Why choose to attend a postpartum doula training?

There are families out there who need your help now…families with little or no support. By attending to the needs of the parents, infants and other family members in a professional way the postpartum doula can enhance the postpartum experience to enable the family to have a calm and gentle beginning.

When I began my career in 2002, I was one of the first certified postpartum doulas in my region. When I sold my agency 10 years later the demand for postpartum doulas had grown exponentially and I had 20 doulas working at my agency. The demand is even greater now with many untapped areas. Following this path leads you to a place where both family and postpartum doula benefit from the experience.

I’ve learned over the years that waiting for the perfect time to start something is not always a good decision. Why? It is just an excuse or perhaps even a fear and it just delays your dream. So many people miss great opportunities because they never get started and keep delaying the first step and then get distracted and never really do what they love or accomplish their goals.

Even better? This career costs very little money to get started. Just the cost of education. No inventory, no storefront or office space is necessary. You can run this business from your home. You can get started right after completing the workshop.

Becoming a postpartum doula was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Come with me now, the path is waiting for your first steps!

QUESTIONS? Let's Talk

Your Postpartum Doula Training includes:

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

DONA ethics/standards of practice/certification requirements
How to set up your doula practice
Cultural diversity and values
Business & marketing
Referrals and resources
Effective listening and communication
Educating clients

FAMILY CARE

Newborn care, normal development & calming techniques
Mothercare during the postpartum period, physical & emotional
Integrating the baby into the family, including siblings
Breastfeeding and bottle-feeding support and education
Understanding and supporting postpartum mood disorders
Supporting families with multiples and preemies
Support for loss and grief
Education on healthy sleep habits for babies and parents

Training includes the postpartum doula training manual, business forms and additional handouts and resources. I will prepare and teach you how to support, nurture and educate families during the first 3 months after the birth.

Thank you for the classes. Your passion for working as a doula is so infectious. You have amazing energy and an incredible drive to educate. You inspire me. I am looking forward to learning more from you.

- Nicole

Marcia did a lot of exercises that helped break the ice and make me feel comfortable. I felt the learning environment was relaxed but structured and I enjoyed it. I looked forward to each day and did not dread the long hours because Marcia facilitated an environment that was upbeat and perfect for learning.

- Rebekah

This workshop was extremely informative. I really feel that I gained a lot and have the confidence to go out and be a successful doula.

- Amelia

Marcia was so easy to relate to. She was helpful leading up to the training as well as the first day to manage expectations. She presented materials in an easy to understand way..

- Maggie

When you become a postpartum doula:

PARENTS GET....

Parents get your nurturing and caring hands-on support, your expertise as a professional postpartum doula, an attentive ear and compassionate heart. New parents need to know they are not alone. You are there to help them feel empowered and become the best mother they can be.

YOU GET....

You get to do what you love to do: nurture, support, educate and refer. You can create your own schedule, do this anywhere in the world, earn a good living, and witness unconditional love from every baby you care for. You not only empower new parents but also go home feeling gratified, joyful and appreciated.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity and delay your dream. Take the first steps along this path to live a life you love! I hope you will seriously consider this profession and join me for one my workshops. Here's your 3-step plan to success on your path to becoming a postpartum doula.

CHOOSE YOUR TRAINING

Register today to attend one of my upcoming DONA-approved postpartum doula workshops. Your weekend postpartum doula training will teach you the skills you need to launch your practice.

KEEP GROWING WITH RESOURCES

Receive bi-monthly emails from me with helpful articles detailing steps to success, what to do after the workshop, etc. for the first 6 months after your training and other valuable resources to enhance your success.

GET SUPPORT

Get the support you need with additional free email or Zoom call support for individual mentoring during your first year, including help with the certification process.

Upcoming Dates and Workshop Locations:

REGISTER January 20-23, 2022 Online Live Virtual Workshop. Open to anyone Worldwide (originally Rockville, MD.)

REGISTER February 24-27, 2022 Online Live Virtual Workshop. Open to anyone Worldwide (originally Atlanta, GA.)

REGISTER March 24-27, 2022 Online Live Virtual Workshop. Open to anyone Worldwide (originally Chapel Hill, NC.)

***Live Online Virtual workshops and in-person workshops are open to anyone. You don't have to live in that area. Please contact me by email if you register less than 7 days in advance to make sure I have availability. Early bird workshop fee $535.00 for virtual if you register 2 weeks in advance. In-person workshop 3 weeks in advance for early bird. Regular rate is $575.00.

Breastfeeding support and education is taught during my workshop. However, for DONA Certification an additional Breastfeeding course is required and can be done either before workshop or after workshop training. You can take online at http://www.lactationtraining.com/our-courses/online-courses/lactation-management-for-doulas

at your convenience or contact me about other options.

