Birth Doula Certification Packet
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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 Harbor Birth Institute • www.harborbirthinstitute.com • [email protected] 4 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 Harbor Birth Institute • www.harborbirthinstitute.com • [email protected] 5 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: Harbor Birth Institute • www.harborbirthinstitute.com • [email protected] 6 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. Harbor Birth Institute • www.harborbirthinstitute.com • [email protected] 7 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: Harbor Birth Institute • www.harborbirthinstitute.com • [email protected] 8 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: Harbor Birth Institute • www.harborbirthinstitute.com • [email protected] 9 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.