All doula training programs are not equal.

The Doula Business Advisor blog

by Patty Brennan

Postpartum Doula TrainingThe business of training and certifying doulas is expanding wildly. In her Doulaing the Doula blog, Amy Gililland notes that an online search for professional doula training agencies yielded 14 in 2013 and grew to 24 in 2014. On many levels, this is a good thing. More women are becoming doulas, hiring doulas and receiving doula support than ever before. However, with rapid growth comes increasing confusion for the consumer (which in this case, includes both aspiring doulas and families seeking to hire a doula).

Which doula training program is better? Can one be adequately prepared to become a doula via training that is 100 percent online? Is certification for doulas important? What standards for professionalism have been set by the doula industry? Is the idea of “certified for life” a good one? What does that even mean? Which choice will yield the best return on her investment for the aspiring doula?

The “certification for life” proposition, I believe, makes a mockery of the idea of professional doula certification. It is essentially meaningless because no standards are being enforced. What it says to me is that this organization is not necessarily committed to being around over the next couple of decades and definitely doesn’t want to have to uphold standards and set up support systems for the doulas they are training. While pandering to the consumer who wants “certification,” they are simply selling a training and collecting their fee. Period. Seems a bit cynical and self-serving. The old adage, “you get what you pay for” comes to mind …

For postpartum doula training, I have seen anything from a 10-hour training to my own 30-hour DONA International workshop. Clearly I am biased, but as someone who has been developing curricula for over 30 years, I literally can’t imagine how one adequately covers:

  • breastfeeding support & troubleshooting
  • infant care
  • postpartum mood disorders & support strategies
  • maternal recovery, comfort measures & holistic healing tips
  • communication skills
  • role of the postpartum doula
  • business aspects of setting up a practice
  • supporting families with multiples
  • and more (e.g, Baby Wearing) …

in 10 hours! Here’s one filter for aspiring postpartum doulas: Are you seeking comprehensive professional preparation or do you just want to skim the surface and bag a credential as quickly as you can? Your answer to the question of “which choice will yield the best return on your investment?” depends upon your goals for taking a training and/or becoming a certified doula in the first place.

Patty Brennan is offering a DONA International Postpartum Doula Workshop in Ann Arbor, Michigan on October 1-4. Watch her Top 10 Reasons to Come to Ann Arbor for Postpartum Doula Training video. In addition, Patty is the author of The Doula Business Guide: Creating a Successful MotherBaby Business, 2nd Edition. Now offering The Doula Business Guide Workshop — an inspiring workshop (also available as an online class) for doulas covering the nitty gritty of establishing a small business and growing it into a sustainable income. Offering 7.0 DONA contact hours for our next workshop on October 24, 2015.

Posted by Patty Brennan on September 11, 2015 • Filed under
Comments (2)

Comments

2 Responses to “All doula training programs are not equal.”

  1. Sue Daum on September 12th, 2015 at 3:24 pm:

    Patty,
    I received DONA birth doula training this past June in Grand Rapids. I live in the Port Huron area (St. Clair County) and feel there is a HUGE need for child birth educators. Do you know of any local training that are out there? It seems like they are all out of state when I search on line.
    Thanks for any help, Sue

  2. Patty Brennan on September 12th, 2015 at 3:46 pm:

    Sue, check with Birthing from Within. I believe they are bringing a childbirth educator training to southeastern Michigan next spring.