The Kim James' DONA International and Washington State Department of Health approved Birth Doula Skills Workshop curriculum includes 12 hours of required pre-workshop interactive lessons and 32 hours of in-person instruction at the 4-day workshop. The curriculum details below include the learning objectives and key messages for:

1. The required pre-workshop interactive lessons and quizzes (12 hours)
2. The 4-day workshop (32 hours)

Required Pre-Workshop Interactive Lessons & Quizzes (12 Hours)

There are 9 interactive lessons and quizzes in the pre-workshop workbook and one task (creating your DONA International account). You will receive your unique workbook link when you register for the workshop. Completing your workbook will take about 12 hours. The quizzes at the end of each lesson are due the night before the workshop by 7pm. Why this is important: I want every moment of our in-person class time to be engaging and focused on applying and practicing the skills and knowledge of a birth doula. Completing the required pre-workshop workbook helps ensure every participant has equivalent knowledge before we begin our in-person workshop topics together.

Pre-workshop Interactive Lesson Topics

1. Our Anti-Racist Workshop Expectations (1 hour)
2. DONA International Standards of Practice & Code of Ethics (1 hour)
3. Anatomy for Birth (1 hour)
4. Fetal Development (1 hour)
5. Labor and Birth (1.5 hours)
6. Standard Precautions (60 mins)
7. Lactation as a Public Health Strategy (1.5 hours)
8. How Lactation Works: Anatomy, Initiation & Supply (3 hours)
9. Doula Business Basics (1.5 hours)
10. Task: Create your DONA International account and register your workshop (15 mins)

The Birth Partner, sixth edition is the official companion textbook for this workshop. It is HIGHLY recommended, but not required, that you read or listen to this book before coming to the workshop. Reading or listening to The Birth Partner is a requirement for DONA International certification.

Learning Objectives and Key Messages for Pre-Workshop Lessons

Our Anti-Racist, Anti-Oppression Workshop Expectations Lesson & Quiz

Key Message: The instructors of this workshop are committed to anti-racism and endeavors to offer a learning environment free of racism and oppression. We are dedicated to maternal, infant and family health through cultural humility and health equity.

Learning Objectives

1. Workshop participants can list actions instructors will take if microaggressions, microinvalidations or oppression occur within the workshop.
2. Workshop participants can define and identify microaggressions and microinvalidations.

DONA International Standards of Practice & Code of Ethics Lesson & Quiz

Key Message: The DONA International Standards of Practice (SOP) and Code of Ethics (COE) ensure the unique and effective role of the doula is preserved. The SOP and COE protect both doulas and clients.

Learning Objectives

1. List the 4 elements of the DONA International Standards of Practice
2. List the 5 ethical responsibilities a doula has as set forth by the DONA International Code of Ethics

Labor and Birth Lesson & Quiz

Key Message: The physiology of labor and birth, including the 4 primary hormones of labor, is key to understanding the mechanisms of human parturition

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the role and functions of the 4 primary hormones of labor
2. Categorize the pre-labor signs and symptoms
3. Describe what happens during the four stages of labor and birth

Anatomy for Birth Lesson & Quiz

Key Message: Understanding the birthing person's anatomy and physiology changes during pregnancy can help the doula better understand their client's experiences.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify the organs of female reproduction.
2. Identify the bones of the pelvis using common terms.

Fetal Development Lesson & Quiz

Key Message: Understanding fetal development can help the doula understand their client's experience of pregnancy and their attachment to their baby.

Learning Objectives

1. Summarize the major developmental accomplishments for the fetus in each trimester.

Standard Precautions Lesson & Quiz

Key Message: Doulas are present at some of the most fluid-intensive moments in a client's care, so understanding and consistently practicing standard precautions isn't optional — it protects the doula, the birthing person, the baby, and every future client from preventable exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Because no one can reliably identify who carries a bloodborn pathogen or other infections just by looking at them, these precautions must become automatic habits for every birth, every time.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe how doulas can protect themselves from exposure to blood- and bodily-fluid-borne pathogens.
2. Explain the importance of standard precautions in preventing the transmission of some sexually transmitted diseases

Lactation as a Public Health Strategy Lesson & Quiz

Key Message: Promoting lactation and breastfeeding is a critical part of improving the population's overall health.

