Course Content

The workshop is designed to help participants become expert labor support providers. It utilizes texts and supplementary literature, videos, slides and role play to build theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The workshop constitutes one step in the certification process for Doulas of North America (DONA).

During this intensive three day workshop, students will:

• Discuss the emotions and psychological processes associated with labor and birth.
• Discuss the role of the labor support person during the prenatal, labor and delivery, and post partum periods; emphasizing the importance of appropriate, culturally sensitive support.
• Learn how to enable women and their partners to cope with complications in pregnancy, labor and early postpartum.
• Describe the doula's scope of practice and ethical standards.
• Learn the practical aspects of setting up a doula practice, including the establishment of fees and records.
• Not have training in clinical skills, which are outside the scope of practice of the doula.

• recognizes birth as a transformational life experience.
• understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor.
• assists a laboring woman in preparing and carrying out her plans for the birth.
• stays by the side of the laboring woman throughout labor without a change of shift.
• provides emotional support, practical comfort measures, and objective viewpoint and information to aid decision making.
• enhances and supports the woman's partner and clinical care providers.
• treats a woman's birth experience as a source of positive memories, rich rewards and feelings of accomplishment.
• weaves together the needs of the laboring woman, her partner, and her clinical care provider.

Childbearing women and couples, midwives, physicians, and labor and delivery nurses appreciate the resources, techniques, knowledge and continuous empathetic support a doula provides.

Historically women have relied on many different people to provide this kind of support: mothers, partners, friends and midwives. Today's maternity care is provided by unfamiliar care givers and nurses. Obstetric care relies on technology and can be complex and confusing, so parents are once again turning for help to those with experience and perspective. Recent studies indicate better outcomes for babies and their mothers; shorter, more comfortable labors; fewer complications; and greater maternal satisfaction when a doula is present.

Labor support is here to stay. Doulas are everywhere. Their nurturing patience, expertise, and commitment to childbearing women, their partners and their babies can help women to have safe and satisfying birth experiences. Doulas fill a void that has existed for generations in our maternity care system.

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Course Prerequisites

Do I need to have completed a childbirth class?

Many doula workshops do require that you are enrolled or have completed a childbirth class prior to your doula workshop. For DONA certification, all doulas must take a childbirth class not as a pregnant person. We recommend, but do not require, that participants attend a quality childbirth class before taking the workshop. We also expect that you have read over the list of “things we expect you to know before attending” in our brochure or on our web site. Participants get the most out of our workshop when they are prepared and have a working knowledge of childbirth and its related procedures. For example, we will discuss how a doula helps a mother who has an epidural. We will not cover information that would be in a childbirth class, such as epidural administration, side effects, or when a mother can receive an epidural. We expect you to assess whether you are ready to attend the workshop, and have the knowledge that would be covered in a quality childbirth course. If you are uncertain about your readiness, please do not hesitate to email or phone one of us, we are willing to help.

We want this workshop to be a very satisfying experience for you and being prepared can make a big difference!

How do I prepare for the training?

If you have a background in childbirth education, midwifery, or labor and delivery nursing, or have attended other doula workshops then you have appropriate experience. Massage therapists with pregnancy certification, or women who have given birth and also have experience giving labor support, breast feeding support or grief counseling may also have enough experience. Please call one of the instructors to discuss your background. If none of these descriptions fit, you can prepare for the training by attending a complete series of childbirth preparation classes (taught by the best teacher you can find); viewing as many birth videos as possible; touring a hospital; reading the required texts; and, if possible, attending some births.

A required pre-test will be sent with your confirmation. The pre-test is designed to help us adapt each workshop to the needs of the participants. It will also help you focus on areas in which you may need more information or understanding. It must be returned at least two weeks prior to the workshop.

