There are two basic categories of doulas – birth doulas who attend women in the delivery room, and postpartum doulas who assist women and their families as they make the adjustment to having a new baby at home.
A doula is someone who recognizes that giving birth is a major life experience for women and their partners. There are a number of organizations that provide training and certification for professional doulas in the United States, including DONA (Doulas of North America), ICEA (The International Childbirth Education Association), and CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association). The requirements for certification as a doula may differ depending on the organization you chose.
These basic steps are often required for birth doula certification:
• Meet the minimum age requirement if there is one.
• Join the certifying organization.
• Complete all the books on a required reading list.
• Attend general childbirth seminars and other training.
• Complete training in lactation and breastfeeding.
• Provide labor support for a required number of births, including continuous care of the mother, witnessing multiple vaginal deliveries, providing immediate postpartum support after the baby is born.
• Pass a certification exam.
These are some common requirements for postpartum doula certification:
• Meet the minimum age requirement if there is one.
• Join the certifying organization.
• Complete all the books on a required reading list.
• Attend the required number of postpartum workshops.
• Complete training in lactation and breastfeeding.
• Provide good evaluations from at least three clients who received postpartum care from you.
• Provide professional references.
• Obtain CPR certification.
• Pass a certification exam.
Doulas provide emotional and physical support to mothers and their families during and after the delivery of their child. The basic characteristics of both types of doulas can be found in the questions a potential client might ask:
• Are you warm and kind when dealing with people you may or may not know well?
• Are you enthusiastic and eager to please?
• Are you knowledgeable about the process of delivering a child or caring for a newborn?
• Are you able to communicate clearly to prospective parents about the delivery process or to new parents to help them learn to care for their child?
• Are you comfortable touching others, such as giving massages?
• Are you able to set aside your own beliefs or feelings to support the choices of others?
Certification as a doula shows prospective clients that you have the basic training needed to do the job. You can continue to improve your skills as a doula by staying up-to-date on all delivery techniques and procedures including new equipment you and your clients might encounter during a delivery. Networking with other doulas as well as other childbirth professionals such as nurses and midwives can give you new insights and help you improve your skills to provide the best possible care to your clients.
Further reading:
• What is a Birth Doula?
• What is a Postpartum Doula?
• How to Choose a Doula
Sources:
DONA International
International Childbirth Education Association
Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association
American Pregnancy Association
The Journal of Perinatal Education