For healthcare students looking for opportunities to work with families and infants, the pathway toward becoming a doula or infant massage therapist may be of interest. Each opportunity provides particular supportive roles to women and young families. While their professional roles differ, they do share a core set of soft skills that are vital for longevity in the field.
Healthcare students with a background in nursing or massage therapy are often great candidates for work in these fields. Whether students choose to pursue work as a doula or infant massage therapist, certain soft skills are a must. Among the most important skills needed to excel in either career are:
- empathy toward mother and birthing partner
- patience in stressful situations
- the ability to communicate clearly with others
- the ability to share education in an accessible manner
In addition, professionals in each field need to secure proper education and training.
Doula
Doulas provide support and education to women and their immediate families through the pregnancy and birth process. While a midwife concentrates on the physical process of birth and delivering the baby, a doula concentrates on the emotional and supportive needs of the mother. This may include exercise and health information during pregnancy and lactation consultation after birth, but primarily the role during birth is helping to make the mother as comfortable and empowered as possible. The doula receives training particular to childbirth which includes knowledge of breathing techniques, exercises and birthing positions that make the birth process more positive. Doulas may work in partnership with a particular midwife.
Doulas may be hired privately, employed by a private company or hired through a hospital directly. They are not required to have specific degrees, but are required through licensing board to have a specific set of educational requirements that include reading lists, seminars and practical experience with a certified doula. Requirements vary from state to state.
Infant Massage Therapist
An infant massage therapist is a trained massage therapist who has also received specialized training for work with infants. The massage therapist can be a great ally for parents with children who have special needs or who have been through painful medical procedures. In addition to assisting in a specific treatment plan, infant massage therapists are wonderful partners for new parents who want to bond with their baby through learning techniques they can use at home. These techniques bring about a pleasant parent-infant experience. For infants who have been recently adopted, massage may also facilitate the bond and comfort level as the family grows together.
Infant massage therapists teach parents new ways to apply gentle touch to their infants and toddlers with an emphasis on calming and soothing the child. While many healthcare degrees can provide a strong foundation for work in this field, specific educational training through approved programs, as well as practical experience is needed for full certification. Requirements vary from state to state; several organizations offer a variety of certification options including: Loving Touch, American Massage Therapy Association and Infant Massage USA.
For healthcare students and career changers who are seeking a meaningful opportunity to work with mothers, infants and new families, a career as a doula and/or infant massage therapist is a great option to consider. While both jobs fill separate needs for women and their growing families, they overlap in professionally significant ways that can provide rewarding career opportunities.
