List of Doula UK Approved Courses

Every Birth Matters

Details:

This three day preparation course will lay the foundations for you to work competently as a doula.  Bringing the knowledge and skills you have now, time will be spent exploring different topics to begin building the foundations for your work as birth and postnatal doula. This is an opportunity for you to understand the role of a doula, how you can work as a doula and for you to begin thinking about what you can offer women/pregnant people and their family depending on their needs.  We will explore working alongside healthcare professionals to enhance the care given to the birthing people. I have been teaching for over twelve years and so I have designed this course to take us through a range of activities that will meet your learning needs. All you need to do is be willing, open minded and have a passion for wanting to nurture women/pregnant people and their families through pregnancy, labour and parenting. Be prepared to go on a journey of discovery and self-actualisation. We create a safe space that immediately gets you interacting and acknowledging the amazing work Doulas do.

What is the course structure?

Pre-course assignment ~ this gives you the opportunity for some reflective practice, and to build on your knowledge and skills with a fully comprehensive assignment that consists of questions that will enhance your learning experience and prepare you for your post course work. This research task also allows you to practice your research skills. 

Prior to the course there will be a one hour online discussion meet up where we can introduce ourselves, and discuss the course details. You will also be invited to join the course doula Whatsapp group.

Three day workshop ~ the workshop is action packed with a range of activities where you will have time to think and reflect as well as work with the other supportive delegates discussing, reflecting, questioning and exploring the birthing world and why women/pregnant people want to hire a doula? All the course content covers the Doula UK curriculum and more. You will have the opportunity to write a learning journal, set action points for your journey and discuss your mentoring opportunities for as the course finishes. The days will run 9.30am to 6pm. 

We will pay specific attention to the impacts of language, informed choices, values and attitudes. 

Post coursework ~ after three full days of exploration and self-discovery, you might want to take a few days to digest. Then when you are ready you can begin your post course assignments. There are seven tasks altogether which I encourage you to take time digesting and preparing. These assignments will give you further self-acknowledgement about how you can work as a doula as well as expanding further on the birth world that surrounds you as a doula. It creates an opportunity for networking and beginning your work with your first client, through which you will be supported. Every delegate will receive feedback upon completion.

Mentoring group peer support will be offered as a 1 off online session 4 weeks after the course workshops. This can be used as an opportunity for us to meet up again, discuss your post coursework and next steps. 

Delivery of the course is offered online and in person. Please see website for course availability.

What will you receive?

• Course that meets the core curriculum content for Doula UK
• Comprehensive Resource File
• Access to additional online learning videos. 
• Online resources via the Every Birth Matters website
• Online support in a private Every Birth Matters Social Media Forum with other doulas and educators
• Comprehensive student discount on insurance so you can begin your practice
• Access to various E-books 
• Doula Directory Listing (name, business name, email, phone number and website)
• Discount vouchers from other partnering services.
• Access to a range of additional doula resources (additional cost).

Confidence ~ Empower ~ Knowledge

Conscious Birthing

Details:

• Courses facilitated by traditional Doulas, each with over 20 years experience.
• Five day intensive courses in Cornwall, Glastonbury, London, Brighton and abroad, some with residential options. Groups can contact us directly for courses in their location.
• An invitation to join the Conscious Birthing Network and receive peer support online and personal support from one of our tutors.
• Fun, informative and multi-media, within a rich, relaxed learning environment.
• Small, confidential groups, creating a mutually supportive and in-depth approach.
• Highlighting the traditional role of birthkeeper/doula and reflecting on this grassroots path within a modern day context.
• Exploring the value of presence in a fast moving world, and developing tools for conscious, active listening.
• An opportunity to begin to reflect on our own pregnancy, birth and postpartum stories within a safe space, gently held by tutors and co-supported by each individual within the group: creating an opportunity to both practise the art of support during birth debriefing, an essential doula skill, to begin to lovingly unpack your own story and to experience the gift of being deeply heard.
• A truly holistic approach, including all medical and alternative models: waterbirth, homebirth, birth centre, hospital, assisted, freebirth and early parenting choices all covered, alongside the protocols and expectations within the institution of maternal care, with the focus on informed choice.
• Exploring human rights within the childbearing year: looking at ways in which to incorporate our human rights into a birth plan, to inform your families of these when making their informed choices and discussing ways in which to communicate human rights to midwives and consultants.
• Including a session on ‘Tools for Self-Reliance’: a fun, physical and informative journey, learning the practise of some ancient skills from around the world, to facilitate the empowerment of women during this sacred rite of passage.
• Integrated and in-depth inclusion of how to support and empower fathers/partners-to-be and to work alongside all potential companions during labour and birth.
• Guidance on working alongside healthcare professionals with grace whilst retaining clear boundaries as an advocate for your family-to-be.
• Looking at loss: a discussion on the many ways in which families can potentially experience loss, such as loss of expectation, or through miscarriage or stillbirth, and including signposting for us to pass on and peer support for us to lean on.
• Postnatal session: learn about breastfeeding, explore the essential need for postpartum care and discuss the notion of a postnatal plan.
• Experience a pop-up residential community of Birthworkers-to-be: a unique opportunity to spend time together in an informal setting, allowing for deeper reflection on the role, sharing questions, ideas and skills, alongside your tutors. Time for relaxation, massage from top practitioners, swimming and spending time in the sun (when abroad or in British Summertime) with the emphasis on connecting with nature and experiencing the power of self-nurture: initiating the value of ongoing self-care and peer support within our field. An invitation to delve more deeply into this lay tradition, whilst retreating from your everyday life.
• Advice and guidance for setting up and ethically marketing your Doula practice, including a step-by-step talk through the Doula UK recognition process, on finding a Mentor, the code of conduct, various schemes available and how both Doula UK’s and your own expectations might be met.
• Useful home research, networking and reflective reference pack, with guidance for signposting.
  Certificate of attendance upon completion.
• Home study post course work pack, with plenty of time to complete in your own time and with full tutor support.
  Online recommended reading list.
• Access to an extensive lending library (when courses held in Glastonbury).
• Options for further training. (This course is a foundation for Conscious Birthing’s Childbirth Educator/Antenatal teacher programme). Back to top

