As a certified doula, there are some general respectable tips you’ll need to successfully support families. Respectable, top tips for doulas are like general respectable tips but vary a bit. After all, birth support is unique. At the International Doula Institute, we strive to ensure our doulas are prepared to work as soon as they […]
Should Doulas Become a Childbirth Educator?
As a certified doula, you might wonder if you should also become a childbirth educator. After all, both sort of go hand in hand. You might also be wondering if you need to become a childbirth educator to teach classes. After all, don’t doulas have extensive training in childbirth? While not all doulas become childbirth […]
Postpartum Doulas and Safe Sleep – No Car Seats and Bouncers!
As postpartum doulas, our role is to support parents during the early days and weeks after welcoming a new baby. One big component of that is helping parents maximize rest. This can be done when we provide newborn care as well as by modeling sleep techniques, so parents get rest between your visits. Whenever we […]
What is Shoulder Dystocia? – What Doulas Need to Know
As certified birth doulas, you are not a medical provider performing clinical tasks. However, you are supporting families who may need medical care. This makes it important to understand potential medical situations such as shoulder dystocia. Though rare, shoulder dystocia is something many birth attendants will see at least once if they attend enough births […]
Early Touch and Infant Brain Development – What Doulas Should Know
As doulas, our role is to support families during pregnancy, birth, and in the postpartum period. Part of that support is providing evidence-based education and support for families. One important part of early infant development is early touch with caregivers. Early touch plays a role in infant brain development. In fact, researchers from Nationwide Children’s […]
Become a Doula Today! As the Kids Head Back to School, You Can Learn Too!
As summer slips away and the kids are headed back to school, you might find yourself with a little more time on your hands. This makes now the perfect time to do something for YOU! You can become a doula, and you can start today. Why now? As a busy parent, I know back to […]