BIRTH DOULA CERTIFICATION PACKET
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Certification Overview 3
Required Reading 4
Childbirth Education Requirement 5 Childbirth Education Observation Form 6
Resource List 5
Birth Requirements 7 Client Release Form 8
Professional Reference Release Form 9
Comprehensive Questionnaire 10
Doula Certification Check-List 12
Frequently Asked Questions 13
Harbor Birth Institute • www.harborbirthinstitute.com • [email protected] 2
Certification Overview
1. Attend Birth Doula Training - $700
2. Read six required reading books o Write one page summary
3. Attend a Childbirth Education Series
4. Create Resource List
5. Attend three births as a birth doula o Write three birth summaries o Two clients fill out and sign Client Release Form
6. Complete Professional Reference Release Form
7. Complete Comprehensive Questionnaire
8. Submit all paperwork with $100 certification fee
Total Cost for Birth Doula Certification = $800
Harbor Birth Institute • www.harborbirthinstitute.com • [email protected] 3
REQUIRED READING
You will be required to read 6 books from the list below, with an optional 2 books. For the six required books, you will write a one-page summary describing what you learned from each book. This would include information you found interesting, information you think is important for your clients, and ways you will incorporate this information into your doula practice. Each summary should be double-spaced, 12-point font.
READ ALL FIVE BOOKS: • The Birth Partner: A Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and All Other Labor Companions (Revised 4th Edition) – Penny Simkin
• Complete Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth (Revised) – Sheila Kitzinger
• The Doula Business Guide: Creating a Successful Mother Baby Business (2nd Edition) – Patty Brennan
• Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth – Ina May Gaskin
• This Isn’t What I Expected: Overcoming Postpartum Depression (2nd Edition) – Karen Kleiman and Valerie Davis Raskin
PICK ONE: • The Breastfeeding Book: Everything You Need to Know About Nursing Your Child from Birth Through Weaning – William Sears
• The Nursing Mother’s Companion: The Breastfeeding Book Mothers Trust, from Pregnancy through Weaning (7th edition) – Kathleen Huggins
• The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding – Diane Wiessinger
RECOMMENDED: • Birthing From Within – Pam England
• The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth – Genevieve Howland
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CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION CLASS OBSERVATION
• You are required to observe a childbirth education class that is a minimum of 12 hours (cumulative). • This must be an in-person series, not an online class. • Classes can include Lamaze, Hypnobabies, Bradley, Birthing from Within, etc. If the class is an independent class, please contact HBI at [email protected] with the name of the class, credentials of the instructor, and topics covered in the class. We will approve independent classes on a case-by-case basis. • You cannot be an expectant parent while attending the class. • Please contact HBI if you have trouble finding a childbirth class to observe. • Fill out Childbirth Education Observation Form and have instructor sign it. (Childbirth Education Observation Form is found on page 7).
RESOURCE LIST
• You will be required to create a resource list which includes 50 listings in at least 10 categories. • This list should assist you as a doula. Consider the resources your clients will need. • This list can include categories such as, but not limited to:
o Obstetricians o Postpartum Doulas o Midwives o Night Nurse Services o Pediatricians o Pelvic Floor Therapists o Chiropractors o Belly Binding Specialists o Acupuncturists o Sleep-training Specialists o Prenatal Massage Therapists o Therapists o Nutritionist o Local childcare options o Prenatal Fitness – Yoga o Adoption Agencies o Local Maternity Stores o Diapering classes or services o Henna / Mother’s Blessings Services o Baby-wearing classes o Childbirth Educators o Mama Support Groups o Maternity Photographers o Loss providers and services o Birth Photographers o VBAC Support Groups o Birth Videographers o Teen Support Groups o Lactation Consultants o Abuse Resources o Placenta Encapsulation o Lactation Support Groups o Parenting Classes o Local Milk Bank o Infant Massage Classes o Best Birth or Pregnancy Apps
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CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION OBSERVATION FORM
Name:
Address:
Phone: Email:
Name of Class:
Instructors Name:
Instructors Email:
Dates of classes observed:
Number of hours observed:
Outline / Topics covered in series:
The above information is correct and this doula did attend my CBE class.
