Become a doula!

Become a doula!

Be the change you wish to see — train to become a doula!

This small-group, six week comprehensive course will teach you everything you need to know about becoming a doula. From understanding the physiological stages of birth, to learning how to decode clinical labor & delivery terminology, to marketing and advertising your services, to managing private payments and billing insurance companies — this course will prepare you to construct and operate a successful private doula practice from the ground up.

The doula plays an integral role in the pregnancy and childbirth experience for expectant families. By becoming a doula, you will assist birthing families in creating the childbirth environment and experience they envision. Not only that, but you will act as a liaison between the birthing family and the clinical team, and support the birthing family in making informed decisions with the help of your expertise. No matter where you are in your journey toward or into birth work, this course is perfect for you!

Upcoming COURSE INFORMATION

Dates: January 7, 2025 — February 13, 2025

Schedule:

  • Tuesdays, 5:30PM—7:30PM

  • Thursdays, 5:30PM—7:30PM

Total: 24 education hours

Cost: $750.00

Location: Zoom (optional in-person workshop on February 8, 2025)

MassHealth Certification Eligible: Yes

Topics Covered:

        •       History of childbirth and midwifery

        •       Hormonal changes by trimester

        •       Anatomy and physiology of the pregnant body

        •       Prenatal care network (physical therapy, personal training, yoga, chiropractic care, acupuncture, prenatal massage, reiki)

        •       Emotional and psychological processes of birth

        •       Physiological processes of birth (onset of labor, stages of labor, transition to birthing space)

        •       Comfort measures (massage, counter pressure, rebozo methods, use of heat/cold, mental/emotional coaching)

        •       Common interventions (pain management, induction, augmentation, assisted births)

        •       Laboring and pushing positions (UFO techniques, optimal positions by stage of labor, hip and pelvis position/openers)

        •       Birth environments (home birth, birth centers, hospital birth, free birth)

        •       Cesarean birth


        •       Breastfeeding


        •       Newborn care

        •       Communication (education and support, navigating client-family dynamics, diplomatic communication with medical professionals, trauma-informed care)

        •       Doula business operations (recruiting and retaining clients, insurance coverage and reimbursement, rates and payments, perinatal appointment structure and templates, malpractice insurance, sole proprietor vs. LLC, taxes)

  • MassHealth (Medicaid) provider enrollment


    Upon completion of this course, participants will:
            ⁃       Receive a certificate of completion with an attached syllabus for certification eligibility and MassHealth provider enrollment
            ⁃       Be equipped with the necessary skills and tools to begin offering doula services
            ⁃       Be able to successfully start their own private practice

    Mentorship:

    • Each participant will receive access to class content, slideshows and videos through our online class portal for three months

    • Each participant will receive a one-on-one mentoring session with instructor Deu Almeida

    • A select number of participants will be chosen to continue training, at no cost, through our doula apprenticeship!


What people are saying…

  • "I loved the honesty and relaxed atmosphere of the class. There is enough information in this course to start doula practice."

    Spring 2024 Graduate

  • "We received so much valuable information. The slides were well organized and the videos offered variety that reinforced the subjects we were learning. Deu is an amazing, patient instructor and the class was worth every penny!"

    Summer 2024 Graduate

  • "This course was great! Everything flowed really well and the order of topics made it easy to learn and understand."

    Winter 2024 Graduate

  • "I feel like Deu was absolutely amazing and I got so much more from this class than I imagined"

    Spring 2024 Graduate

  • "It was an awesome course and so glad I got to take it! Even with all the information I still felt supported and like I had proper resources to succeed."

    Spring 2024 Graduate