Learning Objectives

1. Evaluate the doula's influence on lactation & bodyfeeding practices in the hospital
2. Find their state's rate of breastfeeding initiation
3. List the research-based benefits of breastfeeding

How Lactation Works: Anatomy, Initiation & Supply Lesson & Quiz

Key Message: Making human milk requires complex and complementary roles between parents and babies. The practices at birth, how babies fit and attach at the breast and the support in the first weeks at home can promote or hinder the best attachment and milk removal.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe how human milk is made
2. Describe how milk supply is established and maintained
3. Describe how newborns typically initiate breastfeeding after birth
4. List a baby's early feeding cues
5. Describe the elements of a well-attached breastfeeding baby
6. Describe how to hand-express breastmilk

Doula Business Basics Lesson & Quiz

Key Message: Most doulas need a business license to practice legally. It is the responsibility of the doula to learn the laws governing each jurisdiction in which they may work. All income from doula work must be reported; most expenses can be deducted. Keeping records of expenses and income as they occur avoids many headaches.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe records that doulas should keep for their business
2. Identify 3 ways to market one's doula business
3. List business needs for starting a doula practice and discuss ideas for marketing and resources available for small businesses

Birth Doula Skills Workshop Daily Schedule & Topic Agenda (32 hours)

Day 1

Theme: Introduction of key concepts that are foundational to the entire course.

• Welcome to the Workshop: Expectations and Orientation
• The Significance of Birth
• Introduction to the Doula
• DONA International Standards
• Communication Skills - Trauma-informed care, culture, values and beliefs
• Communication Skills - Active, reflective listening & therapeutic relationships
• Current State of Perinatal Care and Health Inequities
• Pregnancy Preparation for Labor and Birth
• Wrap Up - Complete and submit Day 1 knowledge evaluation

Day 2

Theme: Beginning the client relationship and supporting clients during normal labor and birth. This day focuses on both the normal physiology and emotions of each stage and phase of labor and birth with primary focus on the emotional and physical support and comfort techniques for normal childbirth in the first and second stages of labor.

• Start of the day: Q&A
• Beginning Your Practice: Decisions to make before you begin
• Beginning Your Client Relationships: Interviews & prenatal visits
• Prelabor, Early Labor & Established Labor: Physiology & emotional support & comfort measures
• Active Labor & Transition: Physiology & emotional support & comfort measures
• 2nd Stage Pushing: Physiology and emotional support & comfort measures
• Wrap up - Complete and submit Day 2 knowledge evaluation

Day 3

Theme: The first half of the day wraps up the physiology and emotional support of normal labor and birth, concluding with the 3-hour Breastfeeding for Doulas class. The second half of the day moves into the physical and emotional support of childbirth that is longer and more painful than expected.

• Start of the day: Q&A
• 3rd (Placenta) & 4th (Immediate Recovery) Stages: Physiology and emotional support & physical comfort measures
• Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding the Newborn for Birth Doulas: Complete physiology of the breastfeeding dyad and the doula's emotional support and comfort measures for breast/chestfeeding parents from initiation through the first weeks postpartum
• Labor and Birth Variations: Supporting labors that are longer and more painful than expected
• Pain medications and supporting people with an epidural
• Shared Decision-Making and the Art of Supporting Self-Advocacy
• Wrap up - Complete and submit Day 3 knowledge evaluation

Day 4

Theme: When pregnancy and childbirth are medically complex, the doula's emotional, physical and informational/self-advocacy role remains the same even when the context changes. Today's work focuses on supporting our client when childbirth is complicated and when the most common medical supports, tools and interventions are used for complicated pregnancies and births. Integration, synthesis and refinement of the doula's skills and knowledge plus planning for future success will end our day.

