What is a Doula Coach?
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Kaely Harrod 00:04
Welcome to doula Tips and Tits. This podcast is a place where we answer one question about doula work, both to support you and to help you support your clients. I'm Kaylee Herat. I've been supporting families in this perinatal space since my oldest was born 12 nearly 13 years ago. I am a birth and postpartum doula childbirth educator, lovely cheerleader and a doula coach. I love guiding and supporting doulas as they work out their doula business. It is a tremendous joy to be trusted in this way. Thank you for joining us on this journey. Hello, and welcome back. Today's episode is all about what a doula coach even is. I went to a local doula gathering about two weeks ago now. And I mentioned to someone you know, I'm a doula. I'm a childbirth educator. I'm a doula coach. And that doula said to me, wait a second. There are doula coaches, what do you do? Like what what even is that? And in that moment, I was like, Oh, of course, this is like a brand new concept, in part because there aren't that many of us that are doula coaches. And also because if you're new to the doula world, you're new to all of it, right? And so I just wanted to take a little time to talk through what it even looks like to get coaching from a doula coach. Now, for me as a doula coach, it's really important for me to support doulas holistically. What that means is that I don't think that every single doula needs to go through a program and get to the other side, looking exactly the same as everyone else who's ever gone through that program. Right. So my coaching is a little bit more tailored to the doulas in my program, because they're all at different places. And they all have different goals. I don't ever want a doula to feel like they need to be just like another doula or do this work just like I do, or just like other people in our group. And so a big piece of it is knowing that knowing that you have the space to kind of imagine what this can look like for you. And also be able to have some guidance as you're sort of imagining that and creating that for the very first time. So one of the really important things about doula coaching is very similar to being a doula to supporting someone in the midst of birth, or in that postpartum time, kind of entering the space where they are meeting them exactly where they are helping them distinguish what needs to happen in this place, right? To get from where you are, to where you're going, what should you do next, and guiding and supporting and encouraging them as they get to that next place. So truly, if you think about birth, and you kind of guide someone through pregnancy, and then you get to early labor, and then you're helping them get to the end of the labor, right? You're helping them get the baby out, you're helping them be well supported and physically support the process logistically support the process and emotionally support the process. That is exactly what I'm doing as a doula coach is coaching you from the moment that you enter my world to where your goals are, where you're going in this work and helping you get there. Also giving you some guidance along the way as hiccups come up or as things happen. In my first doula coaching group, I had three doulas in my beta group, and they all had different things happen during that time, there was illness, there were family things there were client issues. And we worked through those right we like talked through them I checked on them i i Like made sure they're feeling okay, like the those parts of it are important because that is just how life goes. Right. And so when you're getting coaching, in business, in life in anything, you need a coach who has empathy to meet you where you are, and not just get you through a program, because that's only going to take you so far. But a personal connection, someone that you can continue to rely on continue to have encouragement with continue to have a relationship with that is going to benefit you for years in your business. So one of the primary functions doula coach has is helping you establish where you are and where you want to go. Right now, I will say a coach isn't the person who gets you there. Right. And I just want to sort of think that through a little bit with you because I'm a business owner, right and I have a business coach at the moment. She is amazing. Leanne can miss her name and I'm She's really phenomenal. And she gives me so much guidance in what she thinks I should do next in my business to grow different parts of my business, and that sort of thing, right? What she doesn't do is do those things for me. She gives me encouragement, she literally sent me a message saying You are awesome. Like, you are doing it a this is amazing. Like, I'm so proud of you. So she's encouraging me, right. And also meeting with me with empathy. When I'm like, Ah, I don't know if I can do this. And also, she's giving me space to actually do the things because I am the one who has to do this if I want my business to grow. So a coach does not say here, let me start your social media for you. Let me make a post and create it and post it on your account. A coach does say, Hey, you I know you can post something. I know you're scared to do it. But you can do it. Right? How about