All moms and birth professionals, is it ever appropriate to approach a pregnant woman with my business card?
I am a birth worker, and desperately in need of some clients. Like, hardcore. I have never just gone up to a pregnant woman and said "Yo, here's my card if you want a doula or a childbirth educator or if you need some help with breastfeeding, hope to hear from you!".. but I feel like I am missing out on a LOT of opportunities. The things I've been doing haven't gotten me very far (and I've been trying SO hard!), and I really need to start working, I've been certified since FEBRUARY.
When I was pregnant I wouldn't have minded at all, personally, but 1. I don't want to be the pitchy saleswoman and 2. I don't want to make a mistake and forever be known as the chick who thinks non-pregnant women are pregnant.
I gotta start working, I want this SO badly. Is it ever okay to hand out business cards or brochures to pregnant women?
could you post your cards and info in pedi offices or maybe even some daycares? just go around to businesses where there would be lots of kids and put your info there... Good luck!
Well I am not currently attending births, but I often strike up conversations with pregnant mamas (strangers).
But while chatting with a mom-to-be, I think that if I were able to personally attend her birth then I would offer her info about doulas and pass her my card at the end of our chat. I might mention that I would be more than happy to help her if she has questions, concerns, or anything --including labor support.
Are you currently teaching birth classes? Lots of doulas will find their clients this way. Is there a space nearby where you could set up classes, if you aren't already?
You can scan through:
http://www.cappa.net
Childbirth International
Mothering.com Forums - Tribal area
even craigslist!
Even ask local midwives/prenatal yoga teachers/birth class teachers... I always see business cards on coffee shop boards, too!
- Doulas mother the mother. :-)
- Every woman who wants a doula should have one! :-)
- If you don't know your options you don't have any. ~Korte & Scaer
- If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it. -John H. Kennell, MD
- Women's strongest feelings (in terms of their birthings), positive and negative, focus on the way they were treated by their caregivers. ~Annie Kennedy & Penny Simkin
- labor is not about dilation. Your body knows how to give birth whether or not you have a pelvic exam during labor. Birthing women need encouragement to trust their bodies, and to be the stars of their own labors. ~The Doula Guide to Birth
Quoting doulala:
Well I am not currently attending births, but I often strike up conversations with pregnant mamas (strangers).
I think that IF I were able to personally attend her birth then I would offer her info about doulas and pass her my card at the end of our chat. I might mention that I would be more than happy to help her if she has questions, concerns, or anything --including labor support.Are you currently teaching birth classes? Lots of doulas will find their clients this way. Is there a space nearby where you could set up classes, if you aren't already?
I was hoping you would have some insight for me! I love you lol.
I WOULD be teaching classes... if I could find anyone to attend them. I offer classes, labor support, postpartum services and breastfeeding help. I live in an area where this type of business SHOULD do well... pretty highly populated, very natural-birth friendly, but I can't afford expensive advertising like print ads or anything until I get clients. I've dropped off cards all over the place, put ads up on Craigslist, I have a web site... I have ONE client who MIGHT be interested in classes, but she's on the fence, and I expect she is scoping out everyone else in the area as well. I have tried networking... hoping that picks up soon. I'm also going to start a Dar a Luz chapter here, hopefully in a month or two, and I'm thinking that will help up business a little bit... but so far no luck. My classes are even $75 cheaper than other independant instructors here, and I STILL can't get anyone!
As far as space for classes, I don't have any formal space. I had been planning on using my home until classes got to be more than two couples and then going from there. But I haven't had anyone.
And to all you ladies who said you wish someone would... are you in Arizona by any chance? lol.
I think so! Some women might be startled, but some might be very grateful! Some women may really appreciate it! I know I would!
I wouldn't mind a bit.
There are two ways to live your life - one is as though nothing is a miracle, the other is as though everything is a miracle. Albert Einstein 
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Quoting Ati_13:
I was hoping you would have some insight for me! I love you lol.
