Doula Certification in Clearwater and St. Pete Florida

Doulas of North America was founded as a professional association for labor support providers. The main purposes of this nonprofit organization are to certify doulas to an international standard, to be a strong communication link among the many doulas practicing today, and to provide continuing education to labor support person.
To learn more about DONA, click on the logo above.

Doula Certification by DONA

The key requirements for Doula certification by DONA include:

Training in childbirth education, midwifery, OB nursing or attendance of a childbirth education series (not as an expectant parent)
Membership in DONA
Completion of a required reading list.

Attendance of an approved doula workshop (such as this one)
Experience in providing labor support to at least three clients (after the workshop requirement) with evaluations from clients and health care, plus essays on what you learned at the births.
Written essay on the value and purpose of labor support

The Doula Workshop

The workshop is designed to help doulas, childbirth educators and others maternity care to become expert labor support providers. It utilizes supplementary literature, videos, and role play to build theoretical knowledge and practical skill during the workshop the students will:

Define the scope of practice of the doula
Describe the varying roles of the doula
List reasons for prenatal meeting between doula and client
Describe records to keep and why
Detail the emotions of labor an d the support needs of the woman
Demonstrate competence in labor support in a role play situation
Describe the emotional needs of a woman in a difficult or complicated labor
Demonstrate techniques in massage, patterned breathing and maternal positioning
Present the doula’s role during a cesarean
Describe the doula’s role with the new born and in the immediate postpartum
Describe the purpose of the postpartum follow-up meeting
List ideas for managing practical matters, such as getting experience, getting clients and managing daily life on call

This workshop assumes a basic knowledge of pregnancy and childbirth as a childbirth educator, nurse with labor and delivery experience, or through midwifery. If you do not have this background, you should audit a childbirth series before this workshop.