Prerequisites for the Doula Training
The Doula Training Workshop is designed for women interested in helping others have a
positive birth experience. It is essential to have a basic knowledge of pregnancy,
childbirth and the newborn. If you are not trained as a childbirth educator, midwife, or
labor/delivery nurse, there are two options:
- Attend a full series of childbirth education classes as an observer (minimum of 12 hours - proof of participation necessary).
¨ Recommended: view as many birth videos as possible, tour a hospital labor and birth unit.
- Attend Introduction to Doula Training an optional two-day Introduction to the Doula Training workshop. It will be held prior to the Doula Training and is not always available.
The following books must be read (by all participants) before attending the doula training:
-
Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn: The Complete Guide: by Simkin, Whalley and Keppler
- The Birth Partner: Everything You Need to Know to Help a Woman Through Childbirth: by Simkin
- The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth: by Goer.
- Optional but highly recommended: The Labor Progress Handbook: Early Interventions to Prevent and Treat Dystocia: by Simkin & Ancheta. This quick reference book offers maternity professionals strategies to maintain normal labor progress and lower cesarean rates.
Texts can be purchased on-line through the DONA website at www.dona.org or www.childbirth.org/CEP.html
or call Cutting Edge Press at 802-635-9585.
Introduction to Doula Training
Note: This class is optional and can be taken in place of the series of
childbirth education classes when available.
This two-day workshop will cover:
- Terminology associated with labor and birth
- Anatomy and physiology of pregnancy, labor and birth
- Healthy Pregnancy
- Assessment of normal labor and birth progress
- Relaxation techniques and comfort measures
- Evidence-based care
- Informed consent
- The Mother-Baby dyad
Doula Training
This 20-hour workshop is a DONA approved course, which constitutes one of the steps toward
becoming a nationally certified Doula. Attending this workshop and completing the prerequisites
qualifies participants to apply for national certification through Doulas of North America (DONA).
This three-day training consists of the following topics:
- DONA Certification Requirements
- The Value and Purpose of Labor Support
- Establishing a Rapport at The Prenatal Visit
- Emotional Support in Labor
- Trusting the Birth Process
- Comfort Measures and Positions for Labor
- Challenging Issues and Circumstances
- VBAC and Cesarean Surgery
- Breastfeeding and The Newborn
- The Postpartum Visit
- Your Doula Business
F More Doula Certification Information
Advanced Doula Training
During this daylong informative program we will use the Personality Style model as a
guide to applying personality type to create positive communications and understanding
others and ourselves. We will discuss dealing with differences in thinking, motivating
and communicating when working with clients and careproviders.
Topics include:
- Reframing attitudes about birth
- Is Your Doula Practice Mother-Friendly?
- Inductions
- Cesareans and VBAC's
- How birth affects breastfeeding
- What about the baby?
- And more . . . . . .
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