I WOULD be teaching classes... if I could find anyone to attend them. I offer classes, labor support, postpartum services and breastfeeding help. I live in an area where this type of business SHOULD do well... pretty highly populated, very natural-birth friendly, but I can't afford expensive advertising like print ads or anything until I get clients. I've dropped off cards all over the place, put ads up on Craigslist, I have a web site... I have ONE client who MIGHT be interested in classes, but she's on the fence, and I expect she is scoping out everyone else in the area as well. I have tried networking... hoping that picks up soon. I'm also going to start a Dar a Luz chapter here, hopefully in a month or two, and I'm thinking that will help up business a little bit... but so far no luck. My classes are even $75 cheaper than other independant instructors here, and I STILL can't get anyone!
As far as space for classes, I don't have any formal space. I had been planning on using my home until classes got to be more than two couples and then going from there. But I haven't had anyone.
And to all you ladies who said you wish someone would... are you in Arizona by any chance? lol.
I love you, too!!!!!!!!!!! :-D
I think that it's always going to be a bit of an investment when you're getting started... If you can shop around to find deals for printing it may help a little. You'll be able to write-off your expenses, though, yay! :-)
This line of work has a high word-of-mouth references. Once you get started you will start the ball rolling-- it will increase momentum in time.
You might start by offering a free birth class or birth doula services to clients of a midwifery practice you like. Yah, free sucks... but you have to pay your dues....
How much time do you have, really? You might want to also think about overload. Sounds crazy now, maybe. But you will get interested mamas if you offer to be a free doula for them! ;-D
The knowledge of how to give birth without outside intervention lies deep within each woman. Successful childbirth depends on an acceptance of the process. ~Suzanne Arms
Birth is not an emergency. It is simply an emergence.” - Jeannine Parvati Baker
Quoting doulala:
Quoting Ati_13:
I was hoping you would have some insight for me! I love you lol.
I WOULD be teaching classes... if I could find anyone to attend them. I offer classes, labor support, postpartum services and breastfeeding help. I live in an area where this type of business SHOULD do well... pretty highly populated, very natural-birth friendly, but I can't afford expensive advertising like print ads or anything until I get clients. I've dropped off cards all over the place, put ads up on Craigslist, I have a web site... I have ONE client who MIGHT be interested in classes, but she's on the fence, and I expect she is scoping out everyone else in the area as well. I have tried networking... hoping that picks up soon. I'm also going to start a Dar a Luz chapter here, hopefully in a month or two, and I'm thinking that will help up business a little bit... but so far no luck. My classes are even $75 cheaper than other independant instructors here, and I STILL can't get anyone!
As far as space for classes, I don't have any formal space. I had been planning on using my home until classes got to be more than two couples and then going from there. But I haven't had anyone.
And to all you ladies who said you wish someone would... are you in Arizona by any chance? lol.
I love you, too!!!!!!!!!!! :-D
I think that it's always going to be a bit of an investment when you're getting started... If you can shop around to find deals for printing it may help a little. You'll be able to write-off your expenses, though, yay! :-)
This line of work has a high word-of-mouth references. Once you get started you will start the ball rolling-- it will increase momentum in time.
You might start by offering a free birth class or birth doula services to clients of a midwifery practice you like. Yah, free sucks... but you have to pay your dues....
How much time do you have, really? You might want to also think about overload. Sounds crazy now, maybe. But you will get interested mamas if you offer to be a free doula for them! ;-D
Aw! *blushes* lol
My plan has always been to limit my birth client load to one due per month, because I still have a nurseling, and I'm not willing to be gone overnight more than once or twice per month. I would lose my childcare if it was more often than that lol.
I like your idea about offering services free to a midwifery practice. I can't afford totally free right now because I will have to pay child care, gas, etc. But I could offer it at or slightly above cost. When I say I need clients I say so because I need them to make ends meet, pay for groceries, etc... we have NO money to spend on advertising, period. I'll call the one midwife who will return my calls tomorrow (all the others seem to not be practicing or to have full voicemail boxes and a bad habit of not returning calls)
I want one more!!!
- Ati_13
on Nov. 21, 2009 at 10:11 PM