you, you aim to post three things in the next week. And I'm going to hold you accountable to that our whole group is going to hold you accountable to that. That is the role of a coach. So in doula work that looks very similar to business coaching, but with the nuance of also supporting you as you support clients, and having some specific tools around the very unique work of doula work and doula client support. So you're essentially having a doula for yourself as you doula your clients. Okay. Another thing that I think is really important about doula coaching, one of the reasons I like to do it, how I do it is I think it's important to have some camaraderie. doula work is incredibly isolating. And it's one of those entrepreneur fields that you almost always do completely alone. Now, I know being an entrepreneur is already a little bit isolating, but especially being a doula entrepreneur where you are working in your business alone, but you're also working with clients alone, you're often the only one you've ever seen, do this. And so then you have a good heaping serving of imposter syndrome. Because you're just like, I don't know, maybe I kind of suck at this. And I just don't know that because I haven't seen other people do it. Right. And so what I want you to really think about is that in this work, one of the really helpful things is to hear from other doulas how they're doing it. So one of my favorite parts of this kind of group program is getting other doulas together and letting them also learn from one another. I hope that gives you kind of an idea of what doula coaching even is, what it looks like, for me and my Doula coaching, but also what generally you would expect in doula coaching. Now, I of course, can only really speak from my own experience as a coach for doulas because I don't know how other people function. And so I'm not saying that this is what every single person does as a doula coach, but that generally when I think of a doula coach, this is what I think about, and this is how I function in my business. Okay. I appreciate you. And also, I would love to hear what question you want answered on this podcast. We have some upcoming podcast episodes that I know are going to be super helpful to you. But I do have space in the 2023 calendar to add in episodes that would be even more specific to you. So send me a message, hop over to Instagram send me a DM and let me know what question I can answer for you. And I will mention you in that podcast episode when I am answering your question. Until then, I wish you well informed consent filled birth doula experiences
Kaely Harrod 09:00
thanks for joining us for this episode of the doula Tips and Tips podcast. If you learned something today, or had an aha moment, we'd love for you to share that on Instagram and tag us at Herat doula, so we can celebrate alongside you. If you found this podcast helpful. We would so appreciate you taking a second to leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast app that helps other doulas find us as we do this work together. This podcast is intended as educational and entertainment it is not medical advice or business advice. Please consult your own medical or legal team for your own needs around
I went to a local doula gathering about two weeks ago. And I mentioned to someone you know, I'm a doula. I'm a childbirth educator. I'm a doula coach. And that doula said to me, “wait a second. There are doula coaches?? What do you do? Like what even is that?” And in that moment, I was like, Oh, of course, this is like a brand new concept, in part because there aren't that many of us that are doula coaches. And also because if you're new to the doula world, you're new to all of it, right?
As a coach I doula doulas :) I teach doulas how to organize, run and plan their businesses, but also guide them with compassion, empathy and support throughout the whole year we are together! I pour into my doulas so they can pour into their clients.
Doula coaching is something that not as many people have heard of. I have so many conversations explaining what doulas are/do so this doesn’t feel that far off from those!
Key Takeaways:
My doula coaching includes:
Goal setting
Strategy
Accountability
Encouragement
Referrals for services
Key resources for your business
A kind kick in the butt as needed
CONNECT with Kaely on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/Harroddoula/
This podcast is hosted by the Birth Prep Blueprint - comprehensive Childbirth Education for expectant parents to feel calm, prepared and confident about labor and birth. Podcast listeners (that’s YOU!) get 10% off! Use the link below and coupon code PODCAST
https://www.harroddoulaservices.com/birth-prep-blueprint
** The Birth Prep Blueprint is offered for only $20 to anyone who qualifies for any kind of social services (meaning that a family has a lower income to the point that they would qualify for WIC or SNAP or Medicaid, etc.). No need to disclose your income, just which service you qualify for and the link can be sent right over. Just email kaely@harroddoulaservices.com to learn more.
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Kaely Daily is produced by Kaely Harrod of Harrod Doula Services
It is sponsored by The Birth Prep Blueprint Childbirth Class
Music by Madirfan: Hidden Place on Pixabay