It is assumed all participants already know:

• Anatomy of the reproductive system and breasts
• Physiology of pregnancy, birth, postpartum and breastfeeding
• Definitions of medical terms regarding labor
• Common procedures and tests used during normal birth, their risks and benefits
• Narcotic pain medication, administration and effects
• Epidural pain medication, administration and effects
  
• The cesarean procedure
• Normal newborn appearance and procedures
• Basic relaxation techniques, breathing patterns and other comfort measures for labor
• Benefits of breastfeeding
  

All participants are required to read the following four texts prior to the workshop. Discounted or loaned textbooks may be available. Call or email Karen Kohls at (608)831-0348. Many of these books are also available for loan through your local library.

1. A Good Birth, A Safe Birth (third edition) by Diana Korte and Roberta Scaer
   
2. The Birth Partner:Everything You Need to Know to Help a Woman Through Childbirth by Penny Simkin
   
3. Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn: The Complete Guide by Penny Simkin, Janet Whalley and Ann Kepler
   or
   The Birth Book by William Sears, M.D.
   
4. Special Women: the Role of the Professional Labor Assistant by Polly Perez and Cheryl Snedeker
   or
   The Doula Book by Marshall Klaus, John Kennell and Phyllis Klaus (The previous edition was titled Mothering the Mother. We highly recommend the new book over the old one. But if all you can find is MTM, that is better than not reading it.)

Also, if you have not attended a consumer-oriented or woman-centered childbirth class, we highly recommend that you read Henci Goer’s The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth* and/or Ina May Gaskin's Ina May's Guide to Childbirth*.

Books with a * are required for DONA Certification.

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Course Fees & Policies

The course fee usually varies from $325.00 to $350.00, depending on the location.

Refund Policy

If you need to cancel your registration more than three weeks prior to the workshop, you will receive a refund minus a $30.00 administrative fee. There will be no refunds within three weeks of the start of the workshop unless there is a waiting list and your space is filled. You may also send a qualified substitute who meets the requirements to take your place.

For a $75.00 transfer fee, you may apply your tuition to a future Midwest Doula Trainers Basic Doula Training Workshop within the next twelve months.  If you pay your tuition and do not contact us ahead of time and do not show up to attend the workshop, your deposit of $175.00 will be forfeit. Even with only a few days notice, with payment of the transfer fee it is usually possible to transfer your registration to a future workshop date.

Lodging/Facilities

This was a great course. I loved your enthusiasm!

The training was very professional, well organized-I really enjoyed it!!!!

I can’t believe how much I learned over the weekend!

I learned a wealth of new information and better ways to use the knowledge that I already have!

They gave alternatives for all situations and philosophies for clients and doctors and hospitals. They give a wide variety of viewpoints to meet everyone’s needs and beliefs and training.

The role playing was extremely helpful! Watching the videos gave me a wide variety of situations and options to offer and teach. I really can’t think of anything that I will not be able to use from this workshop!

The workshop was very thorough and comprehensive. I very much liked the information about the establishment of a ritual during labor and how important the building of memories are for the mother and family.

I really liked having 3 trainers for variety, for working in small groups, and for availability between sessions.

The material was well presented and thoughtful. Very relevant information, very useful and very applicable!

This has been a wonderful experience to help me clarify my values and re-energize my confidence that I can do it.

It is a good beginning and I have a much better idea of what I’m taking on. I’ve also learned so many new skills and tools to take with me to the next births not to mention tons of resources to help me expand my knowledge and skill base in the future.

The workshop and the course materials exceeded my expectations.

I think you guys have really thought this workshop through and have come up with a great program. I found value in all the sections. Thanks! This was a great experience!

I thank you for the opportunity to learn as well as be challenged. I so need to be challenged in my opinions, because quite often I tend to get stuck in the “I’m right” mode. This frame of mind is not a good state of mind to be in when you’re trying to communicate alternatives, such as natural childbirth. I have to thank you for modeling passion and persistence in your beliefs that every mother needs to be cared for during the hardest, most important thing she will ever do in her life. Your professionalism is inspiring and your dedication and passion moving; thank you for sharing it with me.

