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  • 2008: Dallas, TX
  • 2009: Scottsdale, AZ
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Ask the Pros

Do you have a question related to your birth business? Our expert Janice Banther is here to answer all your inquiries*! You can submit your question by filling out the form here, or you can browse past questions by scrolling down.

* Please note that this section is devoted to questions pertaining to running your birth business, such as "How do I network with other doulas in my area?" or "A client had a C-section and wants a refund. What should I do?" If you have a general CAPPA question, please email info@cappa.net or join the CAPPA Info Yahoo! group, a large network of professionals who seek support and information.

Meet the Pro!

Janice Banther

Janice has been helping women during their birth since 1982 and has attended over 500 births. She is a certified childbirth educator, certified labor doula and an approved trained counselor and trainer with RTS Bereavement. She is also a postpartum doula and breastfeeding counselor. Janice is the founder and executive director of For The Love of Birth, Inc. which is a non-profit organization in Tarpon Springs, Florida. She teaches childbirth classes and is a doula for one of the county jails. Her greatest pride and joy is her husband Barry, her two sons, David and John, and her daughter-in-law, Ruth. You can learn more about her by visiting her website, birthingwithlove.com.

Our Newest Question

I think each and every doula at some point in their doula career has felt this way. I know when I started out I did. Any time our family wanted to plan anything, we had to see if I had someone due before we could even think of making plans. After a few years of feeling as if it had to be me as the doula for this mom, I realized my life had to change not only for my mental health, but also for the health of my family. I always had a back up doula, so why did I think I had to be the one that had to be at the birth? I think the first birth I missed, and it was a special one for me, was very close to our anniversary. We were going to go away. I decided this time I was not going to put anything on hold because of the birth. I remember that while we were away, I looked up at the sky at night to see the stars and moon. I saw a full moon and I thought, "I bet she goes tonight." And she did. And she gave birth perfectly fine without me and she loved the back up doula.

First, you have to realize it is okay to use your back up. I think that many doulas my age have gotten to a place where many have burned out because of constantly putting themselves on call and not giving themselves a break. Your first step: choose a month or certain amount of time on your calendar for the year that you are on vacation. You are not going to take any births. This is your time to not be tied to your cell phone or a pager. If someone calls and wants to book you during the time you are taking some time off, you do not have to tell the person that. It is okay to, but most of us can't bring ourselves to say, "I am doing something for me." Tell them that you are booked during the time of her due date. And you are - you are taking care of yourself. Your second step: when you do sign a letter of agreement with a client, make sure she is clear that there is a back up doula for the "just in case" times. She may want to meet her and get to know her. When you signed her, your calendar was free, but what if your spouse or family planned something for around that date a month before she is due? Don't disappoint your family. Your kids are only home for a short time before they go off to college or move away from home. Enjoy them. Your family is more important. Your third step:  consider joining a doula group. I realize that for many of you, you are the only doula for miles. I had that when I started, but there are many doulas in my area now. If you are in a group, then you have automatic back up. You also don't feel like a lone ranger out there by your self.

There have been groups lately that have a Meet The Doula Night and moms come and meet all the doulas. But many groups are doing something different now. When a mom decides that night she wants a doula and signs the papers, she knows she will be getting one of the doulas in that group, but she will not know which one it will be until she calls to tell you she is in labor. I am sure this is working great for many groups, but I am on the fence on this. One of the things we have said about the large OB practices is that the mom never knows who is going to be her doctor and we hear the mom say she does not like it. Are we doing the same thing? I realize being on call is hard. Making a call schedule with a group of doulas where you are on call for 1 day a week and back up 1 other day is extremely appealing. But are we causing our moms more stress?

Bottom line, you have to do what is best for you and your family. Take care of yourself, plan that vacation away from the cell phone or pager and turn them off!

Question Archive

• How do I find moms who want a doula? I'm just getting certified and don't know where to find them.
• Is there any medical liability that I should be aware of? What about LLCs? What about back-up doulas?
• How do you have a regular life and be a doula on call?