Name of Instructor:
Instructor’s Signature: Date:
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BIRTH EXPERIENCE
• Trained doulas are required to attend 3 births for their certification. • Births must occur AFTER the in-person doula training. • All three births, the doula must be the primary doula. Births do not count if the doula is observing or shadowing another doula. • Only one cesarean section is permitted for the three births. § It cannot be a scheduled cesarean section. The doula must have supported the mother in labor before the cesarean. § Exceptions can be made if the doula provides a description of their support prenatally, during the delivery, immediate postpartum, and postpartum follow-up. o Doulas must have been present for at least 2 hours of face-to-face support.
BIRTH SUMMARIES:
• Doulas must submit a birth summary for all three births. • The summary should be a minimum of one page and maximum of two pages, double spaced, 12-point font. • The first half of the summary should describe the birth story. o Describe the labor progress o Describe how the mother handled the labor emotionally o Describe the nurses, doctors, and midwives at the birth • The second half of the summary should explain what you learned from the birth. o What was your role at the birth? o What do you feel like you did that was helpful? o What did you learn from this experience? o Was there anything you feel like you will do differently in future births?
CLIENT RELEASE FORM:
• All three clients must fill out and sign a Client Release Form. • This allows you to share their birth information with us, as well as give us permission to contact the two clients you indicate on your Check-List at the time of submission. • Forms without the mother’s signature will not be considered towards your birth requirements. • You can make copies of this form to use at all three births. • Client Release Form is found on page 9.
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CLIENT RELEASE FORM
Mother’s Name:
Phone: Email:
Baby’s Date of Birth:
Hospital or Birth Location:
Doula’s Name:
I give (Doula’s Name) permission to disclose information about my birth for the purpose of doula certification. This information will only be viewed by the certification committee at Harbor Birth Institute. I give permission for this information to be used anonymously for statistical purposes used by HBI.
I also give permission to HBI to contact me as a reference using the information above in order to ask about my experience with my doula.
Name of Mother:
Mother’s Signature: Date:
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PROFESSIONAL REFERENCE RELEASE FORM
Doula’s Name:
Name:
Phone: Email:
Role in the birth community:
Job Title:
How long have you known doula?
I give permission to HBI to contact me as a reference using the information above.
Name:
Signature: Date:
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COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONNAIRE
There is not word minimum for these questions, just make sure you answer them thoroughly. Use these questions to test your knowledge after reading the required books and attending the childbirth class. Please type your answers below each question.
PREGNANCY: 1. What are the prenatal testing options for pregnant women? 2. What is gestational diabetes? 3. What is Group B Strep? What is the protocol if a mother is positive? 4. What are the benefits of chiropractic care in pregnancy? 5. What are the benefits of acupuncture in pregnancy? 6. What are the benefits of prenatal massage?
LABOR: 7. What are signs or symptoms of early labor? 8. What are 3 reasons for an induction? 9. What are 3 ways to attempt a natural induction? 10. What are 3 ways to medical induce labor? List the benefits and risks. 11. What does SROM and AROM stand for? 12. What is PROM and how frequently does PROM occur? 13. What does COAT stand for? 14. What are 2 ways to help a woman with PROM (premature rupture of membrane)? 15. What is a precipitous birth? What are 2 ways to help a woman with this type of birth. 16. What is prodromal labor? What are 2 ways to help a woman with this type of birth. 17. What are potential signs that a mother is entering active labor? 18. What are potential signs that a mother is entering transition in labor? 19. What are signs of potential malposition of baby and list ways to assist with positioning. 20. What are options for pain relief in labor? 21. What are the risks and benefits of epidurals? 22. What are the benefits of hydrotherapy in labor? 23. What is a Bishop Score? 24. What is a VBAC? What are 2 ways to help a woman with this type of birth? 25. Describe a forceps delivery and when it might be used. 26. Describe a vacuum delivery and when it might be used. 27. What are the risks and benefits of a Cesarean? 28. What makes Cesarean recover different than a vaginal birth? 29. What are 2 ways to help a woman with this type of birth? 30. List 5 ways a doula can help with pain relief.
