Welcome! Here you will learn about becoming a Postpartum Doula.
We invite you to embark on a journey of compassionate care and invaluable support for new families. Designed for aspiring doulas and healthcare professionals alike, our workshop offers comprehensive training and insights into the profound role of postpartum doulas. Join us as we explore the transformative impact of nurturing guidance, practical assistance, and emotional empowerment during the delicate postpartum period. Whether you’re seeking to deepen your understanding or embark on a fulfilling career path, our workshop promises to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make a meaningful difference in the lives of new parents and their precious little ones.
Bringing a new baby home comes with a bundle of joy and a lot of unanswered questions. Having a postpartum doula to rely on for assistance and resources can help smooth the transition of having a new little one in the home. Helping mom understand the changes in body and healing along with guidance to recognize the newborns need around feeding and sleeping will help the family feel more settled and confident. Doulas work with the whole family, dads/partners and even other children. They can help with emotions, debriefing the birth, filling in needed information to successfully breastfeed (or offer a resource of someone who can help) and much more.
What is a Postpartum Doula?
A postpartum doula is a trained professional who provides physical, emotional, and informational support to new parents and their families during the postpartum period, which typically lasts for the first few weeks or months after childbirth. Unlike a midwife or a nurse, whose primary focus is on the medical needs of the mother and baby during pregnancy and childbirth, a postpartum doula’s role begins once the baby is born and focuses on the non-medical aspects of postpartum care.
Postpartum doulas offer a wide range of services tailored to the unique needs of each family. These may include assisting with newborn care, providing guidance on breastfeeding and infant feeding, offering emotional support and encouragement, helping with light household tasks, running errands, and providing evidence-based information on topics related to postpartum recovery, infant care, and parenting.
Overall, the primary goal of a postpartum doula is to help new parents transition smoothly into their new roles, gain confidence in caring for their baby, and ensure they feel supported, empowered, and well-rested during this important period of adjustment.
Why Become a Postpartum Doula?
If you have a heart for assisting parents when they bring their new baby home, this might be a great career for you. Postpartum Doulas are trained professionals who understand the individualized needs of today’s families. They provide families with culturally appropriate emotional support to assist with the transitions of the postpartum period and having a new baby. ICEA Certified Postpartum Doulas also respect the parenting style of the family, provide opportunities for the mother to ask questions or express concerns, and provide encouragement. They also demonstrate newborn care, assist with breastfeeding, provide care to older children, and more.
Training Details
Location:
The location of our course varies, and specific details can be found on the Ticket Tailor sign-up page. Our courses offer various attendance options, including in-person, virtual, or hybrid formats, accommodating diverse preferences and needs. Please refer to the sign-up page for the most up-to-date information regarding the venue. If you are interested in bringing a course to your area, please reach out to us via our Contact Us.
Time Commitment:
Course length varies, and specific details can be found on the Ticket Tailor sign-up page Please refer to the sign-up page for the most up-to-date information regarding the timing of the course. If you are interested in bringing a course to your area, please reach out to us via our Contact Us.
What to Expect:
In a postpartum doula workshop, you can expect to gain a comprehensive understanding of the role and responsibilities of a postpartum doula, along with practical skills and knowledge to support new families during the postpartum period. Here are some key elements you might encounter:
- Introduction to Postpartum Doula Work
- Mother’s Physical Recover
- Postpartum Emotions
- Supporting both parents mental health
- Family Dynamics
- Newborn appearance and baby care
- Breastfeeding and alternative feeding methods
- Listening and Communication Skills
- Business aspects and responsibilities
- ICEA Certification information
- Replenishing the doula spirit – maintaining your passion
Current Classes:
ICEA Certification
ICEA wants you to succeed! The ICEA Postpartum Doula Certification Program verifies that postpartum doulas have the necessary education and skills to enable them to care for families after the arrival of a new baby, whether through vaginal delivery, cesarean section, or adoption. The program promotes the concept of the postpartum doula as a part of the family’s postpartum support team and circle of care, offering physical and informational support to empower the parents to make informed parental decisions based on the knowledge of alternatives.
Find out more about becoming a Postpartum Doula on the ICEA website
Steps for Certification:
- Take a workshop
- Enroll in the certification program
- Review the study guide sent after enrollment
- Apply to take the exam, pass the exam
- Complete 3 client evaluations
- Confirm CPR certification
- Receive Confirmation of Certification
Inspiring Words from Students
It was one of the most informative, collaborative, affirming, and educational trainings I have participated in! I’ve worked in the pregnancy, birth, and new parent space for 17 years before finally pursuing my Postpartum Doula Certification. As a hospital perinatal educator, I stay current with evidence-based care and am fortunate to have nearly daily interactions with newborns and new parents. With my experience, I thought my postpartum doula workshop would be little more than a “check the box” activity. I’m elated to have been categorically wrong! Debbie deftly combined an immensely diverse group and created a non-judgmental, inclusive, collaborative environment. Everyone was celebrated for their lived experiences, knowledge, and skills. Three days later, Debbie had masterfully transformed a group of individuals into a cohesive, knowledgeable group built on mutual respect. I immediately applied what I learned and months later, I still refer to the materials. Debbie’s training contains multitudes valuable to everyone! I can’t wait for my next opportunity to learn from Debbie!
– Rachel V – Certified Postpartum Doula, March 2024
The postpartum doula workshop was exceptional. I love moms and babies but I knew I didn’t have what it takes to be a birth doula. I was so glad when I learned that I could help after the birth! Thanks for going over so many details about working with a family when they bring the baby home. Learning about normal newborn behavior was great so I can help the parents understand as they get to know the baby. I loved going over the HUG Your Baby info, it gave me a deeper wisdom about newborns. I was also grateful that we talked about what new moms experience in this time period, so much is aimed at the baby that we could forget the mom! Including sections about the fathers/partners and children were very helpful too. I loved all your stories and the hands on demonstrations of things. Your knitted breast was great. I’ll have to make one for myself.
– LF – Postpartum Doula Workshop
Contact us for more information or visit our registration site. If there’s no workshop scheduled in your area, let us know—we may be able to bring one to you!