A Message from Marcia:

Families are looking for your physical support, your emotional and non-judgmental support and finally informational expertise of normal infant care, mothercare and family care. I am here to guide you along a path and give you these educational tools, insights and practical care skills about babies and families when working alongside them in their homes. As an experienced business owner, I grew my business over the years from a lone doula (me) to a staff of 20 doulas. I have much to share with my students regarding the business side.

My classes are relaxed, fun, interactive, current and filled with everything you need to know to get off to a great start as a postpartum doula. You can learn this from me because this is what I learned and what I have done successfully over and over again, and I will share this with you.

Virtual online 4 day workshop goes from 8:00am-4:30pm EST.

In-person 3 day workshop goes from 8:15am-6:45pm EST.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I be certified after I complete the workshop?

The workshop is the first step toward certification and other requirements must be completed on your own after attending the workshop. You can begin working as a postpartum doula after the workshop while working on the other requirements. There is a certification packet that has all the steps to certification that I go over in class. For more information on the certification process go to this link.

Do you have a payment plan?

Are there any prerequisites?

When can I start supporting families?

Why isn't there a training in my city?

In order to provide high quality workshops, DONA requires high quality trainers. The demand for postpartum doulas has increased and DONA has a limited number of postpartum trainers. Trainers make their own schedules based on demand and often travel out of their home state and globally to provide workshops to students. It is not uncommon for students to travel outside their local area to attend a high-quality DONA-approved workshop. If interested in hosting a workshop in your city, contact me and let’s talk.

Do I have to take both a birth doula workshop and a postpartum doula workshop?

No, you don’t have to do both. A birth doula and a postpartum doula are two separate professionals and two separate certifications. Some people just become birth doulas, others just become postpartum doulas, and some choose to do both. It is up to you. I recommend you choose the one that fits you best and then later if it feels right and you want to do both do the other one. If you are not sure what is a good fit for you, give me a call and I can help you process the question.

Do I need a medical background to become a postpartum doula?

Do you offer scholarships?

Partial scholarships are granted to those who demonstrate the greatest ability to address racial and/or social justice in their work as a doula, have the greatest need for financial assistance, and who intend to pay it forward in a tangible way to their community.

Scholarship prerequisites for The Doula Training Path

All persons applying must be a resident of the state of Florida. My home community or live outside the United States in a country of need.
All persons applying must be BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color) or LGBTQIA.

Applications are available upon request. Please fill out website contact form.

If you have limited resources but do not meet the prerequisites I'd love to work with you on a payment plan instead.

"When you are a caregiver you know that every day you will touch a life or a life will touch yours.”

- Anonymous

Why choose DONA Certification?

BENEFITS OF DONA CERTIFICATION

International recognition and widely recognized by professionals in the maternal-infant health field as a trusted and credible organization with high visibility.
A referral listing on the DONA International website.
Research and doula surveys shows the DONA Certified doulas command higher fees.
DONA-certified doulas are known for their high quality of standards and agrees to work within the scope of practice and code of ethics of DONA. This will truly empower families and eliminate practices that may prove harmful.

DONA Member Benefits

Founded in 1992, DONA International is the largest professional doula training and certification organization in the world. The mission statement for DONA International is:

“…to promote high quality birth, postpartum and community-based doula support by setting the standard for the doula profession through evidence-based training and certification for doulas of diverse backgrounds.”

Wanting to find a DONA-approved training, I came across Marcia's website. Marcia's training provided excellent information, personalized feedback, and experience that can only come from a postpartum doula who understands the doula industry, the needs of postpartum families, and the heart of those who care for them. Marcia's training gave me the tools I needed to immediately return home and get to work! Marcia's training provided the perfect balance of tangible tools to care for families as well as solid business practices, complete with her own first-hand experience. I left the training inspired, realizing that I could actually take my heart for serving women and generate an income that would help to support my own family. My whole family celebrated as I realized my 15 year dream, earning my official certification status in November, only 4 months after the training. With every family I work with, I always think back to a real-life example Marcia provided. She is a treasure trove of information, and I'm so glad I chose her workshop for my training.

- Elizabeth Bojie PCD(DONA)

Thank you for a wonderful training. COVID-life really made this session possible for me, but I was very hesitant about spending 3 days on Zoom. I'm so glad I did! Your instruction and stories were helpful, inspiring, relevant, and so appreciated. I loved how you were able to set the stage for interaction and am honestly amazed how I feel bonded with 17 strangers as a result of a virtual experience. Thank you for modeling "be the change" in your discussion about at diversity and for your creativity such a warm experience in this training. This weekend has really been a breath of much needed fresh air. May you rest well in the next couple days and continue to share your love and passion of doula-ing, breastfeeding, and parenting for as long as it brings your joy! Namaste!

- Amanda Pack

Hello Marcia!

I enjoyed the workshop and it was even more than I expected. You gave such clear detail information and your experiences that you shared with us were valuable.

Thank you for taking the time and continuing to foster the gift of those of us whose hearts are in the care giving business.

Jamie Kilgore