Younique Postnatal

Details:

• 4 day face to face courses offered across the UK, facilitated by two experienced postnatal doulas in small groups
• A virtual course offered with self directed study via an online course and 11 Zoom sessions over 11 weeks
• Preparation work before and after the course to include reflection, reading and research
• Time to debrief and explore your own birth, postnatal and infant feeding experiences in a safe environment
• Lively and interactive learning, with visual aids, group work, hands on experience and practice exercises
• In depth exploration of the postnatal doula role, the postnatal period and how best to support new parents; a wide and comprehensive range of topics and perspectives on the postnatal period
• Evidence based information on current guidelines and areas of research in postnatal care
• Supporting infant feeding as a postnatal doula run by a qualified Breastfeeding Counsellor
• Establishing your business: exploration of ideas to create a sustainable career and find work through visibility raising and confidence building
• Exploration of your own unique qualities that can be brought to your practice and how to find balance in your role
• Culturally sensitive and inclusion aware
• Support and information on starting your doula journey, joining Doula UK, support services for doulas and the Doula UK Recognition Process
• Extensive manual supplied covering all course topics and up-to-date resource links, which you can add to and develop
• Certificate of Completion
• One to One debriefs and consolidation sessions with course facilitator
• Opportunities for extra support from one of the course facilitators or other experienced PN doulas called Guiding Hands
• Mentoring scheme with experienced postnatal doulas
• Private Facebook groups – a safe place to get support from other postnatal doulas and trainee postnatal doulas with opportunities for further Coaching sessions, social meetups and events
• Additional courses and workshops offered to develop your postnatal doula skills including: Postnatal Planning, Development, Understanding Newborns, Understanding Reflux, Sensational Solids, Intuitive Breastfeeding, Check In and Multiples Workshops; further workshops/courses in development
• Payment plans available
• 4 scholarships available a year and a number of half price places

Scholarship Criteria for Younique Postnatal
Eligibility:
∙ Be from the black African or Caribbean community
∙ Be a refugee/asylum seeker and able to communicate on Zoom with the help of a translator if necessary
∙ Be from the LGBTQIA+ community
∙ Be differently abled – something that presents challenges but will help you support your community postnatally in a deeper way
∙ Be a refugee/asylum seeker and able to communicate on Zoom with the help of a translator if necessary
∙ Have low/no income or be financially challenged eg a single parent with little support
∙ Have had your income adversely affected by Covid
∙ Live in an area of deprivation in the UK
∙ Be under 25

Application:
Please write a piece about yourself – how you fit into one of the above groups, why you would really like this scholarship and how you will use your new skills as a postnatal doula, particularly to uplift your community.

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Red Tent Courses

Details:

• 1 woman-centred interactive weekend session with Nicola Goodall (Edinburgh/London) or Hannah Robertson (York)
•  Woman-led self-study module
• To develop a woman’s awareness in her own belief system
• To foster a supportive environment for a woman to start the journey of debriefing her own experiences
• To inspire confidence in the role of a Doula and Midwife and discuss boundaries
• Encouraging a good knowledge base around gentle birth and parenting also exploring birth art and journaling
• To explore the nature of the relationships that play a part in a woman’s transition to motherhood
• To empower new doulas to set up their own business and ethically work as part of a wider network of doulas
• With a focus on cultural competency
• To develop an awareness of personal boundaries and base of values. Special attention on telling the womans own story and self-care.
• Support throughout the course and ongoing from the facilitators and the rest of the Red Tent community including membership to a very supportive closed Facebook group
• Certificate of attendance and completion
• Payment options available
• Strong emphasis on building circles of women
• Small groups for enhanced learning

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Developing Doulas

Details:

