A Madriella Birth Doula is a birth support specialist that is trained in multiple areas, allowing her to provide emotional, physical, and informational support to a mother who is expecting, is experiencing labor, or has recently given birth. Our Doulas are also trained in partner support because we recognize that a new baby has an impact on the entire family.
The Madriella Doula certification program is designed to fully prepare you to serve women in a variety of Birth settings, from assisted home births to birthing centers and hospitals.
To be certified as a Madriella Birth Doula you need to pass the online certification examination that is based on the material in this curriculum. All certification candidates must be over the age of 18 and must be physically able to perform the hands-on comfort measures demonstrated in the course. An internet connection is required to watch the video clips.
Course Prerequisite: None
Course Requirements:
Textbook for course (see reading list)
A working Internet connection
A computer or mobile device capable of:
a) Accessing the Internet
b) Uploading a written assignment/digital photo
c) Posting/reading messages in the forum
d) A Birth Ball (exercise ball)
Active Participation in the forum is required, completion of this course gives you the skills and certification to serve at the side of a family as they experience pregnancy, and labor/birth. This is wonderful preparation for those who choose to serve in a volunteer role, but does not cover how to create a volunteer program, nor how to operate a business as a Birth Doula. We cover those things in the Professional Development program.
| Module 1 | Introduction to the Doula Program |
| Unit 1 | Welcome! |
| Unit 2 | What is a Doula? |
| Unit 3 | How Doulas Operate |
| Unit 4 | Basic Doula Practice |
| Unit 5 | Coaching the Birth Team |
| Unit 6 | Doula Certification and Licenses |
| Unit 7 | Research assignment #1 Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering |
| Unit 8 | Assignment Survey |
| Module 2 | The basics of supporting As a Madriella Doula |
| Unit 1 | The Five Facets of Support - Introduction |
| Unit 2 | Facet 1 |
| Unit 3 | The Four Steps of Active Listening |
| Unit 4 | Facet 2 |
| Unit 5 | Facet 3 |
| Unit 6 | Facet 4 |
| Unit 7 | Facet 5 |
| Unit 8 | Cites and Quiz |
| Unit 9 | The Four Types of Births |
| Unit 10 | Terminology Assignment |
| Module 3 | Birth prep and exercises at home |
| Unit 1 | The Benefits of Preparedness |
| Unit 2 | Positions for the birth |
| Unit 3 | Positioning in the First Stage of Labor |
| Unit 4 | Positioning in the Second Stage of Labor |
| Unit 5 | Rehearsing Birth poses |
| Unit 6 | Dealing with Aches and Pains |
| Unit 7 | Pain Relieving Excercises |
| Unit 8 | Relaxation exercises |
| Unit 9 | Identifying the Pelvic Floor muscles |
| Unit 10 | Teaching how to, the technique and coaching |
| Unit 11 | Summary, Cites and Quiz |
| Unit 12 | Practical Assignment #1 Exercises at home |
| Unit 13 | Research assignment #2 The Birth Partner |
| Module 4 | Birth Preferences |
| Unit 1 | Assignment Survey |
| Unit 2 | Research Assignment - Hospital Tour |
| Unit 3 | The Doulas Role in writing the Birth Plan |
| Unit 4 | Possible Options for Birth Plans |
| Unit 5 | The Birth Plan / Birth Preferences Document |
| Module 5 | The Physiology of Birth |
| Unit 1 | Why Doulas must study the Physiology of Birth |
| Unit 2 | The Bony Pelvis |
| Unit 3 | The Soft Pelvis |
| Unit 4 | The Bishop Score |
| Unit 5 | Body Changes before labor |
| Unit 6 | Research assignment #3 The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding |
| Unit 7 | Assignment Survey |
| Module 6 | Relaxation Techniques |
| Unit 1 | Research assignment #4 Elective Choice |
| Unit 2 | Assignment Survey |
| Unit 3 | The importance of relaxation |
| Unit 4 | Relaxation techniques before labor |
| Unit 5 | A Doula Guided Progressive Relaxation Exercise |
| Unit 6 | Other forms of relaxation |
| Unit 7 | Summary & Unit Quiz |
| Module 7 | Hospital Procedures and Protocols |
| Unit 1 | Introduction |
| Unit 2 | The commonality of uncommonality & Complications |
| Unit 3 | Admission procedures |
| Unit 4 | The various presentations |
| Unit 5 | Preparation for delivery |
| Unit 6 | Amniotomy |
| Unit 7 | Delivery Procedures |
| Unit 8 | Third Stage of Labor |
| Unit 9 | More Third Stage considerations |
| Unit 10 | The Cesarean Section Birth and the Doula |
| Unit 11 | Summary, Cites and Module Quiz |
| Module 8 | The Doula in the Birthing Space |
| Unit 1 | Different women, different births |
| Unit 2 | Physiological reasons for pain during birth |
| Unit 3 | The Doula in the Hospital |
| Unit 4 | Prodromal Labor |
| Unit 5 | Active Labor - (Latent Phase) Stage 1 |
| Unit 6 | Active Labor (Transition Phase) Stage 1 |
| Unit 7 | Birth (Latent Phase) Stage 2 |
| Unit 8 | The Doula’s role during Birth (Latent Phase) Stage 2 |
| Unit 9 | Crowning and Birth (Active Phase) Stage 2 |
| Unit 10 | Delivery of the Placenta (Afterbirth) Stage 3 |
| Unit 11 | Summary and Quiz |
| Module 9 | The Doula after the birth |
| Unit 1 | The need for Postpartum Support |
| Unit 2 | Lochia |
| Unit 3 | Vaginal trauma |
| Unit 4 | Perenium Soreness |
| Unit 5 | The breasts after birth |
| Unit 6 | Breastfeeding support |
| Unit 7 | Research assignment - Elective Choice |
| Unit 8 | Assignment Survey |
| Module 10 | Madriella Birth Doula Certification Examination |
| Unit 1 | Birth Doula Certification Exam |