• Start of the Day: Q&A
• Pregnancy Complications: Supporting the complicated pregnancy and induction of labor
• Labor and Birth Complications: Supporting the complicated labor and cesarean birth
• Unexpected Events: When a Baby Goes to the NICU and When a Baby Dies
• Postpartum Contact Between the Client and the Birth Doula
• Certification and Doula Business Basics
• Synthesis and Integration of Learned Skills: Role Play + Difficult Situations Using our Code of Ethics to navigate complicated clients, doula drama and hospital politics
• Closing Circle - Complete Day 4 evaluation and DONA International evaluation by 6pm

Birth Doula Skills Workshop Learning Objectives & Key Messages (32 Hours)

Session 1: Welcome to the Workshop: Expectations and Orientation

Key Message: Completing this workshop satisfies three DONA International birth doula certification requirements: the Birth Doula Skills Workshop, the Introduction to Childbirth class, and the Breastfeeding for Doulas class. We honor all participants through an anti-racist curriculum and workshop ground rules that support diversity.

Learning Objectives

1. List the ground rules that support diversity and reflect core doula skills: Respect, listening & confidentiality
2. List the requirements for certificate of completion

Session 2: The Significance of Birth

Key Message: The significance of childbirth is different for every birthing person, whether it is a matter of self-actualization or a matter of personal and cultural survival. The significance of birth to individual people must include an individual's culture and the historical experiences of that culture.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the long-term impact of the birth experience on a birthing person
2. Identify the elements from a person's birth experience that are associated with long-term satisfaction with their birth experience
3. Discuss the doula's potential impact on birth memories

Session 3: Introduction to the Doula

Key Message: The doula contributes to positive birth experiences and improves birth outcomes. While DONA International brought relevance to the doula's role primarily to white people, the history of labor support is ancient and culturally specific. The doula's role is unique and complements the other roles of the perinatal care team.

Learning Objectives

1. Define the role of the doula
2. List the evidence-based benefits of a doula's attendance on birth outcomes

Session 4: DONA International Standards

Key Message: DONA International Standards of Practice (SOP) and Code of Ethics (COE) ensure that the unique and effective role of the doula is preserved. The SOP and COE protect both doulas and clients.

Learning Objectives

1. Review DONA International's Mission and Vision
2. Apply the DONA International Code of Ethics
3. Apply the DONA International Standards of Practice, including limits

Sessions 5 & 6: Communication Skills, Trauma-Informed Care, Culture, Values, and Beliefs

Key Messages: Communication skills for the birth doula are as important as comfort measures and knowledge about labor. The doula's ability to listen carefully without judgment puts the client at ease in expressing thoughts and feelings. This is key to a successful doula practice. Culture plays a role in communication. The ability to communicate respectfully with clients whose culture, values, beliefs, and life experiences differ from the doula is essential. Curiosity, openness, and humility enable a doula to serve clients in a respectful way. The experience of trauma is widespread, harmful, and a costly public health concern. Trauma-informed care is an essential component in effectively communicating with and supporting birthing clients.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the unique role the doula plays in listening to a pregnant person's feelings.
2. Demonstrate the components of active and reflective listening
3. Define culture
4. Define cultural humility
5. Describe how differences in culture, values and beliefs between people can impact the doula's ability to build empathy and communicate effectively
6. Define trauma
7. Define trauma-informed care principles
8. Describe trauma-informed care principles as they relate to pregnant and birthing clients

Session 7: The Current State of Perinatal Care and Health Inequities

Key Message: To support the DONA International Code of Ethics for promoting maternal and infant health, the doula must understand the current context of US maternity care systems that they'll be working within and how typical maternity care practices affect outcomes and statistics.