• Five full days or longer for the online courses.
• A loving, informal atmosphere designed to help you ‘find the doula within’ in a small, intimate group
• Courses round the UK facilitated by experienced doulas and Breastfeeding Counsellors
• Online courses available which consist of 9 zoom classes and lifetime access to an online course/manual on our courses website.
• Developing Doulas was founded by Maddie McMahon – experienced doula/breastfeeding counsellor and author of ‘Why Doulas Matter’ and ‘Why Mothering Matters’
• Practical skills for birth and postnatal doulas – learning to ‘mother the mother’ by listening, holding the space and supporting informed decision-making
• Time to debrief and explore your own experiences, share and give and receive support within the group
• Explore the role of the doula and what it means to you, your family and the wider community
• Support and information on setting up and getting going as a doula.
• Extensive online course manual that you have lifetime access to.
• One to one sessions at the end of the course to reflect on the course and your future as a doula
• Extend your learning and personal growth and benefit your community with the post-course project and our varied opportunities for additional learning.
• Certificate of completion
• Ongoing support through the Developing Doulas family and our Companionship scheme that provides mentoring and support.
• Opportunities for ongoing learning and development of knowledge and skills through Developing Doulas workshops and work-from-home courses
• Cut price business, marketing and website support available to DD members and half price access to our Doulavation course which widens and deepens the learning from your preparation course.
• The Pam Lacey Award is for women who aspire to support breastfeeding mothers in their community. This awards 20% off the course fees.
• If you come from a marginalised community and wish to become a doula to support that community and need help to finance the course, please do talk to us.
• Payment in instalments welcome.

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NCT Doula

Details:

The NCT Doula programme enables successful candidates to practice as NCT Doulas. NCT Doulas work as independent practitioners. Although they are part of the NCT family and featured on the website, they book her own clients and set their own fees.

The nine-month long training course is made up of two modules:

• Dimensions of the role of the doula
• Realising the role of the doula.

It involves;

• four weekend training sessions in Worcester
• monthly telephone tutorials
• 24-hour midwifery observation
• video and role play learning and reflection
• a supervised birth
• support from other doulas.

More about the training;

• The tutors are experienced doulas and NCT practitioners
• There are two summative assessments (an essay and an interactive session)
• The training is highly experiential and sessions are held in a mock hospital ward
• There are lots of clinical materials that students get a chance to familiarise themselves with. There is also access to the University’s library and other facilities.

The NCT Doula modules are offered at Level 5 as a part of the NCT specialist practitioner Foundation Degree called Birth and Beyond. It is offered in collaboration with the University of Worcester.

If you are not already an NCT practitioner then you can join the ‘Access to NCT Training Course‘ which is run over three months to give you the skills and knowledge to study at Level 5.

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded your NCT License to Practice

As an NCT Doula there is ongoing support in the form of supervision, yahoo groups, study days, and a personalised NCT webpage.

Continuum Doula

Details:

Our 5-day course has a full Core Curriculum alongside an exciting workshop every afternoon with other birth professionals. You will feel comfortable, nurtured and held over the week and a catered lunch is provided for your ease.

Continuum Doulas are critical thinkers, attachment aware, trauma informed & deeply committed to offering an in-depth, sustainable model of Doulaing into the community. The continuum model offers continuity of carer to the parents and deep satisfaction for the Doula.

Throughout the course Continuum Doulas will:

·        Understand the role of the Doula – and how the Continuum Doula model differs.

·        Embed the core conditions of Doulaing.

·        Have time to explore their own experiences and work out any potential personal triggers.

·        Enhance their listening skills.

·        Understand the importance of being trauma informed.

·        Have an awareness of inclusivity- which can include discussing; neurodiversity, multiple births, birth after loss, racism and supporting women of colour, supporting LGTBQ parents, sole parents and more.

·        Feel confident in interviews, antenatal and postnatal meetings with clients.

·        Explore how we can include the birth partner and other family members.

·        Create a Beaded Birth Line (with the original creator)

·        Understand the stages, emotions, hormones and the physiology of all variations of birth.

·        Have the ability to work seamlessly in supporting clients in the postnatal period.

·        Start to explore the Microbiome in reference to birth and infant feeding.

·        Be able to recognise, support and signpost perinatal and paternal mental health problems.

·        Be ready to support parents in the postnatal period exploring topics such as: baby brain development, bonding, family relationships returning to work, finding up to date information, slings, baby wearing and more.

·        Have confidence with infant feeding after a session with a qualified and practicing breastfeeding counsellor. This will include all aspects of feeding, listening support knowledge of common concerns and appropriate signposting.

Our afternoon workshops can include:

·        Creating pottery (our bowls of self care)

·        Exploring everything placentas (with a real placenta!)

·        Birth emergencies (with an independent midwife)

·        What’s in your Doula bag (knowing your boundaries)

·        How to take a great birth pic (with a professional birth photographer)

·        Getting political! Talking birth rights and how to navigate the NHS (with an Maternity Voices Partnership representative)

·        The closing of our course with a powerful Salt bowl ceremony and settings of intentions