Birth Doula Training Program

Become a Birth Doula and 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.      
                                                       “We must become the change we want to see in the world” Mahatma Gandhi

Book List


Go to the Bookstore to get the latest editions of these books quickly

Required Reading

You are encouraged to read these books prior to the training, however only certain sections will be required reading during the six- week course

The Doula Book, by Klaus, Kennell & Klaus

The Birth Partner: Everything You Need to Know to Help a Woman Through Childbirth, by Penny Simkin

Pregnancy, Childbirth & the Newborn: The Complete Guide, revised by Penny Simkin, Janet Whalley & Ann Keppler

The Labor Progress Handbook (2nd Edition) By Penny Simkin

The Complete Book of Pregnancy & Childbirth, revised by Sheila Kitzinger
 
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League

Recommended Reading

Birthing

Gentle Birth Choices: A Guide to Making Informed Decisions About Birth Centers, Birth Attendants, Water Birth, Home Birth, Hospital Births, By Barbara Harper

The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth, by Henci Goer

Birthing From Within, by Pam England

The Birth Book , by Bill & Martha Sears

Breastfeeding

The Breastfeeding Answer Book 3rd Edition by Mohrbacher, Stock & Newman (La Leche League)

The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers, by Dr Jack Newman

Bestfeeding: How to Breastfeed Your baby by Renfrew, Fisher & Arms

The Scientification of Love by Michel Odent

Birth & Breastfeeding by Michel Odent


Unexpected Outcomes

Help, Comfort & Hope After Losing Your Baby in Pregnancy by Hannah Lothrop

Sexual Abuse Survivors

When Survivors Give Birth: Understanding and Healing the Effects of Early Sexual Abuse on the Childbearing Woman by Penny Simkin & Phyllis Klaus


Alternative Modalities

Homeopathy for Pregnancy, Birth & Baby's First Year by Miranda Castro

The Natural Pregnancy Book by Aviva Romm

Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year by Susun Weed

Herbal Healing for Women by Rosemary Gladstar

Parenting & Postpartum

Your Amazing Newborn > by Marshall and Phyllis Klaus

Course Overview

This course is open to anyone desiring to learn the art of labor support. It isn’t assumed that participants have a particular level of knowledge about pregnancy, birth and postpartum. However if you come to this class with prior knowledge and experience you will have the opportunity to refresh and expand your knowledge level in relation to work as a doula and share your experience with classmates. 

What you will learn during this six-week program:

• The role of the Birth Doula
• Basic anatomy of the breasts, female and male reproductive system, and fetal development
• Basic physiology of pregnancy, birth, postpartum & breastfeeding
• Definitions of medical terms regarding labor
• Midwifery Model compared with the Medical Model of Birth and Politics of Birth
• Common procedures and tests used during normal birth, their risks and benefits
• Pain medication, their administration and effects
• Alternative Modalities
• Basic relaxation techniques, breathing patterns & other comfort measures for labor
• About Cesarean sections & VBAC
• Normal newborn appearance & procedures
• Benefits of breastfeeding
• Special needs and unexpected outcomes
• Postpartum Support
• Setting up a Doula business

Unlike doula courses crammed into a weekend, this six-week course allows participants to absorb and discuss information provided. Course is taught in a cohort group to allow interaction between all participants, you are not learning on your own. This course meets the Aviva Institute Standards of being both comprehensive and accessible. This is a complete program designed to prepare students for doula practice. A certificate of completion is provided at the end of the course.  Course includes information about the different doula certifying agencies for those who wish to pursue additional certification, however no further classes or certification is required for doula practice. 

Log in anytime it fits into your schedule, read online materials, watch videos, post to the discussion forum, share experiences and knowledge with a wonderful group of women. With a high level of instructor involvement, someone is available to answer questions, direct you to resources and make the learning experience fun and enjoyable. To get the most out of this course please plan on logging in five out of seven days. There will be weekly assignments designed to help you retain and to synthesize the materials provided. Course is  graded as pass/fail basis.

This is a non credit course that meets the prerequisite requirements for the Aviva Institute Midwifery program as well as many other midwifery schools.

This online doula course, unlike others, builds in the opportunity for hands-on role play done in your local area to solidify the labor support concepts learned throughout the course. You will be asked to locate a mentor (a woman who has some experience with childbirth) who will give you face-to-face feedback as you build your self confidence in the role of birth doula. 

Instructor

Tamy Roloff LM, CPM, CD (DONA) is an experienced Doula Trainer, a retired La Leche League Leader, a DONA certified doula, an ICEA Trained Childbirth Educator, a Licensed Midwife and addition to training doulas here at Aviva Institute she is faculty in the core midwifery program.

She recently moved to Long Beach, an area of Washington State that has no midwives, and is establishing a new midwifery practice, where she is an Approved Preceptor. Her family owns an organic market that they also moved to Long Beach. She been married 28 years and has four grown, homeschooled children. She also has two grandchildren whom she assisted with birthing at home.

Tamy believes that midwifery students who understand the work of the doula and have the opportunity to experience birth in that capacity alone without having any of the clinical responsibilities of the midwife will develop into even more compassionate and understanding midwives.  

Course Dates:

Spring Term: 5/19/08-6/29/08
(course fills fast, plan on enrolling early)

Summer Term: 8/4/08 - 9/14/08

Tuition: $350.00

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