Session Preamble: This topic describes identity, privilege, and oppression. For white people, talking about white privilege can bring up uncomfortable feelings, no matter where you are on the continuum of learning about this topic. Because we want to create an anti-racist framework for talking about issues impacting health inequities, you are invited to listen and be present with each other. Give non-judgmental space to yourselves and let's be brave in this topic. What that means is: If you are white, I ask that you pay particular attention to uncomfortable feelings and write them down and return to listening. Please be mindful that questions, problem solving and personal statements about one's own non-racism, especially comments about "..not seeing color.." are often the result of pulling away from this topic instead of leaning in and listening and feeling. This kind of behavior, even when there is no intention to harm, is hurtful. And, if you just need to take a breather, please feel free to do so and join us when you're ready.

Learning Objectives

1. Summarize historic and current trends in perinatal care
2. Compare perinatal care and birth outcomes by race and ethnicity
3. Describe how implicit bias and institutionalized racism impacts health through chronic stress
4. Identify recommended changes to care that will improve perinatal and neonatal outcomes
5. List organizations that promote healthy birth outcomes

Session 8: Pregnancy Preparation for Labor and Birth

Key Message: Doulas should have familiarity with body alignment, pelvic mobility and diaphragmatic breathing for optimal core, intra-abdominal pressure and pelvic floor health and function in pregnancy, labor and birth.

Learning Objectives

1. Practice body alignment with neutral pelvis and stacked rib cage
2. Practice hip hinges and squats for building a supple posterior muscle chain and mobile sacrum
3. Practice 360-degree diaphragmatic breathing

Session 9: Beginning Your Practice

Key Message: Before a doula begins their practice, they must make key decisions that will determine how, when and where they will practice as a birth doula.

Learning Objectives

1. Explore practice structures and ways of practicing as a doula
2. Determine a fair and equitable practice fee
3. Describe how doulas get referrals and clients

Session 10: Beginning Your Client Relationships: Interviews & Prenatal Visits

Key Message: Knowing how to interview and conduct prenatal meetings well sets the stage for a trust-filled, transparent and safe working relationship between the client and doula.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the purpose of a client-doula interview
2. Describe the purpose and components of prenatal meetings
3. List what records to keep and how those notes are used and options for record-keeping

Session 11: Prelabor, Early Labor and Established Labor: Physiology and Emotional Support and Comfort Measures

Key Messages: Childbirth is as much an emotional experience as it is a physiological one. Knowledge of the emotional shifts that occur in the phases of labor, the emotional needs of the laboring parent and how to meet those needs is the unique contribution of the doula. The doula's understanding of the "mind-body" connection in labor provides the basis for much of what doulas say and do to minimize stress and disturbance, to create and maintain a calm and peaceful environment and promote labor progress. The doula should become familiar with common labor management practices in their geographic area, and be able to discuss options with their clients, as well as any challenges for the client in getting agreement for some care practices that may be met with resistance from caregiver or hospital.

Learning Objectives

1. Determine the most appropriate emotional and physical comfort techniques to use during prelabor, early labor and established labor
2. Describe the emotional and physical signposts of prelabor,early labor, and established labor
3. Demonstrate comfort measures, breathing techniques and positions to cope with early labor and established labor

Session 12: Accelerating (Medically Active) Labor and Transition: Physiology and Emotional Support and Comfort Measures

Key Messages: Active labor represents both physiological and emotional changes during childbirth. The doula's role in active labor includes recognizing the emotional and physical signposts and helping their client adjust to the changes this phase brings.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the emotional and physical signposts of active labor
2. Describe the doula's emotional and physical support role in active labor
3. Demonstrate comfort measures, breathing techniques and positions to help clients cope with active labor

Session 13: 2nd Stage Pushing Physiology and Emotional Support & Comfort Measures

Key Messages: The pushing (2nd) stage of labor represents both physiological and emotional changes during childbirth. The doula's role during the second stage includes recognizing the emotional and physical signposts and helping their client adjust to the changes of transition and second stage.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the emotional and physical signposts of 2nd stage pushing
2. Describe the doula's emotional and physical support role in 2nd stage pushing
3. Demonstrate comfort measures, breathing techniques and positions to help clients cope with 2nd stage

Session 14: 3rd (Placenta) & 4th (Immediate Recovery) Stages Physiology & Emotional Support & Comfort Measures

