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Study after study has shown that the presence of a birth doula at a woman's labor results in lower intervention rates, higher satisfaction with the birth, fewer requests for pain medication and fewer cesarean births. Become a professional labor attendant and help make a difference for laboring women, their partners and their babies! We at Natural Resources are confident our training is the very best in the Bay Area. Our coursework needed for certification includes a 27-hour core program and two additional classes (9 hours of coursework) taken separately. Our program provides a thorough preparation in attending women in childbirth. Enrollment includes an informative training binder, local resources for volunteer opportunities, continued support from the instructor, and the option of certification after completing additional hands-on training. The program includes: Additional courses offered and required for certification
Labor Massage Techniques
Mind/Body Comfort Measures
Birth Doula Certification Requirements
1. Attendance of the following training classes:
a.) Birth Doula Core Training - 27 hours
b.) Labor Support Massage - 5 hours
c.) Mind Body Comfort Measures - 3 hours
2. Reading
Core Reading
a.) Pregnancy, Birth and the Newborn by Penny Simkin OR The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger
b.) The Doula Book by Klaus, Kennel and Klaus
c.) The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin
Additional Reading requirements for certification
a.) Heart and Hands by Elizabeth Davis
b.) VBAC Companion by Diane Korte
c.) The Nursing Mother's Companion by Kathleen Huggins
d.) Mind Over Labor by Carl Jones
3. One page written response to each book on the required reading list
4. Adult CPR certification
5. Attendance of 6 births (occurring after the training): 3 of the births ae to include prenatal, birth and postpartum support
6. Written synopsis of 1-2 pages in length, of each birth attended. Include the following:
a.) What you did, how it helped, what you learned
b.) Complete the Labor Support Checklist (in doula training binder) for each birth
7. For each birth attended, client (mother) must complete Natural Resources Evaluation of Labor Support Services Questionnaire (in doula training binder)
8. Passing score on Certification Test, to be taken upon completion of the above requirements
9. Students will have 2 years upon completion of the basic doula training in which to complete the remaining requirements for certification
Cost:
$450
The program is held three times a year, beginning in March, June and October. Enrollment is limited. Adult CPR certification is required to become certified as a birth doula through Natural Resources.
About the Instructor
Abigail Reagan is a California Licensed Midwife (LM) and a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) in homebirth practice in San Francisco. She has been attending births since 1995 when she completed doula training and certified as a doula and childbirth educator through Birth and Bonding International. Abigail has taught at Natural Resources since 1997. She has attended births in hospitals, birth centers and at home. It was the birth of her second daughter - attended by midwives - that inspired Abigail to the calling of midwife.
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