POST-DELIVERY: 31. What are the benefits to delayed cord clamping? 32. What are the benefits to cord blood banking? 33. What is the APGAR score? 34. What is placenta encapsulation? Name 3 potential benefits to encapsulation. 35. What is the benefit of skin-to-skin of baby to mother (or partner)?
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36. What are the standard newborn procedures? 37. What is required of parents if they decline these procedures? 38. Describe 3 breastfeeding positions. 39. What are signs that the baby is hungry? 40. What are signs that the baby is getting enough to eat? 41. When does a woman’s milk usually “come-in”? 42. What are signs of potential postpartum depression? 43. How can a doula assist a mother experiencing baby blues or postpartum depression?
LOCAL BIRTHING QUESTIONS: 44. List the birthing locations at which you will be taking births. 45. List the care providers who practice at these birthing locations. 46. What are the cesarean rates at these locations? 47. Do any of these locations have the “Baby Friendly” designation? 48. List which locations offer water therapy in labor, water birth, nitrous oxide, and/or wireless monitoring. 49. Describe the triage process in at least one in-hospital location, including where to park and enter in the middle of the night. 50. Are there any homebirth midwives in your area? If so, list the midwife practices.
Harbor Birth Institute • www.harborbirthinstitute.com • [email protected] 11
DOULA CERTIFICATION CHECK-LIST
Name:
Address:
Phone: Email:
Date of Doula Training:
Dates of Three Births Attended:
Name of Birth Reference One:
Name of Birth Reference Two:
Name of Birth Professional Reference:
CHECK OFF INDICATING ENCLOSED COMPLETED DOCUMENTS:
¨ Completed and Signed Check-List ¨ Six Book Summaries ¨ Three Birth Summaries ¨ Three Signed Client Release Forms ¨ One Signed Professional Reference Release Form ¨ Signed Childbirth Education Observation Form ¨ Resource List ¨ Completed Comprehensive Questionnaire
CERTIFICATION PAYMENT:
¨ $100 Check written out to Nashville Doula Services
Mail completed packet to: 113 Rustic Court - Nashville, TN 37214
I verify that all the above information is correct.
Name:
Signature: Date:
Harbor Birth Institute • www.harborbirthinstitute.com • [email protected] 12
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
• How much does certification cost? o It costs $100 to submit your certification packet
• Do I have to recertify in future years? o No, an HBI birth doula certification is good for life. There are no additional costs or re-certifications.
• How long is the training valid? o You have 18 months from the time of training to the day you submit your certification packet. If you do not complete your certification packet in 18 months, you can request an extension by contacting HBI.
• Who would be considered a professional reference? o This would be someone who knows you in the birth community as a doula. This can be a midwife, doctor, nurse, childbirth educator, lactation consultant, or fellow doula.
• Where do I submit my certification packet? o Packets will be mailed to: 113 Rustic Court – Nashville, TN 37214
• How long will it take to become certified after submitted my packet? o Expect three to four weeks before receiving the official email that your certification has been officially processed. You will receive a confirmation email that we have received your completed certification packet as well as an email if there needs to be any changes to your packet.
• What letters will go after my name after certification? o You will have the honor of putting CPD after your name – Certified Professional Doula. Example: Jane Smith, CPD
• What if I have additional questions about the certification process? o Contact HBI at [email protected]
Harbor Birth Institute • www.harborbirthinstitute.com • [email protected] 13