Managing Doctors: Hume Papers on Public Policy 3. 1 Book

This is one the earliest books on the role of the professional labour assistant. There are many things I do like about it. It makes no bones about how challenging the role is in terms of the time commitment and the impact this can have on the doula's family. The author's highlight how draining it can be emotionally. And because it was written by a doula for doulas, it is comprehensive in its treatment of being a doula, including information not just about attending birth but also about maintaining relationships with clinical staff (doctors, nurses and midwives) and how to approach the business of running a business.

There are two areas where it falls down. First, on a number of occasions the authors make the claim that women who give birth naturally without interventions or pain relief (and this is made easier and much more likely with the help of a doula) are somehow better mothers than women who do have interventions (inductions, augmentation, epidurals and the God-awful C-section). On page 80 they go on to say that a woman who gives birth naturally will realize that parenting is hard work, just like birthing a baby is hard work, and that this connection between the hard work of birth and the hard work of motherhood will lead to better parents.

I reject this. I have seen many women go through very difficult pregnancies with highly medicalized births and they, too, know how difficult bringing a new life into the world can be. It is as if some withing the birthing community can only recognize one kind of valid birth experience. I wish the authors had spent less time making these kinds of erroneous assumptions and more time on business matters.

The other major problem with the book is that it is now dated. No book intended to inform new entrants to the profession on how to set up in business can make any claim to relevancy if it does not include some information on internet marketing. The ability to advertise and market to clients through blogs, social media, and on-line is now standard. Some information on how to do this effectively is a must for the 21st century doula.

I would still recommend it to anyone considering becoming a doula. There are many nuggets of wisdom, particularly on how to cultivate and maintain positive professional relationships. Definitely include on you reading list.