Are you a doula struggling with Imposter Syndrome?

Do feelings of not being “good enough” or “experienced enough” stop you from taking the steps needed to start working with clients?

Does your anxiety stop you from taking the next steps in your doula business - whether it’s posting on Facebook today or networking with birth professionals in your area.

Scared to put yourself out there on social media?

Do you feel like you don't have enough experience or training to work as a doula yet?

If you’re a trained doula,

You have everything you need to start working with families.
Don’t let fear hold you back from making a real difference in someone’s birth or postpartum experience.

Don’t let fear hold you back from making a real difference in someone’s birth or postpartum experience.

1. Stop making it all about you.

Pregnant people and new parents have a lot of big needs. That’s all they care about. Their primary concern is how you’re going to help them. Your training and resume are secondary. First they need to know how you’re going to solve their problems.

It’s almost like this: imagine that your potential dream clients have been walking through a desert for days.

You appear with a tall glass of cool water.

They don’t care where you got it, how many ounces it is, how it has been filtered or where you came from. They just want the water.

It’s the same when you’re a doula.

These parents are scared/overwhelmed/isolated/nervous/excited - they just want support!

Show up, offer value, provide compassionate support and a listening ear and your clients will be so grateful!

2. imagine ONE person - your dream client

Before you post on social media or reach out to a birth professional in your area and you’re feeling nervous, take a moment to imagine your ideal client. Imagine them birthing alone with a zillion questions rattling around in their head. Imagine them home alone with a newborn trying to navigate everything in isolation.

Talk to just them. Start networking for them.

Let your passion for birthwork and postpartum support push you to promote yourself.

This is not about you. This is about you helping someone.

3. it’s not your resume, it’s your energy

As humans, we tend to spend a lot of time comparing ourselves to other people. And when you’re a new doula, it’s tempting to think that everyone will want to hire the doulas around you who have a lot more experience and qualifications.

But, hiring a doula is a lot like dating. It’s all about who you connect with!

People feel comfortable hiring someone that they make a connection with on a prenatal interview, someone that they like and trust. Scanning the resume comes later, and is not necessarily the most important thing in the hiring process.

People hire you for your energy and your personality.

4. Just Doula It

I’m just going to cut to the chase. You just have to go do it.

Hit “post” on social media.

Hit “send” on the email to the birth professionals in your area.

Say “yes” to the networking opportunities that are presented to you.

“Fake it ‘til you make it” and the next thing you know, you’ll be doing your dream job as a doula.

But, you have to put yourself out there to make that happen.

5. Find someone to cheer you on

If you saw my last blog post, you know the secret to doula success is having an “inner circle of close female contacts”.

Starting a doula business can be lonely, you need someone cheering you on. If you don’t have a local network of doulas or haven’t joined My Doula Village, find a local friend or local business owner that can cheer you on when you need it. You need someone to celebrate your hires, cheer you on when you’re nervous and talk through all the things that come up as a doula.

BOTTOM LINE: There are so many families out there right now who need doula support. YOU and your doula skills could make a huge difference in their lives. Don’t hide your light!