Becoming a Doula: A Teenager's Guide to a Rewarding Career

Question
Hello.
My name is Colt (I'm a girl.)

I'm 16 and thinking very seriously of my future. I'm very interested in becoming a Doula. I have researched it but I can't seem to find some of the answers I am looking for. Birth has always been something that interested me and having my own babies in the future is something very important to me. Birth is an amazing, natural, wonderful thing woman do.

I won't get into a huge story but I don't believe in hospital births unless something is wrong that can't be dealt with by a midwife in the comfort of the mother-to-be's home or midwiving house.

I have a few question on Doula training.

Do you have to have a highschool diploma to go to a Doula college in Ontario, Canada?
How many years are there of Doula College?
Are there different types of Doulas?
How much money do Doula's make in a year?

Any other information about Doula's would be very helpful as well.

Answer
Dear Colt,
I agree with you that birth is a beautiful, miraculous, and natural, safe event.
About the doula training:

I don't know if you have to have a high school diploma to be a doula. I think a high school diploma is a good thing, and you should get one, though!
I don't think there's a difference in training based on location. You can become a doula by signing up with Dona International or Childbirth International or any other organization that certifies doulas. They have websites that will walk you through the process.
You don't have to go to college for it. The requirements vary from organization to organization, but generally they are that you have to read some books on the physiology of birth, breastfeeding, doulas' role at birth, etc (you buy or borrow) and some pamplets (that they give you). Then you have to attend some births, and write papers on your experiences, and your philosophies of birth in general. Then you get certification. It's not a college degree.

There are different types of doulas. Birth doulas attend the birth and the immediate postpartum period (a few hours, tops), and Postpartum doulas help the mother adjust to parenting, breastfeeding, and generally coping in the weeks after the birth.

Doulas charge anywhere from $100 per birth on up, depending where they're from. In my area, there are doulas who are part of an organization for low income women, who charge $100 a birth. And then there are some who charge $1,000. So you would have to find out what the going rate is in your area. Also, doulas can barter. For example, if a client does portraits, they can barter - the doula attends the birth, and the client will make her portrait.

I've been a doula for 6 months now, and attended 9 births. So, depending on where you live and how much you charge, that could be pocket change, or a significant amount of money.
Best of luck!!
Sheva