Online Birth Doula Training
Self-Directed Online Birth Doula Training. Support parents through pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum as a labor doula.
Do you dream about supporting families through the profound journey of pregnancy, childbirth, and the early postpartum period?
At Doula School International, we offer a comprehensive 50+ hour Birth Doula Training program. Our program provides you with internationally recognized certification and equips you with comprehensive skills to effectively guide and support your clients.
- Obtain an internationally recognized 50+hour certification as a birth doula from a globally respected institution.
- Explore the multifaceted landscape of Birthwork, including its physiological, psychological, sociological, historical, political, and spiritual dimensions.
- Gain the expertise and tools needed to effectively support empowered pregnancies, labors, and births with confidence and competence.
- Learn advocacy and therapeutic skills to assist your clients in navigating the complex choices available to them.
Course details
Duration and effort
- 10+ online Modules
- 50+ hours of learning
- 2 years to complete the certification
Material
- Video Lectures
- Reading Materials
- One in-person hands on Learning Day
- PDFs and learning material
- Assignments
Location
- ONLINE: Instant on-demand access to a student portal filled with amazing self-directed content to support your live learning
Mentorship
- Private online community
- One-on-one mentoring opportunities
- Webinar, Live Virtual Conversations and more
Certification
- Certified Birth Doula
Facilitators
Shandelle Ferguson
Andrea Paul
Stefanie Antunes
Asma Rahman
Online Birth Doula Training Course Curriculum
Here’s what’s included in your course
Birth Doula
INTRODUCTION: YOUR PROGRAM
- Your Program
- Land Acknowledgement
- Inclusive Language and Support
- Policies and Procedures:
- Introduction
- Mission Statement
- Community Standards and
- Practice Guidelines
- Code of Ethics
- Complaint Policy
- Privacy Policy
- Policy on the Sharing and
- Distribution of Course
- Materials
- Leaning into your Program: Birth Doula Self-Directed
- Doula School: Electronic Signature
DEFINING PERINATAL SUPPORT
- Defining Perinatal Support: Introduction
- THE ROLE OF A DOULA: PREGNANCY THROUGH POSTPARTUM
- DOULAS AND EVIDENCE FOR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT
- DOULAS AND PARTNERS: BIRTH HAND OUT
- REFLECTION ACTIVITY: HOW DO YOU DEFINE DOULA?
ANTI-OPPRESSION, ADVACACY & SOCIAL JUSTICE
- Anti-Oppression, Advocacy, & Social Justice: Introduction
- Privilege & Oppression in Birth work
- Advocacy
- Reproductive Justice
- Allies, Accomplices, and Saviors
- Choose Your Own Adventure
- MODULE READINGS: ANTI-OPPRESSION, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND ALLYSHIP
- Defining Support, Anti-O and TRAP Quiz
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION: INTRO
- Diversity and Inclusion: Introduction
- AS WE BEGIN: OPPRESSION, PRIVILEGE, AND ALLYSHIP
- (ANTI)OPPRESSION AND BIRTH WORK
- PRIVILEGE
- STEREOTYPE – PREJUDICE – DISCRIMINATION
- MICROAGGRESSIONS
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION - INTRODUCTION TO INDIGENIOUS ISSUES AND CULTURALLY INFORMED CARE
- Introduction
- COLONIALISM AND ITS IMPACTS
- CULTURE, RECLAMATION AND RESTORATION
- ISSUES IN INDIGENOUS HEALTH CARE
- CULTURALLY INFORMED CARE FOR INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS: WHERE TO BEGIN
- Quiz: Reflection on The Invisible Backpack: Indigenous
COMMUNICATION AND CONNECTION
- Communication and Connection: Introduction
- The Power of Listening
- Counselling Skills 101
- Communication as a Core Competency
PREGNANCY: FROM CONCEPTION TO BIRTH
- Pregnancy: From Conception to Birth Introduction
- FETAL DEVELOPMENT
- THE PREGNANT BODY: CHANGES AND CONCERNS
- HORMONES IN PREGNANCY
- ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF PREGNANCY 101
- Fetal Positioning and Movement
- Movement and Pregnancy
- COMPLICATIONS IN PREGNANCY
CHILDBIRTH PHYSIOLOGY
- Identifying Signs of Labor
- Early Labor
- Early to Active Labor
- Active Labor
- Transition
- Pushing Stage
- Third Stage of Labor
- Water Breaking
- The Ways to Progress in Labor
- Mechanisms of Labor, Stages and Phases
- When to go to the Hospital
CHILDBIRTH, MEDICAL OPTIONS, AND PAIN MANAGEMENT
- Childbirth, Medical Options, and Pain Management: Introduction
- Birth “Wish List” Why Planning for Birth Matters
- Informed Consent
- Childbirth
- Medical Options and Interventions in Birth
- Medical Pain Management Options
- Important Information about Support
- Supporting Inductions
- Supporting Cesareans and Vaginal Birth After Cesareans (VBAC)
- Medical Options &Interventions: Module Quiz
TRAUMA INFORMED PRACTICE
- Trauma Informed Practice: Introduction
- WHAT IS TRAUMA?
- The Body’s Response System
- Nonviolent Communication
- Practicing Trauma Informed Care
UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORTING COMPLICATIONS IN BIRTH
- Introduction
- What is a Difficult Labor?
- Complications in Birth
- Multiples
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
- Grief and Loss
- Supporting Loss
- Pregnancy After Loss
- Self Care, Compassion Fatigue and Coping
COMFORT TECHNIQUES
- Comfort Techniques: Introduction
- GATE CONTROL THEORY
- Pain
- Comfort Measures
- BREATHING DURING LABOR
- BIRTH BALL & PEANUT BALL
- RELAXATION
- TOUCH & MASSAGE
- MOVEMENT AND POSITIONS
- YOUR DOULA BAG
- VISUALIZATION, MEDITATION, & AFFIRMATION
- Module Task
YOUR PERINATAL BUSINESS
- Your Perinatal Business: Introduction
- TARGET MARKET: REFLECTION ACTIVITY
- FINDING YOUR NICHE
- BUSINESS SYSTEMS AND GOALS
- WHAT ARE YOU CHARGING?
- MARKETING YOUR DOULA BUSINESS
- Virtual Support
- CONTRACT SAMPLES
- ASSIGNMENT: CLIENT PACKAGE PROJECT
- Your Doula Business: Community Resources & Networking List
EARLY POSTPARTUM SUPPORT
- Supporting the Infant: Introduction
- Infant Appearance After Birth
- Newborn Procedures and Bonding
- Bonding (Hand Out )
- Common Infant Care Practices to Consider (SLIDE SHOW)
- Things to Consider: Multiples (Hand Out)
PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH
- Perinatal Mental Health: Introduction
- Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders
- Supporting a Mental Health Crisis
- Wellness &Stages of Recovery with Dr Aviance Rhome-Boroff
PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS FOR WORKING WITH CLIENTS
- Procedures and Protocols for working with clients: Intro
- Client meetings
- Working with Primary Care
- Infection Prevention and Personal Safety Measures
- Child Welfare: Considerations and Reporting
- Setting Boundaries for your Mental Health
- Debriefing Birth
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
- Final Certification Requirements
- Birth Doula Certification
- Final Exam