Doula UK Approved Courses

Red Tent Doulas offers a comprehensive, trauma-informed doula training grounded in traditional midwifery, birth education, and postpartum care. 

Led by Nicola Mahdiyyah Goodall (click the link to check out her adventures on instagram) and the Red Tent family team the course blends ancient wisdom with modern practices, covering birth support, breastfeeding, menstrual health, and emotional well-being. The program includes deep trauma work and emphasizes culturally sensitive and non-clinical care. Graduates join a supportive, global network of doulas working to empower women and improve birth outcomes. 

Changing the environment the families live in with activism, learning from elders, falling in love. Flexible learning options and post-course mentoring available.

Payment plans available.

Lots of extra content from other teachers and discounts available for Red Tent family going forward.

Click through and read more about us on our website - even better check out our instagram @redtentdoulacollective

Watch Nicola Mahdiyyahs TED talk here

"Doing Kicki's course was probably the best money I have ever spent. The course covered everything I could have wished for, was well structured, set in a beautiful informal setting, and I enjoyed the intimate atmosphere with a small group of women. Kicki is an amazing doula and teacher, and the course reflects how inspiring she is; she brings out the best in people. I not only feel well prepared to start my path as a doula, but I feel uplifted as a mother and as a woman."
Eloise Rickman

Let’s face it, finding the right doula course can feel overwhelming. With so many options out there, how do you know which one will actually prepare you for the real work of being a doula?

At The BirthBliss Academy, we strip away the noise and take you back to the heart of what this role is really about. This isn’t a course for people who want to be spoonfed information or tick boxes. It’s for women who are ready to show up fully; to dig deep, step into their power, and become a steady, grounded support for others.

Whether you feel called to support women during pregnancy, birth, the postnatal period, or those long, quiet night-time hours, this course is here to help you uncover the kind of doula you are meant to be.

Why Choose The BirthBliss Doula Academy?

Rooted in tradition, built for today
This course connects the ancient lineage of women supporting women with the practical realities of today’s maternity landscape. Doulas are not new, we’ve always been here, quietly holding space through the most powerful transition in life. This training helps you tap into that timeless energy while building the skills and confidence to work as a modern, professional doula.

Being a doula, not just doing the job
This is not a course where you memorise a script or copy someone else’s way. Here, you’ll explore what it means to be a doula, to be present, to hold space without judgement, and to navigate complex dynamics with grace. It’s about learning to listen deeply, trust your instincts, and support others without attachment to outcomes.

Comprehensive Support: Antenatal, Birth, Postnatal & Night-time
Whether you want to specialise or offer the full spectrum of care, we’ve got you covered:

• Antenatal Support – Helping clients explore their options, prepare for birth, and feel emotionally and practically ready.
• Birth Doula Support – Understanding physiology, building trust, supporting choices, and offering unwavering presence through labour and birth.
• Postnatal Support – Nurturing recovery, newborn care, feeding, sleep, and emotional wellbeing in the early days.
• Night-time Support – Offering practical help and reassurance overnight so families can rest and adjust to life with a new baby.

Flexible Learning, Real-Life Impact
Choose the format that suits you best:

• A life-changing 4-day in-person course with hands-on practice and deep connection
• A fully online, self-paced version for flexibility without compromise
• Optional live Doula Days via Zoom to ask questions, meet others, and deepen your learning

This Course is Just the Beginning
At BirthBliss, you’re never just a number. Once you complete the course, you’ll be welcomed into a supportive and vibrant doula community with:

• A private online group just for BirthBliss doulas
• Monthly “Doula the Doula” Zoom sessions
• Regular CPD workshops and Doula Deep Dives
• Bi-monthly Coach & Connect calls
• Business resources and templates to get started with confidence
• An optional Accreditation Programme to guide you through your first clients with 1-to-1 coaching

Six Months Free on The Doula Directory
You’ll be listed on The Doula Directory for free for the first six months, helping you find clients and start your journey. You’ll also receive a professional lanyard and ID card with a QR code that links directly to your profile.

