’s Cork Street running two private art galleries.
Then, at my NCT course 19 years ago, my NCT teacher mentioning doulaing. I had such an amazing antenatal group that I realised that I wanted to do something else. The art gallery work was wonderful, and I do miss it, but watching adults transition into parents and supporting them along the way is the most rewarding job in the world. I am one of those who feel somewhat shifty calling this work! I simply look forward to every day when I get up. I’m incredibly lucky and I know it.
Before training as a doula, I trained as an NCT teacher, and worked in that role for 6 years. I made really good connections with people, but found it sad when I met those parents at reunions and realised that their birth, breastfeeding, postnatal journeys had been so markedly different from what they’d wanted whilst I had met them antenatally. I just felt that they clearly deserved a better experience. I also needed to earn more money during the day as antenatal classes are generally held in the weekday evenings, which leaves the whole day was empty. I figured I could achieve both of these by training as a doula.
Initially I thought it would be postnatal doulaing to fit in around my small children’s school days, but having trained as a breastfeeding peer supporter and running two voluntary groups a week while doing the Nurturing Birth doula training course, I was being asked more and more to be a birth doula. I’ve always offered both birth and postnatal, but generally my work has been birth based.
Since I trained over lockdown as a Breastfeeding Counsellor and Holistic Sleep Coach, I still run my twice weekly free breastfeeding groups, so I do a lot of home visits to help mums breastfeed.
I’ve just taken on three postnatal doula jobs, so I guess there will always be an ebb and flow to what people need.
There are so many things that I love about being a doula. I simply love getting to know the clients and watching them change their whole demeanour, from anxious to confidence in their body, their ability, their instincts. The initial “what do you want?” and “how can I help you to get there?” to the total trust that they have in me to support them is wonderful. We all know a doula can’t guarantee the birth outcome, but what I do love is to watch a client grow in emotional positivity knowing that they aren’t travelling this road alone.
I stay in touch with them using messages, meet them frequently, chat to them late at night, go to appointments with them, ask the health care professionals questions that we’ve talked about.
My local unit is hugely supportive of my work and often recommends me to mums. The obstetricians, midwives, health visitors know me and respect what I do. They know that my only focus is for everyone (including the professionals) to feel supported and with that mutual respect we get some truly lovely positive feedback. It’s a real privilege.
The confidence and positivity clients gain is always a brilliant wow factor. I’m still in touch with all my clients long after I’ve packed up my aromatherapy diffuser, knitted boob or Mary Poppins’ed out the door!
Of course, there are some challenges about doula life. The juggling of life. My family often take a back seat when I’m on call. The constant re-arranging of appointments or social things if I’m on call. But thankfully it’s been a rare time that my very supportive husband has had to attend a child’s doctor’s appointment rather than me. But then that is shared parenting, so it’s all good in the long run.
I love training for different aspects of the birth worker world.
I’m currently doing rebozo training, next up I think I’ll do a sling consultant training which will be hugely valuable for postnatal work and then my big dream is to become an IBCLC – but I’ve got some saving up to do for that as well as finding the time to commit to the hours of learning. And that four hour exam! I’ve never been good at exams.
I’d say that if you have small children but you’re still thinking of training as a doula, then go for it. You can start as a postnatal doula during the school day and see where it takes you. Truly, I had no idea that I’d be so passionate, and how much it would impact positively on my antenatal educating work, as well as becoming an important member of the maternity services locally. It’s only ever a joy being recognised in the high street by parents, health care professionals and held in high esteem by my local unit.
You can reach Cally through her website or social media:
Website: www.callyedwards.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doulacally/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doulacally
Twitter: https://twitter.com/doulacally
Find a doula, or go directly to Cally’s Nurturing Birth Directory entry: https://nurturingbirthdirectory.com/doulas/united-kingdom/wiltshire/salisbury/cally-edwards/