35860888 - beautiful pregnant woman is looking at the camera. happy pregnant women are talking together at antenatal class at the hospital on background.

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)

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
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
Unit 11 Trauma-Informed Care
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 Terminology Review
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 Terminology Review #2
Module 6 Relaxation Techniques
Unit 1 Research assignment #4 Elective Choice
Unit 2 The importance of relaxation
Unit 3 Relaxation techniques before labor
Unit 4 A Doula Guided Progressive Relaxation Exercise
Unit 5 Other forms of relaxation
Unit 6 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
Module 10 Madriella Birth Doula Certification Examination
Unit 1 Birth Doula Certification Exam