Frequently Asked Questions about the Birth Arts International Doula Training - Part 2: Looking forward to your doula training!

So Kate, now that I've enrolled, what can I expect to learn at this training workshop?

This weekend workshop will fully equip you to begin your work as a doula. You will not leave the weekend with a certification in hand, but you will have the skills to support mothers in birth. We cover the following: 

• What is Birth Arts international and what the heck was in that koolaid you just drank?(kidding... sort of)
• The physiology, stage and phases of pregnancy, labor and birth.
• History of birth support. What it means and doesn't mean to be a doula. What is your scope of practice?
• Attending a birth- labor positions and coping skills, holding space and counseling families
• Hippo Socks- What are they? When do you wear them? (not kidding in the least)
• Building and growing your practice. How will YOU succeed?
• So. Much. More.  This is an exhaustive weekend with long days and lots of breaks. You will bond with your fellow students and leave inspired and ready to walk this path!

Is there anything I can do while I wait for my training to begin? I'm eager to get going!

YES! With your registration confirmation email from Kate, you will get the book list for certification and that is an excellent place to begin!  You will need to read 9 of the books on the list and having that base knowledge before you take your training will give you a deeper understanding of what this work can mean as we explore it. 

You can also find a childbirth education course to audit before your training and contact your trainer for documentation forms if you do!  This is especially helpful if you have never taken a childbirth education course before or haven't given birth yourself. 

What else is required for certification?
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The requirements for Birth Doula certification break down into three basic categories: Experience, Business Success, Study & Grow. 

Experience:

• Attend a training or enroll in the online classroom. 
• Observe Childbirth Education class(es) in your area
• Tour two hospital birthing units (one can be a midwifery birthing center)
• Attend and document five births.

Business Success:

• Create your intake forms and client contract
• Put together your birth bag of supplies
• Create Client handouts and a resource list
• Submit a business plan and create your marketing materials.

Study and grow:

• Write the essays and assignments listed in the BAI manual (you will get this at your training)
• Complete the introspective assignments (surprise! We do a few at the training!)
• Interview mothers about their birth experiences (we do some of these too!)
• Read and report on 9 books from the list. 

That's it!  It might seem overwhelming at first but these all serve a purpose: To help guide you to be the best doula you can be and to truly find YOUR best business practices. Spoiler alert: they will likely look different than every other student in your class. Just like birth preferences are unique to the mother, so will your doula heart be unique to you. 

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