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Number of families that can benefit from a postpartum doula

Postpartum Doula Certification

You want to become a postpartum doula! New families need so much support in those early weeks and months, and you can use your skills and your heart to help them get off to a great start.

You have the potential to touch so many lives! It’s exciting to imagine the unique skills and gifts you’re going to bring to this amazing work.  Your journey starts by choosing a DONA Approved Postpartum Doula Training Workshop. These high-quality workshops all meet DONA International’s highest professional standards,  which means you’ll be learning the skills you really need to provide excellent service to every family you support.

After completing your workshop and all certification requirements, you will receive a digital certificate. Physical certificates can be purchased for $10 in the DONA Boutique.  

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DONA postpartum trainings

Our trainers offer top-notch training to help you learn how to fully and professionally support your clients. Our trainings go deep so that you in turn can go deep with new families.

Find a doula training

Postpartum Certification FAQ

Get classroom training as well as hands-on practice with our postpartum doula certification program.

In your postpartum doula training you can expect to learn not only the how to doula, but also the why we doula.  Workshops cover evidence-based information about the benefits of doula support, the tender and sensitive time and space when a new families brings home a new baby, the significance of doula support to a family, practical hands-on techniques, as well as the steps to begin a career as a postpartum doula. The comprehensive training program includes in-person training, experiences and evaluation, home study, and additional coursework. The Postpartum Doula Certification curriculum is designed to help new postpartum doulas feel prepared and confident to work with families during the transition to parenthood.

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What are my next steps?

Ready to get started?

Download our helpful guide for information (including fees) on the full certification process:

 

Download Guide  Descargar Guia

Prefer something visual?

This postpartum doula certification infographic can help you along the way:

 

Download Infographic

Ready to order your certification packet?

The certification packet will have necessary information and forms for your pathway to certification.  Packets may be ordered after attending your DONA International-approved training workshop.

Order Packet

 

DONA Document Library

The DONA International resource/document library is filled useful items to help you along the way.  Download forms, read recent press releases/position papers, and find links to additional member resources all in one place. Visit Resource Library

*Note that the resource library is not designed to replace the certification packet, but rather as a supplement.

 

Ready to get started?

Find your doula training workshop and get signed up:

Find a workshop

Already certified?

DONA certified doulas are required to maintain certification through attendance at approved continuing education opportunities.  Explore our continuing education pages to learn more about the requirements and opportunities for recertification.
What’s a Community Centered Doula?

A community-centered doula (CCD) provides emotional, physical, informational, and relational support during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period up to one year after birth in communities that are impacted by social systems that create adverse perinatal health outcomes. A CCD provides culturally congruent support.

How do Community Centered Doulas work?

Using a peer-to-peer support model, Community Centered Doulas (CCDs) help clients navigate pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period recognizing the social determinants of health that increase the risk of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, as well as laws, policies, and systems that negatively impact marginalized and/or under-resourced communities.

The CCD-client relationship extends well beyond that of a birth or postpartum doula, typically beginning in early pregnancy and continuing until at least one year after birth. During that time, CCDs offer emotional, physical, informational, and relational support related to childbirth education, lactation promotion, and parent education, and connect families to health-care resources and services.

CCDs are also trained to interact and communicate with other human services, social services, and perinatal health professionals that may comprise the family’s support system.

“After I completed my certification with DONA International as a birth doula, my clientele doubled. Now I am pursuing postpartum doula certification with DONA, because I know the program offers the education and skills I need to become the best postpartum doula I can be. I can’t wait to add the credential PCD(DONA) to my name!”

Mychal Balazs

CD(DONA), soon to be PCD(DONA)