BE A DOULA
Become a birth doula in one weekend
Are You Ready to Make a Difference?
Are you still dreaming about taking a birth doula training? Come spend a weekend filling your heart and soul with all things birth! Whether you are wanting to jump into doula work immediately, someday or just want to support friends and family this workshop is for you! We have a lot of grandmas attend so they can support their daughters/daughter-in-laws in the very best ways.
This workshop is open to anyone with a warm heart who recognizes that birth is a key life experience. It is designed to give you the framework to support women and their families during their birth experience. This dynamic course provides you ideas, information and inspiration to become an amazing birth doula. Graduates will be able to provide immediate labor support services to women giving birth in a hospital, birth center or at home. This often becomes the foundation upon which childbirth professionals build their career. Many midwifery programs require a doula training prior to admission. Completion of this course is an approved step toward DONA International Birth Doula Certification. This training provides 18 contact hours through DONA International.
Our training is relaxed and presented in a conversational style. We spend time connecting and building relationships so we can create a safe, brave and intentional space to explore the doula role. Every cohort brings their own experiences to the table so no two trainings are the same. And although all DONA International foundational information will be covered in every training, each class tends to gravitate to certain topics to meet their specific needs/requests (which is one of my favorite things about training!)
We will explore the following topics:
The State of Maternity Care - Birth Disparities and Inequities by Race and Ethnicity, Systemic Racisim, Implicit Bias, History of Gyn.
Microaggressions/Microinsults/Microassults- Recognizing and Responding too.
Creating Safe Spaces for Clients
Identifying LGBTQIA+ resources
DONA International Code of Ethics and Scope of Practice
DONA International Certification
Your Doula Business - Finding clients, Networking, Idenitfying your ideal client,
Prenatal Client Contact - Paperwork/Agreements/Handouts, Activities to build confidence and connection
Partnering with Partners, Family, Staff, Care-providers
Emotional Support in Labor and Birth - Reducing trauma, Recognizing need for extra support
Comfort Measures and Positioning
Supporting with an Epidural
Supporting through an Induction
Supporting through a Cesarean Birth or VBAC
Challenging Labors-What's a Doula to Do?
Welcome to the World Sweet Baby - Skin to Skin, Delayed Cord Clamping, Bonding
Early Breastfeeding Support - Setting stage for success
Postpartum Client Contact - Helping client begin to process their experience; Identifying Postpartum Depression/Anxiety
Doula-ing the Doula - Having a soft place to fall
And do much more!
"Vanessa Flood is an excellent instructor! I have quite a bit of knowledge about all things obstetrics and feel like I learned so much more than I could have ever imagined! I thoroughly enjoyed the course and Vanessa’s friendly and knowledgeable demeanor."
Virtual Birth Doula Workshop
Our DONA International approved Birth Doula Weekend Workshop is the first step to becoming a DONA International Certified Doula. This training will allow you to begin work immediately as a trained birth doula. It includes 18 contact hours of dynamic instruction. We cover the above topics through a variety of experiences that give you the confidence and knowledge to support childbearing families. You will receive our DONA International Birth Doula Training Manual (digitally) and Understanding Birth and Understanding Postpartum Health/Baby Care Booklets that include a companion app for additional resources/videos and a fun care-package from me!
I offer two additional DONA International approved classes – Intro to Childbirth for Doulas and Breastfeeding for Doulas as an add on day making it an All-Inclusive Three-Day Birth Doula Workshop. These classes complete your childbirth and breastfeeding class requirements for certification (if pursuing). This allows you to condense the class requirements to one day. It is an easy way to check them off the list, have great background knowledge prior to the weekend training and meet fellow classmates ahead of time. The two day workshop is perfect for those who have already fulfilled their childbirth and breastfeeding class requirements, doulas from other organizations who would like to be dual certified, birth photographers and those who lack the time commitment needed for a three day training. The Two-Day Birth Doula Weekend Workshop has an all-inclusive fee of $375. The All-Inclusive Three-Day Birth Doula Workshop has a discounted fee of $475. Upon completion (and all fees paid) you will receive your certificate(s) of attendance.
As you venture out on your own, we are here to support you all along the way. Our continued support includes fellow classmate support, an active Facebook page, discounts on future advanced doula trainings to enhance your skills, referrals and professional recommendations if needed. I also have a birth doula coaching and mentorship program!
If you are planning on certifying through DONA International you will receive and register your Certification Packet during training. It is valid for three years (you can purchase an extension, if needed) and you have three years to certify from this training.
For more information on certification see below:
Our Saturday/Sunday weekend workshop runs from 8am to 6pm CST on both Saturday and Sunday (Sunday usually finishes ~6:30 after closing ceremonies). Friday's Intro to Childbirth for Doulas runs 8:30am to 5:30pm CST and Breastfeeding for Doulas runs 6:00pm to 9:00pm CST.
2024 BIRTH DOULA WORKSHOPS
This is a live, virtual training on Zoom. At the start of the pandemic I moved my workshops online. All activities were reworked on the virtual platform so this valuable training could continue. Initially apprehensive, we quickly learned that any space a group of passionate persons occupy--- magic will happen! Between the group brainstorms, break outs, chats, collaborative Jamboards we laugh, cry, share experiences, make new friends and filled our hearts full of all things birth! This new found accessibility- without extra expense of travel/childcare/etc- gave persons all over the US and the World access to a respected, high quality DONA International birth doula training. And this robust diversity has lead to richer trainings about the diversity of birth as we draw from areas all over the US+
APRIL 26 - 28 2024 VIRTUAL/LIVE {OPEN}
MAY 31 - JUNE 2 2024 VIRTUAL/LIVE {OPEN}
JULY 26 - 28 2024 VIRTUAL/LIVE {OPEN}
SEPTEMBER 27 - 29 2024 VIRTUAL/LIVE {OPEN]
DECEMBER 6 - 8 2024 VIRTUAL/LIVE {OPEN}
Any registration received will receive a link to our private Facebook Page for a jump start on certification tasks and setting up your business. So after you take a workshop you will be all ready to doula immediately after, if desired.
Have more questions? See our Frequently Asked Questions below for answers!
Keep Me on the List!
I hold 6+ birth doula trainings a year. I will send out up to 4 emails a year about upcoming trainings, classes and new programs. So when the season is right for you, we can connect!
