[aliciahorsley]

I live in Malaysia and I want to teach a breastfeeding class and advocate natural birth. I'd even doula if that would help. My sister is also into this. I was her doula at her first birth 6 months ago and she openly says that having me there was a definite help. (I know this is very personal and not a great overall example of my ability

)

Things here are very medicalised and my heart clenches each time I hear another epidural-suction-not enough milk-supplement with formula story! however, my degree is in Psychology.

So, I think my questions are
1. Are there any online/correspondence courses that I could do to gain a qualification?
2. No disrespect to those who have qualifications, but are they totally necessary? Ultimately, I'd like to have something on paper to back me up, but if it's not possible, would it be so bad to try to share without it?

If I've offended anyone, I apologise now. I've just heard one more epidural-suction-not enough milk-supplement with formula story today

and have a friend who is due any moment. They are sisters and the one who is due is already pretty sure she wants an epi

Also went for a breastfeeding talk over the weekend and that fired up my hopes again. My youngest is now 25 months, my husband is all for my chasing my dreams and I've devoted the last five years to the babes. It's time for me to nurture me, I think

 

[MamaRabbit]

I live in Asia as well and I have done doula and lactation training with Childbirth International (CBI). Completely by distance and I have found especially useful for living here.

 

[Hallielynn01]

CAPPA has long distance courses in all fields, doula, Lactation and educator- www.cappa.net

Certifications aren't required or neccesary unless the people/places your trying to work with requir/prefer them. They can give a sence of confidence in your skills to the people your working with, but in reality they don't mean your any better then anyone else. Many people choose not to certify with specific groups because when you do, you are also agreeing to their scopes of practice, their ideals and philosophies. So if you find a group you agree with, then go ahead and certify, if not, do what you can to gain knowledge and make the choice later.

I personally didn't find the CAPPA scope of practice restrictive in any way, and I agreed with their philosophies about birth. So I happily certified

 

[dewi]

This online breastfeeding course leads to a certificate.
It is Just breastfeeding, nothing else and is great.
It is the course used by DONA (the doula organization) as the credential for all their certified doulas.

http://www.leron-line.com/Basic_Lact...Management.htm

 

[jenmidwife2b]

I highly recommend Childbirth International. They are an excellent online internationally based course.

 

[gingerbane]

I am currently living in China and am working through Child Birth International to attain my Birth doula, Post-partum doula and CBE certificates. I am also doing an online Gini Baker course throught the University of California San Diego and hope to take another online breastfeeding course based in Australia I'm working toward sitting for the IBCLC board exam in 2011

 

[aliciahorsley]

thank you for the replies. i stumbled across CBI a couple of hours after i posted my question and am seriously considering enrolling.