New 100% Live Online Classes added for 2025!
So, you’re ready to become a birth doula?
You’re in the right place, and what an incredible place to be! Right now, more than ever, families need someone like you–someone who can walk with them through one of the most transformative times of their lives. Whether it’s a hospital birth, a home birth, or something in between, your care can make all the difference.
Why having a birth doula matters?
Here’s the truth: being a birth doula isn’t just a profession. It’s a calling. The families you support will never forget you. You’ll be a part of their story, their strength, and their memories. And the best part? You bring something to this work that no one else can–yourself, your compassion, your perspective, and your heart.
Your journey begins with our online DONA-Approved Birth Doula training education workshop, designed to prepare you for this incredible role. When you choose our virtual workshops, you’ll be learning from the best, with the tools you need to feel confident and capable in supporting families.
4-Day Childbirth Doula Training Workshop Information
In this training, we don’t just focus on how to doula—we explore why we doula and why this matters so deeply to you. From evidence-based benefits to hands-on techniques to starting your career, we’ll cover it all.
This is where it starts: with a workshop, a community, and a calling.
BirthMatters is here to help you answer it.
Another benefit in choosing this workshop is the Childbirth Education and Breastfeeding Workshop components are included and are both necessary in attaining DONA International (formerly Doulas of North America) certification.
We offer our live education workshop 100% online via Zoom, so that aspiring doulas can get training no matter where they live in the world. All you need is a computer, phone or tablet, and a good internet connection.
How does it work?
In this workshop you will learn the skills necessary to provide professional labor support in a fun and interactive atmosphere. You will meet other aspiring doulas with whom you can build a support network within this field.
The ripple effect your training is having on this world is profound.
What are the benefits?
- Follow your true passion and help others at the same time.
- Help families take control of their birth experience.
- Become confident giving the right info at the right time.
- Doula certification grants you special rights and privileges.
- Connect and network with other Doulas in your area
- Learn more about being a doula and building your career.
- Be present, support and welcome into the world new babies everywhere.
It is absolutely possible to feel great becoming a certified doula.
The first step to becoming a certified doula is to take our DONA-Approved Childbirth Doula Training education workshop.
Your path to certification:
- Read The Birth Partner, by Penny Simkin
- Attend our DONA-Approved Childbirth Doula Training workshop
- Become a member of DONA International ($100)
(You will want to wait until after the workshop when you will receive a $30 coupon for attending and completing a workshop evaluation) - Read three books from DONA’s reading list and two position papers
- Complete a self assessment questionnaire
- Gather a list of community resources and references
- Attend and document three qualifying birth support experiences
- Compile all documentation for certification
- Pay the certification/application fee ($155) and celebrate!
****Visit DONA.org for complete certification information.****
What will you learn?
In this workshop you will learn the skills necessary to provide professional labor support in a fun and interactive atmosphere. Our workshop will be 36 hours to provide you with the most comprehensive training available. During this workshop, you will meet other aspiring doulas with whom you can build a support network within this field.
Space is limited. Early enrollment is highly encouraged.
We hope you can join us for a wonderful training!
4-Day Workshop Schedule
This childbirth class is designed to take us through pre-labor, labor and birth with the role of a doula in mind. Regardless of your experience with birth, this class ensures that we are all starting with the same information about childbirth to begin your journey as a birth professional.
Topics covered in this lesson:
Anatomy and physiology of pregnancy, common discomforts of pregnancy and helpful advice for dealing with them, phases and stages of labor, emotional changes during labor, medications, cesarean birth. All topics covered are in a childbirth class, but the emphasis is on supporting parents throughout.
We will begin with DONA Standards of Care and Code of Ethics. We will cover the dynamics of labor and birth, how to be a skilled companion during childbirth, comfort measures and scenarios to learn the practical and professional approach to dealing with different labors.