Meet Your Course Leader: Kicki Hansard

I’m Kicki, founder of the BirthBliss Academy and a Doula UK founding member. I’ve trained over 1,000 doulas and supported families for more than two decades. My passion is helping women like you become doulas, not by handing over a checklist, but by helping you see that you already have what it takes.

I trained directly with Penny Simkin and Phyllis Klaus, pioneers of the modern doula movement, and their influence runs through everything I teach. My work is deeply rooted in women-centred care, birth physiology, trauma awareness, and the simple, powerful act of showing up with an open heart.

This course is not about perfection, it’s about presence. If you’re ready to grow, stretch, and find your voice, you’re in the right place.

Is This the Course for You?

If you’ve felt the nudge that this is the work you’re meant to do, to walk alongside others, to hold space with compassion and strength, then yes. This course will give you the knowledge, confidence, and community you need to begin.

💜 Ready to get started? Enrol today and step into the work you were meant to do. 

📰 We have blog with helpful articles!

🎙️  Listen to The Doula Dispensary Podcast!

Stay connected! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram

Welcome to The Doula Training Foundation

If you've been thinking about becoming a doula then you're in the right place. We've developed a 4 day immersive experience so that you will feel fully prepared to support women and their families during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. The course will give you everything you need to know in order to set up your own successful business. 

At The Doula Training Foundation, we are passionate about equipping kind, caring, and compassionate doulas with the knowledge and skills they need to support women and families. Our trainees are from diverse backgrounds, coming from all walks of life, often bringing additional holistic skills and therapies to enhance their practice.

Choosing the Right Doula Training Matters

Changing your career is a significant decision, you need to know you’re in safe hands. Our course offers a unique opportunity to train with two highly experienced, dedicated career doulas:

✨ Jemma - Successful doula since 2016, mentor, hypnobirthing teacher and closing the bones facilitator.
✨ Anne-Marie - Qualified “Train the Trainer” coach, mentor, and experienced doula since 2017.

Together, we have supported hundreds of women, from pre-conception to IVF, wild pregnancies, high-risk births, elective caesareans, and freebirths. With a huge knowledge base and years of hands-on experience, we deliver training in a fun, engaging, and practical way.

Why Train With Us?

Our course isn’t the quickest, cheapest, or easiest route to becoming a doula, that’s intentional.

We believe that becoming a doula is a calling, not just a qualification. We are looking for doulas who are:

✅ Truly passionate about supporting women and families.
✅ Committed to growing, learning, and developing their skills.
✅ Ready to invest in themselves to become the best doulas they can be.

In return, we give you our all.

✔️ A solid foundation of knowledge following Doula UK’s core curriculum.
✔️ Real-life scenarios, activities, and discussions to prepare you for practice.
✔️ Small, in-person groups to foster deep connection.
✔️ A full day dedicated to business skills—helping you get off to a strong start.
✔️ A spiritual element woven throughout the course, including guided meditations, cacao ceremony, and dedicated time for reflection, allowing you to connect deeply with yourself and your calling as a doula.

A Training Experience Like No Other

🤝 Face-to-Face Learning. We believe in the power of in-person teaching, where real connections are made.
📖 Comprehensive Course Manual. Packed with evidence-based information, research, and space for reflection.
💡 Ongoing Support & Mentoring. We don’t just train you and send you off. We provide:

• A one-to-one follow-up call after the course.
• A group Zoom after the course to check in, ask questions and build relationships
• Monthly Zoom meetups for continued learning and connection.
• In-person gatherings to build community.
• A members-only WhatsApp group for support and networking.
• A resource hub on our website with up-to-date research, signposting ideas, and customizable documents for your clients.

Our Commitment to Accessibility & Inclusion

💜 We are proud to offer a 50% discount on at least one place per course to individuals from marginalized backgrounds who are in financial need.
 💜 We also offer instalment payment options, please don’t hesitate to ask.

We Love What We Do, and We Want to Share It With You!

The more doulas we train, the more women and families can be supported. If you feel called to this work, we would love to have you with us.

💻 Visit our website for the most up-to-date course information.
😊 Have questions? Get in touch, we’d love to chat with you!

