Steps For Certification Birth Doula -- New updates for 2017. Note: If you have any questions -- or "waive requests" please contact us. Thank you. We are trying to maintain requirements that reflect other programs. That is why we have added in some changes.
We added this page for students to find information easier. Thank you! Note: If you are DONA certified or attended a DONA workshop and want to take our birth doula course--we offer discounts for certified doulas. (Also, ask us if you are certified through other programs). Thank you.
Certification -- General iNfo
A Certified Doula should be able to know certain things and policies. So, we plan to add in our "Scope of Practice Statement" online (see bottom of this page) and students should be able to find steps to certification more easily. So, we plan to keep the website up to date on the steps and if anything is not fully disclosed in modules -- you will be able to find it here. We try to keep things up-to-date as much as possible. We appreciate your patience--contact us for any questions!
1. Book Reviews (Four)
Book Reviews (Four Required): "A Catholic Mother's Companion to Pregnancy" is required and "Christ Centered Childbirth" by Kelley Townsend.
You may use any other required books including the ones for St. Anne Breastfeeding to review. You will need to send us the following:
Name of Book/Author
Your Name
What was your favorite chapter of the book?
(Summarize some please)
Did you agree with the author on everything? If not, what did you disagree about and why?
Add a favorite quote from the book
Would you recommend this book for a pregnant mother? Please comment on why or why not?
Give this book a star rating from 1-5 (5 being really love it).
Submit to us via catholicdoulaprogram@gmail.com -- Look in classroom as well for a place to add your reviews.
2. St. Anne Breastfeeding Course
Doulas in training are now required to take the St. Anne Breastfeeding course (5 modules). You will learn more about breastfeeding and gain insight on how to help mothers. There will be a few things you can skip (for mothers taking the course only). This will count as your breastfeeding basics requirement. We can waive if you have been a La Leche League Leader or something like that. This course is worth $75. (Note: During pilot program -- the course will have modules available at a slow rate of one a month--so please be patient. Thank you.)
3. Birth Interviews
Three Birth Interviews -- Interview mothers about their births from epidural, c-section to natural birth. Remember the mother can remember birth -- so it doesn't matter how long ago the birth was as long as she can remember details about it. Thank you.
4. Follow Assignments and Case Studies And QUIZZES
There are case studies in each module that are important. Sometimes you have choices; other times you do what is "required for certification" as noted in each module. Assignments are throughout modules. We have occasional quizzes as well. You can re-take quizzes in order to pass at 90%. Thank you.
5. Birth Videos (New Requirement) and "Review/Crtitique" them
Watch Birth & Pregnancy related Videos and Critique them. For now, we will add the information into the classroom; in the future you may have them intergrated into the modules. We are planning on one a module plus one postpartum video for last module. *New Requirement*
6. Childbirth Course 2 options
Childbirth Course Requirement: 1. You may go to one local course and sit in it. 2. You may look at one module from the St. Gianna course and critique that module. (Modules may vary -- we usually do module one or module two. Students can ask for full program to look over if they happen to have a couple that is interested -- couple needs to pay for full the course. We are offering (the full look over) this for limited time while the St. Gianna Childbirth Prep is "new/pilot program". Note: This will be available soon. The above St. Anne course is the second part of the St. Gianna course. You do not have to purchase any books related to the St. Gianna course -- just review it.
7. Go to Labor and Delivery Room Observe
Tour a labor and delivery room at local hospital. Extra credit tour a birth center locally. Submit paragraph about your experience to classroom.
8. REbozo Way Course Level One
Work through and finish the Rebozo Way Level One course. We now have a Facebook group for the discussion portion of this course. It is also a good way to interact with students. (Remember this portion of the course is worth $99!) You will learn 8 skills. We plan to offer a Level Two focusing on birth ball soon and Level Three will have pushing techinques to postpartum wrap plus some review.
9. Birth Attendance -- 2 Choices -- one choice includes REsearch Paper
Birth Attendance: As a birth doula, you must find minimum of 2 births to attend. Mothers can labor as long or short time frame. We do not limit the time frame to certain time; we realize birth can come faster than 4 hours and longer than 24 hours. (DONA for instance prefers 4 hours -- but we have had several students go to a birth that lasted shorter than that time frame -- that experience should count!) We prefer students to focus on the skills they have learned through the course. Evaluations from the mothers they work with are required (we send forms to you). You also add in your own personal reflection (please do not share with mother).
Research Paper is required if you only choose 2 births. You may waive the research paper if attending 3 births. Reserach paper should be on a topic related to pregnancy. For instance a student did a paper on Down Syndrome pregnancy. Choose a topic that interests you and make sure we approve it. Thank you.
10. Doula Term List
We will be sending you a list of doula terms and then you will need to look them up using any sources you can find. There will be some abbreviations listed as well. Please send sources of the doula terms or abbreviations. You may submit this at the end with the portfolio.
11. Doula Resource lIst/B.L.O.O.M. Resource List /Read B.L.O.O.M. modules
We feel that our doulas need to know resources to help mothers. B.L.O.O.M. program also requires this -- so you may incorporate into one list 20 resources for pregnant mothers to know about. This can include government services such as W.I.C. We may have some assignments that suggest you add the information to this resource list.
Note on B.L.O.O.M. -- we are going to try to make the requirements for certification on that end more clear as well very soon. In the meantime, you will basically follow the modules in B.L.O.O.M. and learn how to lead support groups for pregnancy. One requirement will be for example to make up a meeting plan and then give that meeting to a group (you can use friends if you do not have pregnant ladies at your doorstep). This is just for practice.
Note: We now require you to at least read through B.L.O.O.M. modules even if you do not become a leader -- you do not have to buy the books unless you really want to be a leader! (Note this is for the pregnancy B.L.O.O.M.).
12. mini Business Course
We are working on a mini-business course; but this will probably not be ready till later in 2017. For now, you can still work with our regular business module. Please submit what is required from the module or mini-course. Thank you. We also suggest going to "Inspired Birth Pro" and signing up for their free newsletters.
13. Please Submit Portfolio Requirements are in Classroom
We are now requiring a portfolio -- this is kind of a way to keep all your work together. Your only addition to above requirements is a short essay on why you decided to study to become a doula. The portfolio includes most of your requirements above into an organized directory you might call it. You should probably use One Drive to submit it through and then we will download it that way. We do this instead of a full comprehensive exam/quiz. (Who likes quizzes/exams anyway?) We feel this fulfills the same purpose. Thank you.
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