Any tips for getting started?

I have just freshly finished my apprenticeship and will be starting a new midwifery practice in a new location (we move in just a few weeks). Does anyone have any tips or ideas for me to get started? I have started advertising with all the state organizations, birth partners, and craigslist.

I have been thinking about trying to do some homebirth information nights or birth movie nights or something too. Anyone have any ideas to share?

What about networking with the childbirth educators in the area?  I was originally planning a hospital birth with my first son, but my CBE really encouraged me to find a midwife instead.  And I am SO grateful she did! 

It could be as simple as a phone call and dropping off business cards, or offering to come to one of her classes to share about homebirth.

Congrats on finishing your apprenticeship.  Its a little more challenging to start in a new place.

  I suggest contacting other midwives in the area, maybe going to births with them as an extra set of hands if that's an option.  Connect with all the existing networks in your community and maybe creating your own.  There is going to be a great workshop on birth business that I am totally spacing right now.  I believe the woman who is running it may be a part of this community, so I hope she will chime in.  Other than that I would introduce yourself to the wellness community as well, Prenatal Yoga, Acupuncture, Prenatal Massage therapists. 

  Good luck to you!!!!

 

 

Congrautalions! I am a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator and a Prenatal Yoga Teacher. I'm not sure where you are going to be practicing, but I can tell you that where I am, the homebirth midwives are few and far between. I get women a lot earlier in their pregnancies in the yoga class than I do in childbirth class. You may want to look into spreading the word that you are available through prenatal fitness educators. That way if someone is looking for a new provider, you will have an "in" earlier in the pregnancy. I find that many of my moms decide to switch providers midstream and the more information I have and can share, the better! Best !!

The community that I will be new to does not currently have any midwives. The closest ones will be about an hour away. I still want to get to know these women and make myself available to them, but I may not get to go to many births with any.

Thanks for all the ideas so far!