Become A Doula

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Become A Doula

Why and How to Become A Doula

Why?

A birth doula helps women as they become mothers, for the first time or again, supporting women mentally, physically, emotionally and logistically during pregnancy, labor, childbirth and immediately after. A postpartum doula helps women as they begin to mother their newborn children, supporting women mentally, physically, emotionally and logistically during the long weeks after childbirth when the expanded family bonds and adjusts its routines to welcome its newest addition(s).

As a Certified Birth Doula you will have the opportunity to support birthing women and their families as they embrace normal birth and trust in the birth process. You will become skilled to assist them as they navigate their way through the process of birth in a medical, fear-based world whether they choose a hospital, birth center or home birth setting. As you support them to accomplish their goals you too will find yourself irrevocably changed.

As a Certified Postpartum Doula you will have the opportunity to support birthing women and their families as they welcome their newborns into their daily lives. You will become skilled to assist them as they navigate their way through the process of bonding with and nurturing their newborns in a context of conflicting demands upon their time, energy, resources, attention and focus. As you support them to accomplish their goals you too will find yourself irrevocably changed.

"We must become the change we want to see in the world" - Mahatma Gandhi

How?

Birth doula training involves learning and keeping up with the latest research-based information on how to prepare for and journey successfully through the experience of giving birth, as well as techniques for empowering mothers-to-be. See our birth doula training program for more specific information on birth doula training.

Postpartum doula training involves learning and keeping up with the latest research-based information on how to prepare for and make the most of those critical months following birth, as well as techniques for empowering new mothers. See our postpartum doula training program for more specific information on postpartum doula training.

Practical training is also an essential part of becoming a doula. Unfortunately not all training programs include practical training in their curriculum. Some include practical observation or experience but not training. Others emphasize book learning but not how to do what a doula does with that knowledge. In Aviva Institute's doula training programs every student seeks out an in-person mentor (a woman who has some experience with childbirth) to carry out carefully designed role-play activities that are woven into the work of the course. When you are done with a doula training program at Aviva Institute, you will not feel "out of place" but confident when you begin your work as a doula.

Here is what some graduates of our doula courses have to say about their learning experience with us here:

I began my journey to midwifery 10 years ago with an apprenticeship to a lay-midwife and although I learned a lot from her I also had huge gaps in my knowledge and understanding. Her answer was to have me read more books and attend more births. It did little to fill in my deeper understanding. I hungered after real concrete knowledge about the human body and how it works. I was stuck. I firmly believed in the midwifery model of care so my desire for scientific understanding seemed at odds with that end. Eventually my midwife moved away and I functioned as a fledgling lay midwife in her stead for a few months until I had a couple of scary births that clearly showed my ignorance. That was when I stopped practicing. It broke my heart to do so but I found my poor tattered copy of Heart and Hands to fall short of the mark when faced with a real emergency. That was 10 years ago and the heart of a midwife still burns within me. But I promised myself I wouldn't return to midwifery without real wisdom under my belt. I have taken the Doula course, the Medical Terminology course, and Anatomy and Physiology I and II. I am like a sponge. I was so thirsty for this knowledge. The amazing part is that I am getting the very thing I have so long desired! Real knowledge with true science behind it all, being taught with the Midwifery Model in mind. It is the very school I had envisioned during all those late night internet searches! I have considered some of the other "programs" where you stay for a few weeks to get enough births but knew in my heart that I would be gaining more hands on experience with little head knowledge to back it up. Aviva's program is preparing my mind! It is real college level courses that challenge that deeper part of my understanding. I had long dreamed of such a program but could only find ones for nurse midwives. Becoming a nurse midwife seemed a step backwards for me since I have seen so many beautiful natural births. Through my long search I can testify that this school is the best I've ever seen and because of the internet it is available to everyone. They are professional in their dealings with the students and have a great staff. Their technical team is awesome and very prompt to help with any issues. I am enjoying a wonderful learning experience with Aviva and truly believe in the work they are doing.
----Margie Kline, Midwifery Student and Doula Course Graduate

After looking at all my options, I felt Aviva was the best possible school for me. For my style of learning, I felt a 6 week class would be better than cramming everything into two weekends. Additionally, I had an infant that only breastfed (no bottles), and it was comfortable for me to stay with him while completing my course. My instructor, Tamy Roloff, was amazing. She was so kind and knowledgeable. I felt I could ask her anything and my questions were always answered quickly and in depth. I came to know the group of students in my class and we shared life experiences that I know I wouldn't have been able to share face-to-face. There was openness and honesty to our discussions that really helped me understand what my role as a doula would be! The curriculum was very timely; we were directed to many sources that I doubt would have been available in a "traditional" setting. I absolutely loved the class and have recommended it to others. I look forward to furthering my education with more classes from Aviva.
----Dawn Fornear, Doula Program Participant

As these women's experience shows, becoming a doula is all about connecting, connecting mind with heart, connecting science with instinct, connecting famlies with childbirth services, connecting women with the collective wisdom of mothering, connecting with experienced mentorsand fellow travelers inside and outside the doula profession, and of course, connecting women with their babies and with themselves as mothers and mothers-to-be.

Whether you are a midwife seeking to round out or deepen your non-clinical skill set, or are looking to build a career as a doula, practice-based doula certification training is the best way to achieve your goals, and Aviva Institute offers some of the best training available.