Key Messages: While the doula's role remains the same, the circumstances of the third and fourth stages are markedly different, with the baby now joining the family. The doula's role during third and fourth stage remains primarily focused on the birthing parent's emotional and physical needs while parents greet and bond with their baby and support comfort and positioning for initiating breastfeeding.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the emotional and physical signposts of third and fourth stage
2. Discuss the emotional and physical support role of the doula during birth of the placenta and immediate postpartum recovery

Session 15: Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding the Newborn for Birth Doulas

Key Message: Assisting with the initiation of breastfeeding/chestfeeding immediately after birth and supporting parents' breastfeeding/chestfeeding goals and efforts at home in the first weeks after birth are key skills for a birth doula. Doulas must recognize that breastfeeding is the physiological norm that follows birth and has immediate benefits for the newborn and birthing parent. Supporting the practices that promote breastfeeding initiation and encouraging parents to speak their wishes, are part of the doula's role.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the physiological transition from fetus to newborn
2. List normal newborn appearance and procedures
3. List ways to facilitate parent-infant bonding during the immediate postpartum
4. Describe the newborn's cues & reflexes indicating readiness to initiate breastfeeding/chestfeeding
5. List three informational and emotional support activities they can do during pregnancy to support parents' desire to breastfeed
6. Demonstrate several ways to physically support breast/chestfeeding parents during initiation immediately after birth
7. Demonstrate several ways to physically support breast/chestfeeding parents at home within the first weeks postpartum
8. Demonstrate hand-expression on a breast model

Additional required pre-workshop content: This session fulfills the DONA International 3-hour Breastfeeding for Doulas class requirement. Additionally, the pre-workshop asynchronous content includes 4 hours of reading, videos, quizzes and short answer formative assessments to ready the workshop participant for hands-on practice of the doula's emotional, physical and informational breastfeeding support skills through role plays, case studies and large and small group discussion.

Session 16: Labor and Birth Variations: Comfort Measure Skill Practice for longer & more painful than expected labors

Key Message: Labors and births that are longer-than-expected and more-painful-than-expected are among the most common variations clients can experience. Understanding the causes of slower, more painful labor and birth, and the non-invasive comfort measures and positions available to the doula, prepares the doula to help their clients cope.

Learning Objectives

1. Demonstrate positions to facilitate progress in a slower-than-expected labor
2. Demonstrate comfort techniques to address a more-painful-than-expected labor
3. Describe the medical supports available for prodromal labor

Session 17: Pain Medications and Supporting People with an Epidural

Key Message: Describe the role of pharmacological relief for pain, and types of pain medications available to people in various phases of labor.

Learning Objectives

1. Match specific labor circumstances with the appropriate pain medication
2. Describe how the doula supports people using a variety of pain medications
3. Demonstrate the epidural rollover

Session 18: Shared Decision-Making and the Art of Supporting Self-Advocacy

Key Message: Supporting a client's self-advocacy, agency and self-determination during medical decision making is one of the most misinterpreted aspects of a birth doula's work. Successfully supporting a person's self-advocacy and informational needs overlaps significantly with all the components of successful emotional support: Reflective listening, understanding our clients' values, facilitating communication with providers and supporting our clients' decisions.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the role and components of the doula's advocacy and informational support during prenatal decisions when the care provider is not present
2. Describe the role and components of the doula's advocacy and informational support during labor and birth, at the bedside, when the caregiver is present

Session 19: Pregnancy Complication: Supporting the Complicated Pregnancy and Induction of Labor

Key Message: Medical conditions may arise during pregnancy, even for healthy pregnant people, that require an induction of labor. Understanding the unique challenges of the complications of pregnancy and induction of labor prepares the doula to support their clients well.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify typical emotions that may come up for clients when facing a complication of pregnancy
2. List sources of information where the doula can go to find research & evidence-based information on complications of pregnancy
3. List the components of a typical labor induction
4. Describe the three key touchpoints of a doula's support during an induced labor

Session 20: Supporting Medically Complicated Childbirth & Cesarean Birth

Key Message: Medical conditions can arise during labor and birth that requires using medical interventions, supports and tools for the healthiest outcomes for birthing parents and babies. Understanding the unique challenges of complicated labors and births prepares the doula to support their clients well.

