Some medical facilities limit access to birthing spaces. The best way to assess what policies are in place for a given facility is to directly contact the manager of the labor and delivery unit of that facility ahead of time.
To distinguish between contributing members of the birth team and lay persons, some facilities require documentation as proof that a doula will be contributing to the birthing experience.
In some states, a person may need to complete a short doula training as one of the requirements to receive Medicaid funding for birth doula services.
For these reasons, we offer a 16-hour training course and provide an official document upon completion that can be provided to birth locations, government entities, or anyone else who requires it.
If you intend to complete the full Birth Doula Certification, this Birth Doula Foundational Training may not be necessary, as it is part of the full program. Please make contact with the hospital and/or primary care provider where your client(s) plan to attend a birth to see if a letter of enrollment in a doula certification program will meet the requirements to attend a birth in the capacity of a doula.
Requirements
If you plan to complete the Birth Doula Foundations and will need the document, please notify your trainer at the beginning of your training. This will allow you to prioritize your study schedule to the adjusted requirements. Those requirements are listed below:
Read and Sign:
- Scope and Standards of Practice
- Code of Ethics
- Acknowledgment Form (sign and return)
Read the Following:
- All of Doula Foundations (not assignments or supplemental links)
- The following sections from Childbirth Course
- The following section from Doula Actions Course
Complete the Following Assignments:
- Doula Foundations
- Childbirth Course
- Doula Actions
- Birth Packet
