Commitments are Mondays and Tuesdays 5:30-8:30 PM and in-person sessions are full 10-hour days held either Fridays, Saturdays and/or Sundays over the course of 6-8 weeks.

Investment | $2,600
Format | hybrid: Live/Zoom & In Person Skills Day(s)

OHA-Approved Birth Doula Training

This expanded and comprehensive course is 120-hours of live instruction, in-person skills, and self-study. We do not brush over topics, like most 28-40 hour trainings, we welcome fruitful discussions, inquiries, and provide resources to further your understanding. Learning can be uncomfortable, and some topics can feel heavy. This is intentional and part of the process to expand our perspectives and prepare you to work with diverse humans.

What is covered in our training:

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DTC provides a limited number of partial in-house scholarships. This scholarships are funded by DTC Instructors. Other scholarships may be available through community funds, WorkSource, or available grants. Payment plans are always available.

Foundational Birth Doula Training Topics:

  • Anatomy & Physiology: Pregnancy, Birth, Postpartum & Neonatal Transition

  • Comfort Measures Hand-On Skills

  • Common Medical Procedures & Interventions

  • Expected and Unexpected Medical Complexities

  • Physiology of Cesarean Birth and Relative Transitions

  • Perinatal Loss & Bereavement Support*

  • Emotional & Psychosocial Support

  • Birth Doula Scope of Practice, Standards of Practice, and Basic Ethical Principles

  • Conflict Identification, Problem Solving & Resolution*

  • Cross-Cultural Communications*

  • Birth Plans

  • Self Advocacy and Client Empowerment Techniques

  • Infant Feeding (breast and bottle feeding)

  • Newborn Care & Postpartum Support

  • Perinatal Mental Health*

  • Parenting Dynamics*

Enhanced Topics

  • Client Connections and Client-Centered Approaches

  • Self Maintenance (care) for Doulas, including Modalities of Stress Relief

  • Imposter Syndrome & Intuition

  • Doula Safety

  • Self-Assessments

  • Cultural Competency

  • Anthropology of Birth

  • Maternal and Infant Mortality Statistics

  • Bias & Social Determinants of Health

  • Racism and Discrimination in Healthcare Settings

  • Social and Reproductive Justice

  • Inter-professional Collaboration

  • Community of Practice

  • Trauma-Informed Care in partnership with Southern Oregon Success

  • Oral Health Training (OHA resource)

Doula Business & THW Specific Topics:

  • Birthing your Doula Business

  • THW Doula Application, Billing and Contracting

  • Confidentiality & HIPAA Compliance for THW Doulas

  • Client Systems & Documentation for Doulas

What Students Are Saying:

“The knowledge gained from this course and the amount of information taught was the most valuable. I don’t feel I would have received this much education on social determinants of health, culture, and basic maternal and fetal health in any other course.”

— 2024 Spring Cohort Student

“Oh my gosh, it's hard to choose, but probably the hands-on techniques/counter pressure, the bereavement and the business. There was so much information packed in to this class, it was so much more than I was expecting.”

— 2024 Spring Cohort Student

“All of the knowledge, being able to be in person and have those serious conversations but feeling safe to do so. Feeling secure through this course was so helpful, all the instructors really helped you feel like you belonged and that your questions were valid.”

— 2023 Spring Cohort Student

“In person classes were my favorite! Role playing and examples of potential situations were exceptionally helpful!”

— 2022 Fall Cohort Student