A postpartum doula helps to create the environment a family needs to nurture itself after the arrival of a newborn. She comes alongside growing families by assisting with infant care, helping with household tasks such as light cleaning, laundry and cooking, and generally "mothering the mother" during the exciting and challenging postpartum adjustment period.
About the course: If you are currently working as a postpartum doula or think you'd like to explore the possibility of serving childbearing families in this way, you are invited to take advantage of this Postpartum Doula Workshop. This training course meets DONA International training standards for certification.
The Curriculum Includes:
- Caring for the new mother
- Caring for the newborn
- Listening and communication skills
- Breastfeeding support
- Alternative infant feeding methods
- Nurturing families with twins or triplets
- Postpartum mood disorders
- Code of ethics & standards of practice for postpartum doulas
- Running a postpartum doula business
- Case studies
Prerequisites for Participants of a DONA Postpartum Doula Workshop:
Participants are expected to have a working knowledge of the following:
- Physical and emotional adjustment in the mother following birth
- Newborn characteristics and care
- Breastfeeding basics
- Common breastfeeding difficulties and possible solutions
To be sure that participants are adequately prepared for their Postpartum Workshop, the following are required BEFORE attending the training:
1. Required Reading:
Participants must have completed reading one selection from each of the following DONA International required reading list categories. Some of these books can be purchased at the DONA International web site:
Becoming a Mother
- The New Mother: Eagan
- Misconceptions: Wolf
- Ourselves as Mothers: Kitzinger
- Mothering the New Mother: Placksin
- The Year After Childbirth: Kitzinger
The Newborn
- Your Amazing Newborn: Klaus and Klaus
- The Mind of Your Newborn Baby: Chamberlain
- Infancy: Field
- The Year After Childbirth: Kitzinger
- Touchpoints: Brazelton
- The Vital Touch: Heller
- The Baby Book: Sears
Breastfeeding
- Dr. Jack Newman’s “Guide to Breastfeeding”
- The Breastfeeding Answer Book: La Leche League International
2. Breastfeeding Preparation:
Participants must have completed at least one of the options listed below before attending the postpartum doula training:
- Certificate of attendance of Lactation Consultant/Breastfeeding counseling education program or peer counseling training through LLL or local nursing mother’s group.
- Completion of an on-line breastfeeding study program.
- Proof of participation in a breastfeeding workshop (3 hour minimum).
- Investigative project series with essays. This project would need to be approved by the trainer and DONA International Postpartum Committee.
Instructor: Do Stier
Upcoming Dates:
Schedule: 4 consecutive days from 9am to 5pm
There will be two 15-minute breaks and a one-hour lunch break each day. Coffee, tea, juice, water and snacks will be provided. Lunch will be on your own.
Location: The Mothering Touch Centre
Cost: $550 (register at least 1 month before the start of the workshop for $50 off!)
Refund Policy: A refund of the registration fee (minus a 15% administrative fee) is possible until TWO WEEKS before the course begins. No refunds will be possible after that time, but registrations are transferable.
If you would like to register for a class, please click here to send us your information.