🌀 Course Details:
Join us to explore the Continuum Doula method.
🤱 The Continuum model offers continuity of care for parents and provides deep satisfaction for the doula.
📚 Evidence-Based Approach – Our model differs from the traditional Doula set up and is rooted in research showing that continuity of care leads to better maternity outcomes.
🖐️ 5-Day Immersive Course – Includes a full DUK core curriculum with hands-on, in-person workshops every afternoon alongside other birth professionals.
👩‍🏫 Expert Support All Week – With 8–10 experienced teachers on-site throughout the week, you’ll feel comfortable, nurtured, and fully supported.
🥗 Delicious Catered Lunch – Enjoy a wholesome, catered lunch each day – so you can focus on learning without the stress of meal prep.
👐 Our course is hands-on, tactile, and disability-friendly, designed to feel radically different from traditional education. We offer a supportive, sensory learning environment where you can engage fully through group discussion, small group work, walking and talking, peer learning, shared reflection, and practical activities.
We are:
• ♿ Inclusive & Accessible – We welcome disabled and neurodivergent doulas, with adaptive spaces including break-out rooms and quiet areas to support diverse needs.
• 🏳️‍🌈 Celebrating All Identities – Queer, Black, Brown, and all doulas from diverse backgrounds are invited to show up fully and be seen, heard, and valued.
• 🙌 Open to Everyone – No previous experience or qualifications needed – just come as you are, ready to learn, unlearn, and grow.
• 🔄 Committed to Evolving – We actively listen and adapt based on your feedback, ensuring our training remains inclusive, relevant, and supportive for all.

📘 Throughout the course, Continuum Doulas will:
• 🧭 Understand the Doula’s Role – Learn how the Continuum Doula model differs and its unique approach.
• 💖 Embed Person-Centered Care – Integrate person-centred care into your doula practice.
• 🧠 Explore Personal Triggers – Reflect on your experiences to identify and manage potential triggers.
• 👂 Enhance Listening Skills – Develop active listening skills to support clients effectively.
• 🩹 Be Trauma-Informed – Understand the importance of trauma awareness in your practice.
• 🌍 Foster Inclusivity – Discuss topics such as neurodiversity, multiple births, birth after loss, racism, and supporting Black and Brown parents, LGBTQIA+ families, sole parents, and more.
• 💬 Gain Confidence in Client Meetings – Feel empowered in interviews, antenatal, and postnatal sessions.
• 🤝 Involve Birth Partners – Explore how to include the birth partner and family members in the process.
• 📿 Create a Beaded Birth Line – Experience creating and using a Beaded Birth Line with the original creator.
• 🤰 Understand Birth Physiology – Learn the stages, hormones, and physiology of various birth experiences.
• 👶 Support Postnatal Clients – Provide seamless support during the postnatal period.
• 🦠 Explore the Microbiome – Begin to understand the microbiome’s role in birth and infant feeding.
• 🧠 Recognise Mental Health Issues – Identify, support, and signpost perinatal and paternal mental health concerns.
• 👶🏽 Support Postnatal Parents – Discuss baby brain development, bonding, family dynamics, returning to work, and topics like baby-wearing.
• 🤱 Gain Confidence in Infant Feeding – Build confidence with breastfeeding and other infant feeding methods in a session with a qualified Breastfeeding Counsellor and an IBCLC.

  Our afternoon workshops can include:
• ✍️ A Maternal Journal Session – A creative, reflective workshop using journaling to explore the emotional journey of parenthood.
• 🤲 Co-Creating Care – Explore intersectionality and systemic issues while deepening understanding and reflection.
• 🌸 Exploring Everything Placentas – A hands-on experience with a real placenta, covering its many aspects and uses.
• 🚨 Birth Emergencies with an Independent Midwife – Learn how to be the calm in the room during unexpected situations.
• 🎒 What’s in Your Doula Bag? – A reflective and practical session exploring the tools doulas bring to their work.
• 📸 How to Take a Great Birth Pic – A practical session with a professional photographer on respectful and ethical birth photography.
• 📢 Getting Political! – Explore birth rights, consent, and advocacy with an experienced doula and MVP rep.
• 🤱 Infant Feeding for Doulas – A deep-dive session led by a Breastfeeding Counsellor and IBCLC.
• 🥣 The Closing Salt Bowl Ceremony – A ritual to honour your journey and set heartfelt intentions as a new doula.
 
