What did students who have taken the Childbirth International course enjoy the most about the doula skills topics?

"The helpful section on building your practice. When I thought about becoming a doula, finding clients and getting my name out there were two of my biggest concerns. This section offered great suggestions, as well as legal information so I wouldn't get into trouble later. I think many people think you can just learn the ropes and jump into it, but this section reminds us there is more to being a doula than just that." - Catherine, Nevada

"I enjoyed every aspect of this manual. I thought that this section of the course takes the other sections and marries them. It's a great practical guide to applying doula techniques. This section of the course really gets a doula started on the right foot...loved the guide for what to pack in my doula bag!" - Amanda, California

"I enjoyed the doula skills manual because it gave very hands on advice for the ins and outs of being doula. This includes both the business side and the actual work side. I feel more prepared to deal with both after reading this manual as well as more prepared to find answers to the questions I still have." - Maria, Texas

"Everything! It is so practical and down to earth and it provided all the information needed on how to get started and at what point to begin and end. I really enjoyed it - it was light reading and essential to successfully take the idea of becoming a doula and turning it into a reality." - Naara, New Jersey

"I found the history interesting. Taking care of yourself was great, because I think we focus so much on mommy that we forget to keep ourselves maintained. The Establishing Your Business section was helpful, particularly the part about looking for opportunities. I think my favorite was the section on Doula Skills. I found the posterior section so important. I've only had a few clients, and already dealt with posterior labor. Therefore, the rotational positioning was awesome. I've been researching this for some time." - Rebekah, Nevada

"I enjoyed the Perspective and Recognition topic. I think with all the new knowledge I've obtained from this course it's very easy to want to run around converting every pregnant woman who crosses your path. I thought this unit was very helpful in showing me how to meet women where they're at, and how as a doula I can help women in different ways depending on their beliefs about birth and what sort of experience they want to have." - Tina, QLD, Australia

"I really enjoyed the entire Doula Skills Manual. It was a fast, easy read. The Doula Skills manual really tied everything together. I learned how to start a business and hands-on skills that we may use. I really benefited from the part on Establishing Your Doula Practice. I have NO experience with starting a business and felt lost before reading this section. I have learned enough to get my small business started on my own and that feels great! There were a lot of valuable tips in this section. I was able to use some of the links to find out about our local legal requirements." - Melissa, Ohio

"Woo Hoo! This was by far my favorite manual! Last spring I attended a weekend workshop training and when the weekend was over I still had a lot of questions about the business aspects of being a doula. This manual answered most of my questions thankfully! I also really liked the sections Developing Your Doula Skills and Using Doula Skills to Help Malpositioning. I have always had a fear of not being able to help a laboring mom turn her posterior baby. I am glad I have a quick place to review from time to time about fetal positioning." - Corinne, Virginia

"I really enjoyed this training module. It contained information on all of the things that made me want to become a doula in the first place. It was great to be able to read and learn in depth about different positions and comfort techniques." - Taryn, California

"This topic was extremely practical, not only in terms of outlining some of the business aspects of being a doula, but I particularly enjoyed the section on Developing Your Doula Skills. The points were very easy to understand and I have already used many of them in helping clients understand what will happen during their labor and how their partner, and myself, can help them through their birth. The section on Malpositioning and Rotational Positioning was invaluable." - Alexandra, Thailand

"I really enjoyed the chapters on Establishing Your Doula Practice, Perspective and Recognition, and Using Doula Skills to Help Malpositioning. I was desperate for any helpful information on the start up of a practice, and the manual gave me a great head start. I had been wanting to learn more about baby positioning and malpositioning and all the related terms, so I greatly appreciated that education! The content helped me understand myself even more, and the powerful importance of perspective! This was the perfect manual of information to conclude with." - Tara, Tennessee

"I really liked the introduction to complimentary therapies as it is nice to have a resource I can use as a starting point for more research. I also really appreciated the example paperwork and forms." - Laura, Delaware

"I found the sections on posterior positions and rotational positioning absolutely fascinating. It made perfect sense and not long after I had read it for the first time, I had an opportunity to put it into practice. I was so pleased that I was able to offer my client another option, other than lying flat on her back waiting for an inevitable cesarean. I also found the WIGWAM power point very helpful in working out whether clients expectations will line up with their choices of care provider. It will certainly be something that I will refer back to often." - Natasha, SA, Australia