I did not feel ready for this work before the workshop and now I feel very ready. This training seems very thorough and the trainers worked well together.

I will have only good things to say to anyone who asks me about this class and the work of doulas! I really liked the way they taught us how doulas can make a big difference in a birth experience and memory by doing several small things. I’m so appreciative of being able to have shared time and knowledge with these women. Never once was anybody treated without respect. I applaud these women for working so hard and taking the time to further along our desire to become doulas!

You have such a precious gift, not only as a doula-but a teacher also!

In many ways I find it hard to evaluate you as individuals-you work very well together, very respectful of each other. Clear on your own individual approaches, but respectful of others. I think you are all great speakers-in different ways, and effective.

Ruth, Amy and Karen worked as a synchronized team to bring us all of their best knowledge and experience as doulas. Ruth’s personality and knowledge helped give the workshop stability and humor. Karen’s calmness and quiet demeanor modeled many aspects of a doula at work, providing the second leg. Amy’s strength and passion brought the third leg of the tripod which formed this doula workshop.

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Comments About The Trainers

Ruth Ancheta

Ruth knows her material well, she showed many labor positions and how the pelvis changes with them and shared research and publications.

Ruth conveyed the material very well through the use of many visual aids. She is an excellent teacher, very inspirational and open, nurturing—excellent references.

Ruth is clear, compassionate and nurturing of newborn doulas. She was a Doula; and she trained us with lots of encouragement, praise and support.

Very well rounded discussions; she’s not dogmatic. Wonderful, calm, soft-spoken. I love that she’s so easy with a smile!

Ruth’s emphasis throughout was about offering information, resources and options and them supporting mother’s choice. She said that many times in many ways. Ruth has such a gentle manner and articulate, tactful way of expressing herself. She seems like an excellent model of doulaness herself.

Karen Kohls

Karen stressed so many different approaches to clients and many different ways to handle difficult labors. She shares her love for her work, her extensive background and experience very effectively.

Karen is very open, easy to communicate with—an excellent teacher.

She continuously told teaching stories illustrating freedom of choice for mothers. Karen has extensive hands on experience and it shows with all that she speaks about.

Karen is sensitive and effective and wonderful about answering questions.

Karen’s knowledge and experience in non-medicated home births didn’t effect her staunch support and emphasis of the mother’s choices no matter what that was. She was so clear and organized in her presentations. She has a calm, rhythmic way of speaking that seems to command your attention. She is very clear about not letting your own biases and issues seep into the mother’s birth experience.

I found Karen’s experience and knowledge base very informative. She gave great examples of how to support and advocate for parents and remain in the background.

Amy Gilliland

Amy shares her passion for her work and extensive experience in a direct and meaningful way.

Amy brings practical wisdom, a sense of being well grounded and a juicy sense of humor! She is very clear about the importance of informed choices and gives great examples.

Amy was very specific about separating your own biases from mother’s choices. She spoke often of making sure the mother was making choices for herself and getting info for herself. Amy has such obvious presence and humor when she speaks. She is concise and realistic when she portrays situations and information. I really enjoyed her sections, they were entertaining and informative.

Amy is an excellent speaker, she is very knowledgeable and has much experience to share.

Amy provided great support, great source of strength and inspiration.

Amy is “real” and very accessible and great at building my confidence.

Amy wonderfully and consistently demonstrated techniques of mediation and advocacy. She has obvious thorough knowledge of choices available.

I felt the pretest was valuable and helped to focus the readings for what the workshop would cover.

The pretest really showed me the range of knowledge and skill that would be covered by the instructors.

It was very helpful in helping me to clarify some of my values as well as reviewing important information—great studying too!!!

Good pretest. Made you think a bit. Soul searching is always a part of this type of work.

The reading and pretest were extensive and a challenge only due to my own late discovery of the course. (Yes I did do them.) Much was review, but there was helpful info!

The pretest and pre-workshop assignments are essential. They were very helpful to organize my thoughts and prepare me for this intensive workshop.