Topics covered in this lesson:
Labor support, prenatal contact, emotional support, comfort measures, the business aspects of a doula business and professionalism within a doula practice.
Covers in-depth labor support strategies, the role of the doula within the medical framework, information on pre and post natal clients, dealing with problem labors and unexpected outcomes, setting up a doula practice.
Topics covered in this lesson:
Cesarean birth, vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), epidurals, difficult labors, and postpartum contact.
This breastfeeding/chest feeding component embraces evidence based research, medical innovation and ancient female wisdom with a new twist. We will explore how to assist new mothers in establishing comfortable breastfeeding while learning and respecting baby’s inborn ability to successfully breastfeed. You will learn a simple and revolutionary way to help mothers who are having difficulty achieving a pain-free latch.
Topics covered in this lesson:
Anatomy and physiology of breastfeeding (how it works), three three’s of breastfeeding, feeding costs, positioning, troubleshooting, nutrition and assessing a good latch.
This class will fulfill the DONA requirement for Breastfeeding and will complete all of your in-person classroom requirements towards certification.
Ready to start learning with BirthMatters?
4-Day Workshop Investment:
$650 USD
About your instructor:
Chris Cleary
ICCE, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), CCE, CBEChris Cleary is a DONA (Doulas of North America), certified doula and has trained with DONA co-founder Penny Simkin and Kathy McGrath to become a doula trainer. She is also a certified childbirth educator and certified breastfeeding educator. She is currently offering four day workshops to train professional labor assistants throughout the country.
With more than 30 years of experience as a Doula and as a childbirth education Chris has worked with thousands of families as they welcomed babies into thier family as an educator and has worked with somewhere between 1,300 and 1,500 families as their Doula.
Since we have begun offering virtual trainings, she has been thrilled to offer this valuable training to people 15 different countries. Chris’ goal as a trainer is to train doulas from all walks of life by helping DONA realize their vision:
“a doula for every person who wants one.”
Why am I a doula? Why do I train doulas?
I believe every family should be empowered and have support and advocacy before, during and after the birth of a child. Being informed in pregnancy about your options and evidence-based research and realities helps mothers and their partners prepare for a good birth experience.
We need more doulas. We especially need more doulas serving marginalized communities, such as BIPOC and LGBTQ+ families. It is my greatest honor to help you become a doula to serve the families in your community.
What our students are saying:
Chris was a wonderful instructor and very passionate about the Doula profession. I learned many updated facts! She was very clear with directions and teaching.
“Chris, thanks again for everything!! I had a blast & you are an amazing instructor.” ~L. Price
“When the team had questions, she broke it down even more! She even paid attention to our facial expressions to make sure.”
“Chris Cleary readily answered questions, went back to explain parts, spent extra time as needed at the end of the workshop and has checked in with the group since training ended.”
“Chris was incredibly helpful and was more than willing to answer questions and explain in more depth when requested.”
“Thank you very much for the classes, I’m looking forward for next week’s. I’m very grateful for the work you’re doing while we are all in the middle of this pandemic and how you’re so very detailed with the information and stories.” ~N. Sanchez
Have Questions?
Here are a few frequently asked questions. If you have questions not answered here, please email us, DONA International also has a FAQ page for more info.
Refund Policy
Our trainings are NON REFUNDABLE, but if you are unable to attend we can transfer you to a future workshop under the following conditions: You must notify us within two weeks (14 days) of the workshop, and the transfer needs to be for a workshop within 1 year of the original date. This policy is to make sure to secure your spot in our workshop, as we could sell out of spots.
Special promotional offer
***LIMITED DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE***
We want to encourage BIPOC, LGBTQIA and members of the military (active or dependents) who are interested in becoming doulas by offering several $50 and $100 scholarships to our online DONA-Approved Childbirth Doula Training education workshop!
If you fall under any of those categories, please email chris@birthmattersok.com to get the discount code to use when checking out.
When the codes are gone, they’re gone–so act fast!