Doula certification?

[lifescholar]

I'm thinking about becoming a certified doula (labour and/or postpartum), and possibly a childbirth educator as well.

Does anyone have any reviews of the organization through which they are certified?? I've found a few, and have some ideas, but thought I should ask the pros!

TIA!

[DoomaYula]

Try searching for this topic, it comes up here frequently.

I'm ALACE certified and I really love ALACE's philosophy and the women who work for ALACE.

I don't know as much about DONA, but they have name recognition that ALACE doesn't. I think DONA is probably the most well known among mainstreamers.

CAPPA is getting really well known now, I think because they are affiliated with Operation Special Delivery, which provides military spouses whose dh/dp are deployed with a free doula for birth.

There's also CBI, Birth Arts... or is it now AAMI?

Some have distance learning, some have weekend workshops. They all have different requirements.

[SublimeBirthGirl]

I never certified but trained with both ALACE and DONA. If I ever start attending births again, I'll probably certify with ALACE if I certify at all. The DONA workshop was fine, but the ALACE workshop was *excellent.* I've thought about hosting another one, just so I can go again even though I can't attend births for at least another year. It was really, really fantastic.

[courtenay_e]

AAMI is midwifery.

[abbieandlady]

There is also birthing from within.

[TattooedMama]

I'm going to do BirthWorks for CCE this time. I have been DONA certified in the past as well as a member of CAPPA. I love ALACE's philosophies more than DONA though.
nak

[Rockies5]

I'm a CCE with ALACE and finished their Labor Assistant training this weekend. So far I haven't had any second thoughts

I love how independent it is..no workshops for the CCE, it's distance learning I took my exam with a nursling in my lap. I also looked at BFW and I'd like to do one of their workshops in the future (or something similar Birth Works also looks interesting to me) for fun but it's time away and so far they haven't had any here.

I feel totally qualified with ALACE and haven't ever found myself missing info or skills on the spot or anything.

[MamaRabbit]

I'm finishing up certifying with CBI as a doula and CBE. Completely by distance. I do wish I had a workshop to go to for the fun of it, but that's not gonna happen where I live!

[mendomidwife]

Originally Posted by MamaRabbit

I'm finishing up certifying with CBI as a doula and CBE. Completely by distance. I do wish I had a workshop to go to for the fun of it, but that's not gonna happen where I live!

One of my students wanted to attend a workshop, but I was not offering one for awhile (we are in a rural area)...so I encouraged her to pick the topics and she planned it herself....even if you get together with a few other women interested in birth/doula work, you can learn a lot from one another.
I will be helping her put it together and will even speak on a topic if she likes.....

Carla

[lifescholar]

Thanks ladies, this has been really helpful!

I've been seriously looking at CAPPA Canada....I'll have to revisit ALACE. I know I liked their philosophies, but workshops will likely not be an option for me, so I have to make sure that they have a distance option.

I'm so excited! I've already ordered a whole bunch of books, and I plan to start reading the day they get here!

Thanks again!

[Rockies5]

If you find you are still interested in ALACE labor assistance training you could sponsor a workshop in your area and then you get to attend it for no cost.

Goodluck!

[1stimestar]

Being a DONA International State Representative, I obviously think DONA is the best certifying organization lol. Call your hospital and see who doulas in your area are certified with. DONA is the most recognized certifying org and that comes in handy when dealing with medical staff. I also agree with their Scope of Practice and Mission and think they are very supportive.

[Amydoula]

I am a DONA certified Postpartum Doula and am extremely happy with their program for postpartum doulas. I am not a birth doula so I can not speak about that program. I'm also on the Postpartum certification committee so if you have any questions just let me know.

[winnie]

I just registered and sent my payment to CAPPA Canada for both the Postpartum Doula course and Childbirth Educator course, by distance. So I cant' tell you what it's like, since I am awaiting my packages!

I'll give you the reasons I chose them above ALACE or CBI (or others)

-They rebate you $75 if you take 2 or more courses
-12 hours of video to watch for the distance CBE program, which is helpful when there is no hands-on training
-If taking a distance course, you can also attend the workshop later FREE of charge - I will likely go to both workshops next summer when they are here. My son still nurses constantly so I didn't want to be away for the three days right now.
-There is a free conference every year (well, included in the membership fee I guess) - which I think would be great to go to for networking etc.
-When people are searching for a doula, and type that into google, DONA and CAPPA tend to come up first - and they will have your name listed on their referral list.
-I found that they responded to my questions by phone or email MUCH faster than CBI or ALACE.

Anyways, just some points to consider. I'm sure there are some things in favour of other companies as well, but this is why I chose CAPPA Canada.

Where in Canada are you, btw? (if you don't mind saying) I'm in Manitoba.

winn

[lifescholar]

I'm in Eastern Ontario, Winnie!

I just paid my membership for CAPPA Canada tonight, so I guess I'm going with them!

I liked them for a lot of the same reasons you did, and I like that it's a Canadian chapter, too.

I'm definitely doing postpartum doula, and I'm still trying to decide between labour doula or lactation educator right now....I'm thinking I'd get more work as a labour doula than a CLE in my city, and then I can always get the CLE certification later on....

I'd also like to do the CBE certification down the road, and they also have certification as a teen support worker (for teen pregnancies). Considering I want to foster pregnant teens, that would be a GREAT credential to have!

Good luck with your training! Maybe I'll see you at a conference someday!

[winnie]

Hey,

Yes, I like that it's a Canadian division as well.

I would love to go to the conference this year, there are some really good speakers there! Not sure about a road trip all the way there though, DS can handle about 3 hours in the car and that's it! In future years I'm sure I'll be there though, because DP has the summer off and LOVES any excuse for a road trip.

It's been a week since I purchased my package, I'm getting pretty excited, as I am kind of expecting it before the end of next week. I've already started reading some of the books on the reading list. (Am loving After The Baby's Birth, such an awesome book)

Take care,
Erin