"I really liked the section on how to develop Doula skills. This manual helped me a lot when it comes to how to help a laboring mother with different positions, breathing patterns and also massage techniques." - Amber, Texas

"I enjoyed most of this topic, but the part that I learned the most from was concerning difficult labors. I was fortunate to have relatively easy labors, so I was at a loss on how to help someone experiencing a difficult labor. After studying that section I feel more confident in my abilities to help during difficult labors." - Amy, Pennsylvania

"I really enjoyed the section on how to develop my doula skills, specifically the relaxation techniques. I also enjoyed listening to the special places recording. It made me realize how effective relaxation can be during labor, especially in the early stages. Learning how to deal with difficult labors was interesting as well. I also liked reading the chapter on how to help malpositioning. It gave me a better understanding of how the baby rotates during a normal delivery and how I can use rotational positioning to help rotate a baby into LOA position." - Kim, California

"How it provided the practical means for establishing oneself in this field. Tools for labor, marketing ideas, administrative issues. The information was invaluable. Oh, and I loved the story about the history of the midwives!" - Amy, New York

"I really loved how practical this topic was. I thought everything about it - from business planning to hands on techniques - was simple enough to understand, yet detailed enough to make me feel I have the tools to really do this. The amount of times I have gone back and reread different areas already proves how useful this topic is. As various things have come up - e.g. the last birth I did, or the process of designing my website - I have gone back and made reference to those chapters. And each time I go back, I take something different as things are more and more relevant." - Jerusha, NSW, Australia

"Perspective and recognition was a very helpful unit. I liked comparing the info about setting up the business with how I have been busy with it on my own already. Find the invoices, and especially the CBI contract, invaluable!!!" - Cordelia, Netherlands

"This section was GREAT. It had a good mix of practical and applied information all of which is essential for us as doulas. I'm so glad that I chose to pursue my certification through CBI. It just seems so much more comprehensive than the other certification organizations. I actually feel prepared to get my business going and do the doula thing!" - Amy, Ohio

"I was most interested in the section about coping during an emergency. Being a doula for home births and often being there before the midwife really had me thinking about remaining calm and reassuring if labor progressed rapidly." - Tinneca, Washington

"It was great to have some really practical information. The Establishing Your Doula Business was very beneficial in that it so carefully broke down basic business information. Rather than having to reinvent the wheel, I have a guide that's been produced by those with experience. That is such a blessing." - Sarah, North Carolina

"I enjoyed the unit on Establishing Your Doula Practice. Especially helpful was the section on promoting and advertising your business. I have been working diligently on this aspect. At first, it was hard to think of my 'doula-ing' as a business, but as I started accumulating expenses, I saw the need for developing a plan. The text gave very relevant information on web hosting, business cards & paperwork." - Jeanne, Texas

"I like how practical and enjoyable this manual is. The history of labor support is interesting and fun to know, and the logistical information about starting a doula business is very helpful. I will be referring to this manual for years to come." - Robin, California

"I most enjoyed the articles on establishing your doula business. Although I have been practicing for a few years now, and I originally started seeking certification with another organization, I found a real lack of the general how to's included in any other training I have taken. Most courses say 'doulas are self employed - get a good lawyer/accountant/etc'. CBI was really helpful in outlining what sort of forms I would need, how to think about/prevent legal issues, and good information on taxes! Overall this was one of the best units to help you get set up and started quickly and safely." - Mhairi, Ontario, Canada

"This has been the dessert of the whole course! Have really enjoyed the setting up your own business part, especially looking at other doulas in my area and what they are doing. I so appreciated reading about the initial stress of being on call. Very useful to know others go through this! I am now waiting on my next birth, and it seems like the 'being on hold' feeling is diminishing with each birth. Reading the hierarchy of birth experience has made a lot of things fall in to place for me. I can now see that there is only so much I can do, only so much information I can give etc. I have known this before, but the presentation made it really clear for me. It is a relief to recognize my own limitations. The WIGWAM presentation provided solid skills that I can put into action. Am completely in awe of the rotational positioning!" - Vanessa, London, UK

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