Did you know that Doula UK approve doula courses and that on completion you will be invited to become a member of Doula UK?
Doula UK approved course providers:
Follow the Doula UK Core Curriculum
Have been independently assessed on the quality, suitability and inclusivity of their course
Are led by an experienced doula and trainer
Have completed inclusivity and diversity training
Adhere to the Doula UK Code of Conduct & Philosophy
We have a wide range of courses available for you to choose from. All of the below courses are Doula UK approved and on graduation you will be invited to join Doula UK.
If you're not quite ready for the next step, come along to one of our Introductory Workshops online where you can find out more about becoming a doula.
"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.
🌀 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!
Course Type: Birth and Postnatal Doula Preparation
Cost: 850
Email: training@doulasni.co.uk
Contact name: Anne Glover
Our mission: To nourish and empower the local community by training a new generation of confident and mindful doulas.
Doulas NI are committed to promoting and supporting equality, diversity and inclusivity.
We believe the doula world should be as rich and varied as society is, and as our potential clients and the families we work with are.
Our course is tailored to the birthing community in Northern Ireland and the border counties, and is facilitated by 3 successful local doulas who have accumulated over 20 years extensive knowledge and experience. You can find out more about us on our website! We know the maternity system and the course provides deep insight and knowledge into how maternity services are facilitated in Northern Ireland.
This course is so much more than growing into a confident doula. It’s about learning alongside other doulas, building lasting friendships and growing a doula community together. You will benefit from cameo appearances from other local professionals, and also instant contact with other doulas who are currently working in Northern Ireland. We give a lot of consideration to people’s different styles and the various teaching methods and materials used, so everyone feels included and we can have fun learning together.
The course is run in-house on 2 weekends spread over 3 months to give you plenty of time to digest, reflect and complete the course! There will be ongoing support including online sessions, and on completion of the course, a celebratory graduation!
Course content:
● Birth physiology, anatomy, and foetal positioning
● Birth rights, birth choices and what doula support can look like
● Respect and acceptance of parents and their decisions
● Unexpected situations, emergencies, crisis situations, baby loss
● Bonding physiology, innate needs of mothers and babies, infant feeding
● The power of language, communication and listening skills
● Working with the NHS, midwives and health providers
● Common sense, diplomacy and boundaries
● Transforming your passion into your business
We are the only course provider living and breathing in the beautiful country of Northern Ireland. It is a complicated country, with many complexities, but Northern Ireland remains an outstanding place of beauty with truly amazing doulas. Come join our growing community!
We will consider offering discounted places to those from ethnically diverse communities, people with physical, mental or health impairments, people from the LGBTQIA+ community or someone who has a financial barrier to signing up. Please email us directly for further information.
Course Type: Birth and Postnatal Doula Preparation
Phone Number: 07875 328 470
Cost: £550
Email: leilaforde@hotmail.co.uk
Contact name: Leila Baker
The Side by Side Doula Preparation Course is currently facilitated online, with 10 live sessions over a two-week period, or one evening a week for 11 weeks .
Location: London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool, Highlands, Leeds and International. Also monthly online groups
Course Type: Birth and Postnatal Doula Preparation
Phone Number: 07743639508
Cost: £850
Email: redtentrosie@gmail.com
Contact name: Nicola Mahdiyyah Goodall
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
