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How to Offer Virtual Doula Services
The business of being a doula has changed in endless ways over the past decades, but perhaps never so much as it has since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Restrictions on hospital guests and social distancing forced doulas to abruptly change the way they render services, with turning to a virtual offering. While many people have made this shift easily and plan to use it in the future, others have struggled to make this move. With virtual services becoming a part of the new normal, we’ve put together some tips on how to offer effective doula services virtually.
Add In Extra Visits
On average, a birth doula offers between 2 and 3 prenatal visits with a client, in addition to interviews. These visits can be used to discuss birth plans, practice comfort techniques, or prepare for life with a newborn. When these meetings happen virtually, video services can make them feel more personal and you can still cover a lot of ground. However, people are feeling a lot of fatigue around video calls now, and having intimate conversations that last hours at a time can be grueling.
It can be helpful to break these 2 or 3 visits into a series of shorter, most consistent visits. Each one can cover a narrow topic, giving the client time to digest the information and come up with more questions, before meeting again. For the doula, you spend the same amount of time with each client without losing focus during each call.
Work With Partners
The element of doula work most impacted by virtual services is going to be hands-on pain management and comfort measures. While doulas usually do some of this themselves, it has always been a part of the work to empower partners to do this as well. With virtual services, the focus has become primarily on the partners- meaning as a doula, you should work more closely with the partner than ever.
Some doulas may even have a separate session with partners to share comfort techniques with them, or just use part of other visits to do so. By sharing these conversations, the partner also establishes a relationship with you as the doula, and during labor is able to communicate easily and follow your guidance.
Invest in Remote Tools
There is no shortage of options to conduct online calls and video conferences now. Zoom is the most popular, but many others exist and often have a free option. For long hours during labor, FaceTime or Skype may even work. But when your business depends on these calls, it can be worth it to invest in a paid account with additional features, or another service that you feel meets your needs.
It can also be useful to streamline anything else you can using online tools. This may mean using a tool that allows clients to e-sign documents, posting educational content on easy-to-use platforms, and creating marketing material that clearly communicates your options for virtual services. Birthbase is just one element of a growing technological landscape for doulas as you adapt to new industry standards.
Online or offline, at home or on the go, BirthBase offers you professional peace of mind through smarter business management. See for yourself how one app can transform the way you serve your clients throughout their special journeys.
