Course Overview

Module 1 – Your Doula Mindset

  • History of Doulas;
  • Supporting all women, no matter how they birth.
  • Knowing your what gives you your how;
  • Self-nurturing and healing to prevent burnout;
  • Your mindset reflects your experiences;
  • Identifying and releasing limiting beliefs;
  • Dealing with stress and anxiety;
  • Alternative therapies;
  • Time Management;
  • Problem solving;
  • Effective Communication;
  • Decluttering;
  • Being assertive – saying no and not feeling guilty;

Module 2 – Business Savvy Doula

  • Setting up your doula business, insurances and contracts;
  • What is your goal, your mission and your vision?
  • It’s not your business what others think;
  • Connecting with potential clients – your features and benefits;
  • Building rapport and trust;
  • Saying NO and not feeling guilty;
  • Branding;
  • Marketing and advertising tricks;
  • Social media;
  • Mapping out your business plan;
  • Setting boundaries as a doula and business woman;
  • Setting up and maintaining your resource library;
  • Understanding how to look for and dissect research;
  • Cross referrals and collaborating with other professionals;
  • Business templates and contracts;
  • Affiliate program for Back to Basics Birthing online course;
  • 12-month Doula Training Academy Membership;
  • Mentoring, Debriefing & Buddy program;
  • Continued education through regular webinars and meetups.

Module 3 – Anatomy & Physiology of Birth

  • Comprehensive Childbirth Education to ensure the correct information is given to your clients during discussions;
  • Anatomy & Physiology of the pregnant body and hormones.
  • Hormonal Physiology of labour and birth;

Module 4 – Rights of Childbearing Women

  • Making the rights choices;
  • BRAIN Techniques;
  • Governing Bodies in Australia for Resources;
  • Choosing a Care Provider;
  • Statistics and Resources;
  • Policies, Procedures and Guidelines;
  • Birthrights;
  • Birth Plans;
  • The Informed Consent Process;
  • Advocacy;
  • Non-judgemental Continuity of Care;
  • Your role versus the role of the midwife.

Module 5 – Hypnobirthing Australia Supportive Caregiver

  • Hypnobirthing Australia Supportive Caregiver training.
  • Understanding the mind / body connection;
  • Fear release techniques;
  • Conditioning the mind for a positive, calm birth by helping women to relax more, fear less, let go of tension and trust their body and their baby.

Module 6 – Your Doula Toolkit

  • Breathing techniques;
  • What’s in your doula bag – your Mary Poppins bag of tricks?
  • The 5 Senses of Birth;
  • Massage – muscles, joints and ligaments of the pelvis;
  • Acupressure during pregnancy, labour, birth and beyond;
  • Using essential oils safely;
  • The power behind using Affirmations;
  • The underutilised technique of Visualisation;
  • Music, meditations and hypnosis;
  • What’s in your doula bag – your Mary Poppins bag of tricks?
  • Orgasmic Birth;
  • Setting up the environment as a safe, comfortable birth space for mother and newborn baby.

Module 7 – Pelvic Pathways – Optimal Positioning

  • Understanding how the fascia, ligaments and pelvis work together for baby to be in an ideal position;
  • Preparing the body to prevent problems not fix them;
  • Effective techniques using a rebozo or cloth;
  • Optimum positioning of baby;
  • Where is baby rather than what is happening to the cervix;
  • Helping to support the progress of labour.

Module 8 – Physiological Birth, Inductions and Interventions

  • What are interventions and how can a couple avoid them?
  • Medical versus natural induction methods & resources;
  • Medical versus natural pain relief options & resources;
  • Working with other health professionals including medical caregivers and sifting through policies and procedures of hospitals.

Module 9 – Variations of Birth

  • Supporting women through a change of circumstances;
  • Working with VBAC women and their partners, including evidence-based information and resources;
  • Birth settings – home, hospital, birthing centre, transfers.

Module 10 – Interventions

  • Knowledge is Power;
  • Medical Induction Methods;
  • Medical Pain Relief;
  • Natural Induction Methods;
  • Natural Pain Relief.

Module 11 – Caesarean Births

  • Supporting women leading up to, during and after caesarean birth;
  • Maternal Assisted caesareans;
  • Gentle, natural caesareans;
  • Encouraging and supporting a labour caesarean;
  • Healing after caesarean.

Module 12 – Supporting VBAC clients

  • The myths, the evidence and the support;
  • Helping a couple to choose a VBAC supportive caregiver;
  • Preparing for a VBAC.

Module 13 – Stillbirth & Bereaved Parents

  • Supporting couples through loss;
  • Resources;
  • Your own self-care and debriefing.

Module 14 – Self-care strategies to help manage trauma

  • Seeking out help and debriefing after each birth;
  • Compassionate Boundaries;
  • It’s not your birth;
  • Obstetric violence.

Module 15 – Breastfeeding Support

  • Signs baby is ready to feed;
  • Positioning and attachment principles;
  • Signs of successful feeding.

Module 16 – Postpartum Support

  • The first hour after birth;
  • Emotional support;
  • Practical skills;
  • Local resources.

Module 17 – Mother Blessings, Rituals & Cultural Appropriation

  • Cultural Appropriation issues;
  • Honouring and celebrating a woman’s journey into motherhood;
  • Emotional, physical, mental and spiritual growth;
  • Discussing different cultures and rituals.
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