Doula Workshops
Guiding the people who guide the people in transformation and birth
A cross between a retreat and a doula training, we provide much more than curriculum requirements. You’ll emerge from this powerful workshop encouraged and supported, feeling satisfied and altered from your experience. Just as giving birth creates a lasting, life-long memory, so should your doula training.
Birth Doula Workshop
*New Hybrid Format = 2 days virtual and 1 day in person
The training consists of three days spanning two consecutive weekends:
- The first Saturday is the Introduction to Childbirth portion which is required to participate in the remaining doula training part of the workshop and also required for DONA certification*. We also have a soft start to the doula workshop covering some basic topics.
The Doula Training portion of the workshop days are the following Saturday and Sunday.
- Saturday of the doula training is virtual as we cover the ethical and business side of being a doula.
- Sunday is live and in person and hands on! Learning the art and craft that doulas excel in and are so passionate about, tried and true tricks of the trade and comfort measures 101.
Your registration fee includes BOTH parts of the training, Introduction to Childbirth and the Doula Training.
*You are required to take the Introduction to Childbirth portion unless you are a midwife, a practicing labor and delivery nurse or a certified childbirth educator. You must contact Felicia at doulafelicia@gmail.com to get prior approval to bypass this requirement and take only the doula training portion of the weekend.
All doula trainings are unique and valuable in their own way.
What makes Felicia’s stand out?
Decades of experience in birth and adult education while also supporting varied birthing people and families – over 1700 births!
She is confident that through her work as a very active practicing doula, a DONA Approved Birth Doula Trainer, Lamaze Educator and overall women’s advocate she has helped shape the current culture of birth and is helping to establish change and reparation in all things related to birth and BIPOC injustices.
During the Birth Doula Workshop we will cover many topics including:
- Birth: Not just another day in a birthing person’s life
- Emotional support in the first and second stages of labor
- Communication Skills
- Working with hospital staff and care providers
- What do we mean by advocacy
- Guest speakers can include: Doulas, midwives, couples that have recently birthed with a doula, volunteer coordinators from doula programs and much more
- Doula business skills
- DONA Code of Ethics & Standards of Practice
- DONA Certification Process and Requirements
- How to set up and market your doula practice
- How to interview with a potential client
- How to conduct a client prenatal visit
- What happens in a postpartum visit
- How to find birth clients, network with other birth workers, resources for your clients, doula education and products
- How to physically and emotionally comfort and support a woman in labor
- Tried and True Tricks of the Trade
- Role Play: contractions, breathing techniques, massage techniques, comfort measures, positions to rotate a baby, and much more
- The 3 R’s – Rhythm, Relaxation and Ritual
- What’s in a birth bag
- Working with Cesarean and VBAC
- Understanding the Newborn
- Addressing systemic racism and its effect on birth outcomes
- Support during grieving
- How to help a new birthing person get the baby on the breast and so much more!
Black, Indigenous and People of Color have historically been denied the benefits of their labor in this country, and we acknowledge that we reside on stolen land from Indigenous People.
Because of this I am providing a 55% discount for the DONA Approved Birth Doula Workshops that I offer.
In 2020 DONA was challenged to profoundly address black maternal health outcomes. And to change, in our workshops, the ways we center whiteness as if it were the norm. DONA International Leadership is committed to acknowledgment, understanding, and growth in addressing racism and cultural competency within our membership and our leadership. The work is slow and ongoing. I believe that we are on the edge of creating the culture we want to live in, but it takes time and effort and I think that our magical work can be a huge part of that shift.
I understand that People of Color might not be interested given the current concerns, but I am still offering a 55% discount for any POC who is wanting to learn in this space.
May the work of reparations and acknowledgment continue to grow and multiply.
If you identify as a BIPOC person, regardless of income, I wholeheartedly offer this discount and encourage you to join me/us and please SPREAD THE WORD!
One of the most important elements of the weekend does not come from a manual or research study. It is the quality time we spend connecting as a group and with individuals. Together we create the intimate, safe, empowering space that most replicates the birth space. You will understand and practice what it means to “hold space’ for another person and how to find that place in yourself that honors the strength, courage and beauty of transformation.
Required reading for this course:
by Penny Simkin
A note about childbirth preparation courses:
DONA requires for certification that you attend a childbirth preparation series (not as an expectant parent) for a total of 12 hours. The Introduction to Childbirth portion of the doula training also allows you to meet this requirement. Although you are not required to take a childbirth prep class with other couples, I encourage you to do so (AFTER your doula training) for the following reasons:
- I believe that it is important for you to attend a public course to hear what the couples in your community are learning.
- By attending a public class you have the opportunity to network with the childbirth educator who may give you referrals to clients.
- The public class you attend is a great way to reach your first birth clients.
Felicia is completely aligned and in agreement with DONA’s Anti-Racism statement:
DONA International’s Anti-Racism Statement and Calls to Action
DONA International Leadership is committed to acknowledgment, understanding, and growth in addressing racism and cultural competency within our membership and our leadership. Go to the DONA website to read the statement and strategies document that reflects organizational action and our calls to action for our members.
Introduction to Childbirth (required) taught by Felicia Roche
Through a variety of teaching methods including, lecture, roleplay, dvds, song and small group work Felicia relates essential information about the childbearing process to participants.
This is a great way to start your doula journey.
During the Childbirth Overview Workshop we will cover:
- Physiology and anatomy of pregnancy, labor and birth
- Stages of labor – physical and emotional
- The dynamics of labor and birth
- Hospital procedures, treatments, protocols including: monitoring
devices, tools used for birth, surgical procedures - Medications used in labor and their purposes
Required reading for this course:
by Penny Simkin
Fulfilling the requirement for the Doula Training Workshop:
This Introduction to Childbirth class included as part of the Doula Training Workshop (on the first Saturday) is extremely beneficial to you and is a requirement to continue with the rest of the doula training the following Saturday and Sunday*. Without a thorough understanding of pregnancy, labor, birth and hospital procedures from a professional perspective you will find yourself missing out on key components during the doula training. This 7 hour course fulfills the DONA Certification requirement for childbirth education
After registration and upon your request we can provide you with carpooling information with other participants (if available).
*Introduction to Childbirth is a requirement to continue with the doula training unless you are a Childbirth Educator, Midwife, Labor/Delivery Nurse or a practicing Doula having attended more than 25 births. Please contact Felicia Roche at doulafelicia@gmail.com to discuss if you qualify and to get approval to skip this portion of the training.
Breastfeeding Support 101: Foundations for Birth Professionals
taught by Teri Nava-Anderson
Although not required for the doula training workshop, a breastfeeding class is required for DONA certification. We highly recommend the follow class taught by Teri Nava Anderson. See her website, Harmony Doula Group, for more information.
