Blog / Doula Business
Becoming a professional doula means taking care of business. We are focused exclusively on the doula profession and have been for over 25 years.
DONA International doulas build successful doula businesses based on integrity, commitment and respect. Every doula’s goals and dreams for her practice are different. Read on to gain tips, insight and resources to take your practice to the next level.
Seven Ways the DONA Website Helps You Be a Better Doula!
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE The DONA website is a great resource The DONA International website was redesigned about 18 months ago and shared with DONA members and the public at the 2016 DONA International conference in Bellevue, WA. At...
New DONA International Training to Add Canine Labor Support to Your Doula Practice
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), WOOF(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE Are you a doula looking to add a skill to your current doula skillset? DONA International is pleased to offer a groundbreaking continuing education opportunity that you can take back to your doula...
Do Doulas Need to Follow HIPAA & What You Should Know about Client Confidentiality!
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA - Not HIPPA!) became a law in 1996 by a sweeping vote of Congress. You can read more about what this law does (and does not do) here in this great...
Lend Me Your Ear! Expert Tips on Podcasting from Doulas Who Do!
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE I read a fascinating article in The New York Times recently that started me thinking about all the blogging I do. "Welcoming to the Post-Text Future" was about how the printed word (online or on paper) is...
A Membership with Benefits: #DONAProud
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE DONA International was founded 26 years ago by five of the most amazing people! Dr. John H. Kennell, Dr. Marshall Klaus, Annie Kennedy, Penny Simkin, and Phyllis Klaus sat down and established the organization...
Five Reasons NOT to “Warm Chat” a Potential Client – and What to Do Instead
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE I totally understand the excitement and desire to be a successful and busy (as busy as you want to be) birth or postpartum doula. I distinctly remember my first year or so as I began to build my business. I had...
Meet Ana Paula Markel – DONA International’s New Board President
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE I would like to introduce you to Ana Paula Markel, DONA International's President of the Board of Directors. Ana Paula began her term with the new year and I was excited to have the opportunity to ask some...
Products that Promote Your Doula Business for You!
Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE Many birth and postpartum doulas spend a lot of energy and financial resources to grow and market their birth business. Print ads, online ads on various social media sites, vendor booths at local expos, blogging,...
Gift Ideas for Birth and Postpartum Doulas
Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE For many parts of the world and for a variety of cultures and religions, December is a time to celebrate and many of these celebrations involve gift giving. Doulas, just like everyone else, love receiving presents...
Does Being the First or the Last Doula Interviewed Impact Your Hire Rate?
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA) LCCE, FACCE, CLE In my years as a birth doula, I've had a lot of potential client interviews. With around 460 births behind me, I estimate that I have conducted at least 1,000 interviews- probably more, but 1,000 is a nice round...
When Holidays and Birth Work Collide – The Baby Always Wins
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE In the United States, many people are preparing for a major holiday tomorrow. It will soon be Thanksgiving in the USA, practically a four day food-fest accompanied by football games and bargain shopping for...
TED Talks – Pregnancy and Parenting Resources to Share
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE The tagline for the overall theme of any TED Talk is "Ideas worth spreading." Many of you may be already familiar with TED and TED Talks. TED is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1984 that is...
Don’t Miss a DONA Doula Chronicles Post – How to Subscribe Via Email or RSS
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE Did you know that the "DONA Doula Chronicles" comes out every week, typically on a Wednesday? That means there are 52 valuable and interesting posts on a variety of topics that are published with your interests...
Are You a Helicopter Doula?
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE Communicating with clients Communication between doulas and their clients is fascinating. As doulas are often independent business owners, each doula (birth and/or postpartum) can and does choose their own...
Blogging for Business – Ten Tips to Start You Off Right
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE Many birth and postpartum doulas have a business website that they have spent time, energy and money on so that potential clients can effectively find them and learn more about their offerings. New and fresh...
14 Fun Facts about DONA International and the DONA Conference
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE 2017 Conference Eve On the eve of the DONA International Virtual Conference – Cultivating Connections: It starts with us, I thought I might share 14 fun facts about this amazing organization and our upcoming...
Raise Your Doula Rates with Confidence – Five Great Tips on Increasing Your Fees
Sharon Muza, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE I have always been a believer in first, valuing yourself and second, charging what you are worth. This is also a good philosophy to have when determining your doula fees. The vast majority of doulas in North America...
Doula Confidential! Respecting Client Privacy on Social Media
By Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE Doulas have insight and information about clients during both an exciting and vulnerable time in the family’s childbearing year. We are privileged to hold and keep information that is not generally public...