First, you can't overprepare for the workshop. We have had nurses who have worked in labor and delivery for twenty years who felt they got a lot out of it. People experience our workshop on different levels depending on where they are in their lives. They also have different backgrounds and areas of specialized knowledge. So knowing the best way for you to prepare is up to you! But here are some suggestions:

1. Read the recommended books on our reading list as well as the required ones. This includes The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer and Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin.

2. Take the best childbirth class that you can find in your area. Usually a Bradley Method (AAHCC) class is the most comprehensive and objective. If you decide to do this please download our handout on "Taking a Childbirth Class As A Doula".
Download Handout

3. Watch birth videos. You can usually borrow these from your childbirth educator, library, or local doula group. If you live in the Madison area, Karen Kohls and Amy Gilliland also lend videos to registered participants.

4. If there is a local doula group in your area, go to their meetings. Do lots of listening (smile!). If there isn't a group, locate any doulas in your area that you can. Offer to take them out for coffee and ask them about things in your area. Previewing what the challenges may be for you is very helpful to know before you come to the training.

5. Go to La Leche League meetings or gatherings of new mothers. Tell them you are training to be a doula. Sincerely listen to their birth and postpartum stories without judgment. Ask them what they liked about the kind of support they received and what they might have wanted to be different. Your emphasis should be on listening sensitively without trying to fix it or selling anyone on the idea of hiring you as a doula.

6. Learn more about breastfeeding. Go to La Leche League or peer breastfeeding meetings, rent videos from your library or LLL chapter, and read one of the recommended books for DONA birth doula certification (go to www.dona.org). For other good books and videos, see the LLL web site, www.lalecheleague.org for ideas.

7. Visit these high quality doula web sites:

www.wisconsindoulas.net - www.doulanetwork.com
www.bestdoulas.com - www.birthpartners.com
www.joyinbirthing.com - www.birthsource.com

8. Start building your referral network in the geographic area where you intend to practice.  It is important that you have the resources at your fingertips when you start your practice.  For example:

Who does counseling for women with perinatal mood disorders and postpartum depression? How do you refer a mother to a lactation consultant? What are the choices in your area and how do women pay for them? Are they HMO affiliated, etc.? What about infant massage instructors and classes? WIC information and brochures? LLL meetings? What other mother support groups and resources are available? Is there a "Happiest Baby on the Block" educator in your area? (If not, find out more about this popular and helpful soothing method for infants.) Even if you don't care for it, your clients will probably hear about it so it's important to be educated.

If you are planning on DONA certification, they require you to have a complete referral list.  For more ideas on what to include, click here:

Resource List Ideas

We hope that will help you to fill the time and enrich your preparation between now and the date of our next workshop.

If you are reading this and there are only a few weeks before your workshop, don't panic! None of this is required nor does it mean that you will be unprepared or get less out of the training. You will want or need to do a lot of the things on this list anyway and it is perfectly fine to do them after you've taken your training.

We're looking forward to seeing you in person!

Amy Gilliland
Karen Kohls
Ruth Ancheta