Have you started on your journey to becoming a birth doula, but feel like you could use a little more support? Are you looking for an experienced birth doula to help guide you through your first few births? Do you feel like you need some one-on-one help that would provide your clients with a richer experience?
Morag Hastings from Apple Blossom Families is offering doula mentoring services for doulas in the Lower Mainland. Morag has been a professional doula in Vancouver for the last 10 years, working with approximately 40 clients per year. Morag is very highly recommended within the birthing community in Vancouver and comes with extensive experience running a successful doula business and promoting positive birth experiences all over the globe. Morag Hastings is offering a platform for doulas who want to work in a supportive setting, to grow their business, receiving a quality education, support, and invaluable shared experience.
What does doula mentorship include?
- Support with the interview process, client management and general doula business support. I will look at your marketing materials and client process and ensure you are set up from the beginning to run your business efficiently and successfully.
- Mentorship will include real-time support with clients; prenatally, through birth and beyond. Having access to an experienced doula during and after your first few births is invaluable.
- Working with Apple Blossom Families also means client referrals! These will be based on availability and require a successful interview, in which the client chooses to hire you. AppleBlossomFamilies.com brings in many online referrals with a high ranking on search engine results. Many care providers and community members directly refer to Apple Blossom Families for doula services. If you are outside of the Lower Mainland you have an option to opt-out of the referral portion of the mentorship.
- Your mentorship will have you listed on the Apple Blossom Families and Dancing Star Birth website as a student doula. After mentorship concludes, there is a paid option to option to continue to be listed on the both websites.
- Your mentorship will also include other benefits, such as bi-weekly check-ins with Morag and weekly group meetings. You’ll be provided with community and backup support. You will also have the option to upgrade your skills and receive a birth photography mentorship. (Additional fees and equipment will be required)
Doula Mentorship in a nutshell
You will be listed on the Apple Blossom Families website with a bio and image as a student doula. Clients can book with you after a successful interview. Morag will help guide you through your first 10 births or for 1 year after the doula mentorship begins, whichever comes first. If you want to continue to be listed on the Apple Blossom Families website there will be a monthly fee plus a fee percentage added to any clients booked through the website. I do not attend births with you or act as your backup. If I do back up there will be additional fees.
There is no upfront fee for the doula mentorship. There is a fee split with the first 10 paid clients you book into care or you can pay a monthly fee if you are not using the referral service. This is a way to get paid while learning and having the support of an experienced doula.
“This has been such a valuable part of my journey into becoming a successful, fully booked birth doula and photographer. Morag is truly there for you anytime. If you’re looking for someone to help you make this work possible, learn about supporting physiological birth and navigating the system this is your best chance! Can not say enough good things about it ” Martha Lanphear http://instinctivebirth.ca/
How to Apply to Mentor with Morag Hastings
To apply for a doula mentorship with Morag please answer the following questions and email them to moraghastings@gmail.com.
Have you have had attended a doula program? Please include a link to the program and the date you completed it.
Are you looking to mentor with me but do not want to be listed on the websites? If so where are you located and is there any information you would like to share with me about this?
Do you have an interest in expanding your knowledge to support low intervention, informed-based care? Please let me know what this looks like for you and what type of doula you would like to be. Also include a few sentences explaining what brought you to want to do birth work.
Are you interested in running your doula business as a full-time job? Do you have the ability to be on-call 24/7? Do you have your own transportation, appropriate childcare (if needed) and a support network to help you with the unexpected challenges of being a birth doula? if you have another job, do you have the flexibility to leave it immediately? Please tell me a bit about your lifestyle and how being a full-time on-call doula will fit into your life.
Are you are interested in continually learning and gaining knowledge around birth, the medical system and the current local birth culture? Which books, websites or other resources have inspired you?
How many births have you attended? Please tell me a little about a couple and how you felt about your support role at these births. If you have yet to attend a birth, please let me know and I can point you in the right direction to get started.
* I do take some time off throughout the year. During this time I do not guarantee my availability for immediate support.
** There is no guarantee that you will book clients through Apple Blossom Families. Plan for actively seeking clients on your own as well. There is an option to opt out of the referrals.
** I highly recommend taking the Wise Woman Way of Birth Doula training.