www.dona.org

...that's why there is DONA International.  When choosing a doula or doula organization it is good to ask some questions.  Is the organization recognized and respected in the childbirth community?  When was it founded?  Who are the founders and the current board?  Are they respected in the childbirth community?  Does the organization provided certification and how rigorous is the process?

Currently, DONA International is the premiere doula organization in the world.  A brief founding history follows below (taken from DONA.org)...

"Drs. Marshall Klaus and John Kennell, Phyllis Klaus C.S.W.M.F.C.C., Penny Simkin, PT, and Annie Kennedy, all renowned experts in childbirth and newborns, founded DONA International in 1992. Their goal was to promote doula care – continuous emotional and physical support for women during labor and early postpartum.

Marshall Klaus, while running the neonatal intensive care nursery at Stanford University in 1967, discovered that many parents of premature and sick infants were having difficulty adjusting to their new babies. At that time, mothers were not allowed into the premature nursery until just before discharge. Klaus joined forces with Dr. John Kennell, his colleague at Case Western Reserve University, to study bonding. Their work was instrumental in gradually opening premature and sick baby nurseries to parents worldwide and to allow parents of normal, full-term infants to be with their parents during the first moments after birth.

Klaus and Kennell also discovered the importance of continuous emotional and physical support from another woman to women in labor. Klaus and Kennell, along with Phyllis Klaus, Penny Simkin and Annie Kennedy, chose the word “doula” to describe a woman who serves other women. Our five founders have continued their research and frequently share their knowledge through their writings and speaking engagements."

DONA International has multiple committees for educating and supporting both doulas and the families they support.  While the training program is accessible to most individuals, certification is NOT a guarantee.  One must go through a thorough certification process, including essays on what one learned through each experience and the value and purpose of labor support.  They are well rounded in basic childbirth education, lactation support, and labor/postpartum support.  This packet then goes to the certification committee for full review.  If they do not feel like the lessons learned were the intended ones, certification is denied and guidance is given to help the doula understand the appropriate lessons through additional births and then apply again.

This is a huge distinction to other programs that have their doulas go through a certification process of basic requirements and grading an open book exam.  I am not impressed if a doula can pass (not even ace) an open book exam to obtain certification.

I am proud to be a DONA International trained and certified doula and also the KS State Representative for such a prestigous organization.  For more information about DONA International, go to www.dona.org.