Doula Training Modules
A doula’s continuous presence during labor provides emotional care for a laboring woman. Beside her partner there may be no other person to provide a continuous presence and the doula, unlike other staff such as Doctor, nurse, midwife, has no other obligation during labor other than the laboring woman. A doula’s ability to remain calm and objective along with an understanding of problems and options for them may prove invaluable to a laboring woman. A doula understands the mother’s wishes for her birth. A doula has knowledge of comfort measures that can be used to benefit the laboring woman.
Module I explores the instinctive and intuitive role of the birth doula. Our goal is to awaken our intuitive and instinctive selves, and apply that in the role of a doula. Your work will be enhanced with sensitivity to a pregnant, laboring and or postpartum mother, partner and/or family. We all have basic intuition and instincts but not all believe or trust in those attributes. This Module explores the emotional changes that can occur during pregnancy. This Module explores the scope of practice appropriate for a doula.
The exploration into the intuitive and instinctual role of a doula includes interviews with women who have birthed with a doula present and without, and interviews with birth professionals who have worked with a doula present.
These two books are provided with the Intuitive Doula Manual and are to be used throughout your work.
• The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth, Sheila Kitzinger
• The Nurturing Touch At Birth, Paulina Perez
Module 1 Reading Required:
• Awakening Intuition, Frances E. Vaugh
Suggested:
• The Doula Book, Klaus, Klaus and Kennell
• Spiritual Midwifery, Ina May Gaskin
• Compass of the Soul; 52 Ways Intuition Can Guide You to the Life of Your Dreams, Lynn Robinson
Module II explores normal labor, delivery and options for comfort measures. Your work will look at the ways labor can begin and symptoms a woman might feel during labor. Understanding factors in labor that can affect the experience of pain and how a doula can assist the birthing couple during labor are studied. Module II also looks at how a birth plan is developed and how a doula can assist in the development of a birth plan.
Module II includes interviews with women about what comfort measures helped them during labor, auditing a childbirth education series, work with a massage therapist and completion of current adult and infant CPR certification.
Module II Reading Required:
• Gentle Birth Choices, Barbara Harper, R.N.
At least one of the following:
• The Birth Partner, Penny Simkin
• Aromatheraphy and Massage, Allison England
• Back Labor No More, Janie King
Module III explores birth setting options. What can be expected as routine care in your local hospital and/or birth center? Are home births an option where you live? Is care in your area provided by doctors or midwives, or both? Module III also explores the “ripple effect of interventions” in labor and what are typical interventions performed in many birth setting options.
Module III includes identifying three clients you will work with. This will include prenatal visits with your clients that will establish the expectation of you as their doula. You will provide labor support and document the support provided.
Module III Reading
Required:
• Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, Ina May Gaskin
At least one of the following:
• Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year, Susan Weed
• Birthing From Within, Pam England
Module IV explores understanding postpartum concerns, breastfeeding and newborn care. You will work with clients in providing postpartum doula support. Either by attending LaLeche League meetings or having contact time with a lactation consultant your understanding of breastfeeding will increase. You will provide and document postpartum support given to your three clients.
Module IV Reading
Required:
• After the Baby’s Birth: A Complete Guide for Postpartum Women, Robin Lin
At least one of the following:
• Your Amazing Newborn, Marshall Klauss and Phyllis Klaus
• The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, La Leche League
• The Nursing Mother’s Companion, Kathleen Huggins
• You and Your Newborn, Linda Todd
Module V is an outline of ideas for setting up your doula business. It includes creating a business plan, identifying your target market and who you will be providing services for, advertising and marketing and finding clients, forms you will need for your clients and what you may want in your doula birth bag.
Objective:
Define your vision as a Certified Doula
Create a business plan
Developing a Marketing Plan
Attracting clients/Self promotion
Professional Development
This Module is created as an outline for setting up your business. Some areas that are explored:
• I Your Personal Vision
When starting any new business, there are decisions to be made with regard to the direction the business will go. accompany them to the hospital or birth center. Some Doulas prefer to only offer post Doulas work in a variety of settings. Some Doulas have solo practices; some are employed by a hospital service, birth center, or midwife. Some Doulas attend births at a client's home, or partum services, helping the woman and her family adjust to their life with a newborn, and in addition offer breastfeeding support, light housekeeping duties and childcare. Doulas may also combine their work with other skills like massage, aromatherapy, lactation counseling or acupuncture.
• II Setting Up Your Business and Developing a Marketing Plan
Anyone thinking of starting a business needs a business/marketing plan. A business plan outlines the goals for the business and makes a statement about how the goals will be reached, how new clients will be attracted and how financial goals will be met.
• III Developing a Marketing Plan
• IV Attracting Clients/Self Promotion
Stay current in your training and maintain your membership with doula related organizations.
• V Professional Development
• VI Forms You Will Need For Your Clients
• VII Putting Together Your Doula Bag
