When looking to turn your passion into a meaningful path, you want to make an informed decision. How long does it take to become a doula? What training do you need?
You might be surprised by how quickly you can become a doula. However, you might also be surprised by how long it can take to turn it into your fulltime passion.
While every doula’s experience varies, at the International Doula Institute we’ve helped thousands of doulas globally jump into a new path. With that information, as well as being successful expert doulas ourselves, we can help you learn how long it takes to jump into a new path.
What is A Doula?
First, if you’re reading this article, chances are you mostly know what a doula is. However, did you know that the definition of a doula can vary organization to organization? Or even in different communities.
At the International Doula Institute (IDI) we define a doula as:
“A support person trained in the needs of the family during pregnancy and childbirth. The doula offers non-judgmental support, guidance, evidence-based education and practical hands-on support during childbirth including comfort measures.”
While the specifics can vary in different communities, a doula is a non-medical support before, during and after birth. They are trained in the needs of not just the birthing person but the whole family unit.
How Long Does It Take To Become a Doula?
How long does it take to become a doula? That can vary depending on many factors. What makes IDI unique is that we designed our program with you, yes you, in mind. We know that everyone’s life is unique. So, we made a training that can fit into any schedule with payment options that can fit into nearly any budget.
Our unique, but comprehensive, go at your own pace program can be completed in as little as six weeks. However, students are all given a full year to complete training with the option to apply for an extension as needed.
So, you can become a doula in as little as six weeks. But you can also take over a year to become a doula depending on your time and schedule.
How Long Does It Take To Support Your First Family?
While this varies person to person, at IDI we are committed to helping you succeed in your new path. While we cannot guarantee you will find families, we can provide you with the knowledge and tools to build your network.
Our comprehensive training includes information about emotional intelligence, communication, networking, and the basics of how to find and support families. However, we also provide information about what doula agencies are, so you have the option to look into collaborating with them.
By networking as soon as you begin training, you could have a new path in just a couple months. Others take more time. But either way, IDI provides you with information and peer support in our student group to get yourself out there and start serving as a doula.
Can Someone Really Become a New Doula In Under a Year?
Absolutely! While IDI cannot guarantee you will find families to support immediately, many of our students have. You get out of your doula journey what you put in. If you follow the networking information in our course, connect with the birthing community in your area, and work hard, it is possible to become an active doula in under a year.
How long does it take to become a doula? It can vary but you can do it in a couple months to a couple years. Every community and population vary but what we do know for sure is that parents benefit from continuous labor support.
There will always be families welcoming babies. With the right training and a great work commitment, you can begin serving as a doula fairly quickly. You can get started today and by this time next year, you just might have a new path!
Author: Aliza Juliette Bancoff
Aliza Juliette Bancoff is a well-known doula and doula trainer who has been providing doula services to families for over a decade. She is the founder of Main Line Doulas, a doula group providing doula support in the great Philadelphia area for the last decade, the International Doula Institute, which provides online doula training and lactation training and certification programs and the International Breastfeeding Institute which provides lactation training and certification. She is the co-founder of United Birth, a company devoted to increasing access to doulas across the country to make the perinatal time safer both physically and emotionally. “Every birthing person deserves access to quality doula support. And we are working to make that a reality across the country. The work we are doing to get doulas to every birthing person will decrease the black infant and maternal mortality rate significantly by 2030.” Says Bancoff. Aliza is known for her compassionate and empowering approach to doula work, and she has been featured in numerous media outlets, including United Nations Maternal Health Report, Parent Magazine, CafeMom, theBump and many more. Aliza's journey into doula work began when she gave birth to her first child and felt a strong calling...