Birth Doula Workshops (DONA)

With Mélissa Cowl

Our Doula Training Course has been approved as a step toward Certification by DONA International. This course is open to any, and all, interested people and is not restricted to health care practitioners. In addition, more and more people are taking this course in an effort to educate and inform themselves about childbirth without the intention of becoming a doula.

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During the Birth Doula Workshop you will perform hands on physical labour support techniques, discuss aspects for support during difficult births, view birth videos, brainstorm about finding clients, learn the aspects of running a doula business and become proficient in supportive care for the pregnant individual.

Prerequisite:   All attendees are required to have the book, The Birth Partner (Simkin), in hand. Reading it prior to the course is strongly recommended.

Topics covered:

• The Doula Professional: Scope of Practice and Ethical Standards

• Certification with DONA International

• The Doula's Role During Pregnancy

• Emotional Support in Labour 

• Comfort Measures and Pain Relief

• Labour Support Strategies for Normal and Challenging Births

• Cesarean Birth and Vaginal Birth After Cesarean 

• Communication and Mediation Skills

• The Doula's Role with the Newborn

• Initiation of Breastfeeding

• Postpartum Life and the Doula​

This information will be part of your birth doula workshop and you will have the opportunity to ask questions at that time.

If time permits prior to the course, please also read one, or both, of the following:

• Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn (Simkin)

• Ina May's Guide to Childbirth (Gaskin)

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Childcare not provided. Quiet nursing babes in arms are welcome at the discretion of the instructor and arranged prior to the course.

Late arrivals: You must complete attendance of 23 hours, minimum, for this training to count toward certification. Tardiness or childcare situations that causes you to miss sessions will jeopardize your time requirement.​

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Please see DONA International for clarification of requirements for certification.  DO NOT purchase a certification packet prior to your workshop.