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Not more than 3 minutes ago, I sent my certification exam off to become a childbirth educator. It got me thinking about my path as a birth professional and the lessons I’ve learned from training with a variety of organizations. Today I offer 3 tips that may help you as you consider your options of who to train with and what path to take.

Tip #1 – Talk to those in the field.

Whether you’re interested in becoming a birth or postpartum doula, a childbirth educator, a breastfeeding educator, midwife, or a professional in any field, really, you may want to seek out those people in your area who are doing similar work. Questions to ask can include:

• Why did you choose to become a ___________?
• What organization did you train with?
• Why did you train with that organization?
• What do you like most about doing this work?
• What are the challenges of doing this work?
• What is the attitude about birth in the community?
• What resources (people, websites, books, etc.) helped you along the way?

Don’t just talk to one person. Don’t be afraid to call or email someone. Most people love talking about themselves and the work they love to do. If there isn’t anyone who does what you want to do in your area, seek out people online.

Tip #2 – Get a feel for what the climate about birth is in your area.

Find out:

• What are the prevailing attitudes about birth in your community?
• How do women you know talk about birth and their experiences?
• Is there a natural birth community there?
• How many different kinds of childbirth classes are available around town?
• Are there many doulas, childbirth educators, midwives, lactation consultants, etc. in your area?

By getting answers to some of these questions, you can get an idea of how supportive your community will be about what you are considering doing. I hate to say it this way, but feel the need to: You will have an idea about what you’re going to be up against if your community is not so open to what you’re bringing, or you’ll know that you’ll have a ready-made community to enter so that you will have lots of local support in your area.

If you find that you are a pioneer striving to make positive change in your community, you will want to surround yourself with other birth professionals through forums and national/international email lists so you can be well-supported with what you’re wanting to accomplish.

Tip #3 – Carefully consider the organization you want to train with.

Questions to ponder:

• What ARE the organizations that I can train with?
• What kind of commitment do these organizations require and how will I make those requirements fit into my life?
• What is the organization’s philosophy?
• Do I want to be affiliated with a very large organization or a smaller, more intimate one? What are the advantages and disadvantages of either large or small organizations?
• Are there lots of professionals trained with a particular organization in your area? What are the advantages of training with the same organization? What are the advantages of training with another?

For example, in some places, there may be doulas who are primarily trained with one organization, and another area may have a lot of doulas trained with a different organization. That could possibly affect the philosophy of practice in the area. Do you want to have that same affiliation as others in your community? Does it matter?

One thing I’ve personally discovered is that a great benefit about being a birth professional is being part of a wonderful community. It can take a while to figure out where one’s place is in one’s community. If I had known some of these questions before I started my journey in this field, I think it would have helped me adjust, from what it’s like to work in the field, to better understanding the dynamics of birth in my community.

What kind of research did you do before you became a birth professional? What do you wish you would have known before you started? What advice do you want to share? I’d love to hear your comments!

These posts may also inspire you:

1. Joining Professional Groups For Business Growth
2. Expanding Your Professional Network
3. The Importance of your Birth Professional Community
4. 5 Tips For A Great Doula Interview
5. Baby Fair Success Tips for Birth Pros