Realistic Character Occupations: My Experience as a Birth Doula
Realistic Character Occupations: My Experience as a Birth Doula
To win
readers over we need to write characters so authentic they feel like real
people. How do we do this? By brainstorming a character’s backstory,
personality, needs, desires, and their day-to-day world. Lucky for us, one
aspect of their daily life is a goldmine of characterization: the type of work
they do.
Think about it: a job can reveal
personality, skills, beliefs, fears, desires, and more, which is why Angela
Ackerman and Becca Puglisi created The Occupation Thesaurus, a writing
guide that profiles 124 possible careers and the story-worthy information that
goes with each. To help with this project, I’m sharing my experience as a birth
doula below, in case this career is a
perfect fit for your character!
You can find the full list of Contributed
Occupation Profiles and check out The
Occupation Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Jobs, Vocations, and Careers
at Writers Helping Writers.
OCCUPATION: BIRTH
DOULA
OVERVIEW
A birth doula is a professional support person
trained in the needs of the family during pregnancy and childbirth. The doula
offers non-judgmental support, guidance, evidence-based education and practical
hands-on support during childbirth including comfort measures. Doula originates
from the Greek word meaning woman servant. A birth doula recognizes the
profound impact of childbirth on the mother.
NECESSARY TRAINING
There are many organizations that provide
certification, but the most well-known are DONA International and Childbirth International. Once you obtain
your certification, you need to recertify every three years and keep abreast of
evidence-based education and comfort measures. Birth Doulas are not clinical,
and work in conjunction with a midwife, obstetrician, or other family care
providers, in either the hospital, birth centre or client’s home.
Basic first aid, blending in, empathy, equanimity,
gaining the trust of others, good listening skills, hospitality, knowledge of
birth interventions, knowledge of hospital/birth centre procedures, knowledge
of labour and birth, multitasking, organization, reading people, research,
stamina, teaching
SOURCES OF
FRICTION
Prejudice from other healthcare officials or
hospital administrations who harbour antiquated
misperceptions about birth doula support
A patient going against evidence-based education,
despite the prelabour conversations
Unforeseen circumstances during a birth that cause
complications
Failing a re-certification
Finding last-minute childcare so you can be with
your client for as long as need be
Missing out on various celebrations when the client
goes into labour
Planning your life around a client’s due date
An impatient doctor who would rather deliver the
baby now, rather than allow nature to take its course
Being unfairly blamed for something going wrong in
the delivery
A patient refusing to deviate from her birth plan
and putting herself or her baby in danger
Overbearing or hysterical relatives
Learning about a fellow birth doula’s unethical or
inept actions
Staff at the birthing centre or hospital who are
rude or difficult to work with
Multiple clients going into labour at the same time
WRITERS SHOULD
KNOW…
While a wholly
rewarding job, where 99% of the time, things go well, it can be a highly
demanding job (during labour especially.) You will be on your feet constantly,
and taking care of yourself during a client’s labour is secondary - meaning you
will likely nibble on a snack/protein drink, bathroom breaks are minimal, etc.
Your personal life will be put on hold for a labouring client, and you will
need to be committed to them in that process. The job does have a high burnout
rate, due to on call needs, and high levels of multitasking. While there are
plenty of doulas, the good ones stand out and are more in demand, booking as
soon as the stick announces a pregnancy. You will support birthing women in
their rawest, most natural form and witness their amazing strength, and you
will see the love between the birthing couple as they work together to bring a
new life into the world.
Have any
questions about this job? I’d be happy to answer. Just leave a comment below!
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