Learning Objectives

1. Match typical medical interventions to specific medical complications
2. Describe the unique challenges in supporting parents facing complications during labor and birth
3. Describe how a doula provides emotional and physical support during a cesarean birth

Session 21: Unexpected Events: When a Baby Goes to the NICU and When a Baby Dies

Key Message: The doula's role when a baby goes to the NICU or dies is the same as in any other type of birth: to provide emotional, physical, and informational support. The doula doesn't have to 'know what to do' (in fact, doulas can't know in advance what will be needed), they need to be present and support what is needed in the moment.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the typical emotions of families experiencing a fetal demise, stillbirth or death of a baby soon after birth
2. Identify possible resources for families and themselves after an unexpected event

Session 22: Postpartum Contact Between the Client and the Birth Doula

Key Message: Postpartum visits are a key role of the doula, to assess the family's well-being and transition into active parenthood, to bring closure to the relationship and to process the emotional and physical experience of giving birth, if the family wishes to do so.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the purpose and components of the postpartum visits
2. Demonstrate how to process the birth experience with a client
3. Describe the importance of providing positive and encouraging messages to parents
4. Differentiate between the signs and symptoms of postpartum blues and more serious postpartum mood disorders
5. Identify at least two situations which require a referral to an agency or medical professional
6. Discuss the importance of bringing closure to the doula-client relationship

Session 23: Certification and Doula Business Basics

Key Message: Certification indicates that the doula has achieved a meaningful level of accomplishment and reassures clients and maternity care professionals that the certified doula has demonstrated their commitment to comply with the DONA International Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics. The certification process is designed to provide further education and experience beyond the workshop, with an opportunity for encouragement and feedback from experienced doulas.

Working effectively and successfully as doulas for many years relies on building personal and professional habits of success. Doing this work as a doula can make you a better person in all aspects of life.

Learning Objectives

1. List group and individual benefits of certification
2. Develop strategies for achieving certification
3. Describe common attributes and attitudes of successful, effective doulas
4. Evaluate how to do this work comfortably, competently and successfully

Session 24: Synthesis and Integration of Learned Skills

Key Message: As a new doula, it is normal to feel unsure about what to do and when to do it. In this session, doulas will collaborate in small groups to brainstorm and model actions for different labor situations. The opportunity for practice and feedback is intended to enhance the doula's confidence before they experience a real labor situation.

Learning Objectives

1. Demonstrate positions that improve comfort and/or enhance labor progress
2. Demonstrate comfort measures
3. Demonstrate competence in labor support in a role play situation
4. Demonstrate the Take Charge Routine
5. Demonstrate the techniques to support a person through the pushing phase

Washington State Department of Health Approved Training Program Requirements

The Kim James DONA International-approved Birth Doula Skills Workshop curriculum meets the requirements for Washington State Department of Health (WAC 246-835-020) approved birth doula training programs.

(a) Role of a birth doula:

• History of birth work
  • History of OBGYN field
  • Implications of whiteness and white supremacy during professionalization
  • Long-term impact of childbirth
  • The role of the doula
• Scope of work
  • Pre-workshop Standards of Practice & Code of Ethics 60 minute pre-class lesson
  • Review Scope of Practice
  • Review DONA International advocacy scope
• individual practice and skill set,
  • Pre-workshop Standards of Practice & Code of Ethics pre-workshop lesson
  • DONA International Manual Standards of Practice & Code of Ethics
• when and how to refer out;
  • Graciously referring to another doula who will be a better fit
  • DONA International Manual Standards of Practice & Code of Ethics

(b) Prenatal and birth care: Prenatal wellness and preparing for birth including, but not limited to,

