[2.1] How do you become a doula?
About the DONA Course:
During the three-day workshop, you will focus on the emotions and psychological processes associated with giving birth and the significance of childbirth in womens' lives. You will learn about the role of the doula in the prenatal period, during labour, delivery and postpartum, and discover the importance of appropriate, culturally sensitive support.
Through hands on application you'll explore various techniques for pain relief in labour and examine methods to enable women and partners to cope with complications in pregnancy and labour including cesarean sections. Texts, supplementary literature, videos, slides and role-play will be used to help you build theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Discussion of newborn care and the initiation of breastfeeding will also be covered.
Requirements:
To participate in this course you should have some related experience (childbirth educator, nurse with labour and delivery experience, midwife, midwifery student or someone who has attended other doula or birth assistant workshops).
If however you don't have prior experience, you can do the required reading, observe a series of childbirth education classes and view a number of birth videos to gain knowledge regarding related anatomy and physiology, common procedures and tests, pain medications, the cesarean procedure and normal newborn appearance and procedures.
Becoming a Doula: A Labour Support Training Course has been approved as one step towards certification by Doulas Of North America (DONA
International).
Required Texts:
Refer to the DONA website: www.dona.org
Course Faculty:
The course curriculum was developed by Penny Simkin, PT, author, childbirth educator, practicing doula and doula trainer with over 25 years experience. She is known internationally for her workshops and lectures on childbirth issues. Penny is the founder of the Pacific Association for Labour Support (PALS) and Doulas of North America (DONA
International).
For More Information in Your Area:
Contact www.dona.org or
www.bcdoulas.org
Other Doula Training Programs:
Many other Doula training programs are available. For
example, CAPPA Canada, Birthing From Within, Gloria Lemay, and ALACE all offer
doula training programs. Each of these programs is unique. However,
not all of these training programs are transferrable for certification through
DONA. Check with your Doula to see what training she has received.