🌙 We sometimes have evening workshops too, including:
• 🥬 Exploring nutrient-dense food for postnatal clients – fermenting and cheong making
• 💃 A nipple tassel making fundraiser
• 📿 Exploring the Beaded Birth Line in more depth
• ❄️ Cold swimming at our nearby quarry
• 🧘‍♀️ Yoga Nidras
• 🎁 Learning to use Birth Prep in a Box
 
💌 We look forward to hearing from you. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Do not let finances be a barrier to this important work. The world needs you!
✨ Join us for a truly unique and affirming learning experience!

Continuum doulas - What is a Continuum Doula

Continuum Curriculum - Continuum doulas

Join us. Dates. Costs. - Continuum doulas

The Course

The Nurturing Birth Doula Course offers an immersive journey that invites you to explore the doula role, uncover your unique approach, and design the way you want to support families on their journey. 

We run our in-person courses at a variety of locations across the UK, including major cities and regional hubs. If you’re interested in having a course near you, please let us know! We regularly review locations and are happy to consider new venues based on demand. 

Most courses run across 4 days, but for greater flexibility we occasionally offer weekend and evening options. Our online courses are run in small groups on zoom.

During the course, we’ll introduce you to the role of a doula, covering all aspects of support throughout the perinatal period. We place a strong emphasis on the practical side of launching and running a successful doula business, including setting yourself up, finding clients, networking, marketing, and much more. We also explore key elements like setting boundaries, prioritising self-care, and maintaining professionalism. Our goal is to help you create a sustainable, ethical business from the start.

The Certification

Alongside the course, all our doulas gain access to an online portal, where you'll find pre- and post-course modules to complete as part of the certification process. You’ll also have three mentoring sessions with an experienced doula-mentor of your choice, providing personalised guidance. We offer plenty of support throughout, with a dedicated coursework assessor available for feedback and assistance on all modules. While the certification process typically takes up to 3 months to complete, we are here to support you if you need more time.

What is Included

• A 4-day immersive course (in person or online) or 5 evenings (online)
• Three personalised mentoring sessions (60-90 mins) via zoom
• Optional on-going mentoring at a discounted rate
• Access to our private Nurturing Birth doulas Facebook group
• Invitation to join the weekly “Virtual Cuppa” zoom for ongoing support
• Use of the Nurturing Birth Doula logos for use on websites, printing etc
• A comprehensive manual of evidence-based research and information 
• Access to our online resource board full of book, podcast, website links and more
• A listing on the international Nurturing Birth Directory first year free
• Flexible payment plans available
• Discount for website templates from Birth Your Business

Mentoring

Mentoring is at the heart of everything we offer and our vision is that all doulas be mentored for the duration of their doula journey so that their practice is healthy and sustainable. Every course includes 3 mentoring sessions, beyond that you are encouraged (but not required) to weave mentoring into your doula practice in a way which supports you best. 

The Virtual Cuppa

The weekly virtual cuppa call is so much more than just a casual chat over Zoom—it’s a powerful, supportive space for doulas at every stage of their journey. These weekly sessions bring doulas together with course facilitators and mentors in a shared, welcoming environment where you can connect, reflect, receive guidance, and find the support you need. It’s an invaluable space for personal growth, community-building, and continuous learning, where everyone’s voice is heard and supported.

Our Ethos

At Nurturing Birth, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and respectful community where everyone—regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, or background—is welcomed and supported in their doula journey. We value different learning styles and strive to provide accessible, culturally sensitive training that empowers individuals to become compassionate, skilled doulas. Our commitment to inclusivity is reflected in our curriculum, interactions, and ongoing efforts to create a safe, affirming, and equitable space for all. If you find yourself in financial difficulty, please talk to us to see how me might be able to support you.

Chat with us

Book a free and casual 30 min zoom chat here to see if we're the right fit for you.