• nutrition
  • Pregnancy Health and Readiness
  • Nutrition
  • Making healthy lifestyle choices
• movement
  • Body alignment and body mechanics,
  • Exercise
• mental health
  • Making healthy lifestyle choices
• spiritual wellness
• relationship support
• education, and resources;
  • Providing Resources & Referrals
• physiology of labor and birth;
  • Labor and Birth
• comfort measures & coping techniques and pain management
  • Prelabor, Early Labor & Established Labor: Physiology and Emotional Support & Comfort Measures
  • Active Labor & Transition: Physiology and Emotional Support and Comfort Measures
  • 2nd Stage Pushing Physiology and Emotional Support & Comfort Measures
  • 3rd (Placenta) & 4th (Immediate Recovery) Physiology & Emotional Support & Comfort Measures
  • Labor and Birth Variations: Comfort Measure Skill Practice for longer & more painful than expected labors
  • Pain Medications and Supporting People with an Epidural
• common medical terminology and interventions
  • Pregnancy Complications and Induction of Labor
  • Supporting Medically Complicated Childbirth & Cesarean Birth
• creating a birth plan
  • Birth Plans

(c) Postpartum care:

• Lactation and newborn feeding techniques
  • Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding the Newborn
• newborn care
  • Postpartum Contact Between Client and the Doula
• family integration and bonding
  • Assess their needs - emotional, physical, psychosocial, material
• healing and comfort measures
  • Assess their needs - emotional, physical, psychosocial, material
• postpartum mood and anxiety disorders
  • Parents' emotional and mental health
• self and community care
  • Assess their needs - emotional, physical, psychosocial, material
  • Social support, counseling services
• grief
  • Unexpected Events: When a Baby Goes to the NICU and When A Baby Dies
  • Processing disappointing or traumatic events

(d) Communication and interpersonal skills:

• Collaboration with birth team
  • Shared Decision-Making and the Art of Supporting Self-Advocacy
  • Direct Client Advocacy
  • Comparison of the roles of different caregivers in providing emotional support and physical comfort during the birth experience
• emotional intelligence and sensitivity
  • Trauma-informed care: The Six Principles
• active listening
  • Active and Reflective Listening Skills
• informed consent and decision making
  • Shared Decision-Making and the Art of Supporting Self-Advocacy
  • Equity in Informed Consent/ Informed Decision Making
• advocacy
  • Advocacy with complex families
  • Advocacy during complex medical situations
  • Shared Decision-Making and the Art of Supporting Self-Advocacy
  • Direct Client Advocacy
• accessible and affirming language;
  • Cultural Humility
  • Culturally respectful communication skills
• community support networks
  • Community-based resources and referrals

(e) Doula safety and self-care:

• Boundaries with clients,
  • Setting your boundaries with clients
  • How to make a proper referral
• capacity and burn out
  • Decisions to make now to make this work sustainable and safe for you
  • Healthy lifestyles
  • Physical, mental, emotional & spiritual practices
• emotional wellness practices such as mindfulness, meditation, reiki, and prayer, networking, and community building
  • Decisions to make now to make this work sustainable and safe for you
  • Physical, mental, emotional & spiritual practices

(f) Birth justice and advocacy:

• LGBTQ+/gender inclusive care
  • Inclusive language
  • Dominant Culture & Oppression
• black and indigenous perinatal health crisis,
  • The Current State of Perinatal Care, Health Inequities and Equity-Mindedness in Healthcare
  • Implicit bias and institutionalized racism
  • Maternity and infant health outcomes by race and ethnicity
• medical racism and advocacy
  • 60-minute Anti-Racist, Anti Oppression pre-workshop module
  • Sims & experimentation - the genesis of medical racism in the US

Specific questions about this curriculum should be directed to:

Kim James, CD/BDT(DONA), ICCE, LCCE, CLE, NA-C

• DONA International-Approved Birth Doula Skills Workshop Trainer
• Washington State Department of Health-Approved Birth Doula Training Program
• kim@kimjames.net
• 206-948-0033