Birth Coach Method Doula Training Syllabus

Doula & Birth Support Certification Syllabus

Program Overview

This training provides a comprehensive foundation in birth support, combining evidence-based knowledge, practical skills, and transformational coaching methodologies for both birth and initial postpartum support. The program includes online coursework, live mentorship, and hands-on practice to prepare participants for professional doula practice.

A. Online Course Component

Total: 15 Classes | 60 Hours

Course Modules

Module 1: Foundations of Birth Support

• Introduction to Birth Support: Historical and Cultural Perspectives

Module 2: Physiology and Anatomy of Birth

• Stages and Phases of Labor

Module 3: Prenatal Care and Common Complications

Module 4: Labor Support during the Early Phase – Theory and Practice

Module 5: Labor Support during the Early Phase – Theory and Practice

Module 6: Labor Support during the Transition Phase- Theory and Practice

Module 7: Labor Support during the Second Stage – Theory and Practice

Module 8: Medical Context of Birth

• Common Medical Interventions in Labor I
• Common Medical Interventions in Labor II

Module 9: Relational & Emotional Dynamics

• Relationships in Labor and Delivery

Module 10: Postpartum Care

• The Newborn: Birth Through Early Postnatal Period
• The Postpartum Mother: Recovery and Support

Module 11: Feeding & Early Parenting

• Breastfeeding Basics

Module 12: Business Development

• Establishing Your Doula Practice:
  • Certification
  • Business license
  • Liability insurance
  • Client contract
  • Reimbursement – NPI, Medi-Cal, Kaiser, Carrot, and more

B. Live Mentorship Sessions

Total: 6 Sessions | 18 Hours

These live, interactive sessions foster a sense of community while offering case-based learning, hands-on coaching practice, and real-time mentorship. Their purpose is to support students in translating theoretical knowledge into confident, effective application within their doula practice.

Session Topics

• • Agents, Roles, and Approaches in Birth Support
  • Historical, Contemporary, and Lifestyle Challenges Faced by Expectant Individuals
  • Pre-Labor Signs and Membrane Rupture
  • Communication Strategies Before Arriving at Client Homes
  • Fetal Presentations and Positions: Practical Doula Support
  • Assessing and Promoting Labor Progress
  • Supporting Clients in Early Labor
  • Labor Induction: Prevention and Informed Decision-Making
  • Medical Induction Methods and Alternatives
  • Supporting Clients During Active Labor
  • Supporting Clients During the Transition Phase
  • Scenario-Based Practice
  • Informed Consent in Birth Settings
  • Supporting Clients During the Second Stage of Delivery
  • Introduction to Perinatal Coaching
  • The Doula Practice A–Z (Business, Liability Insurance, Reimbursement, and More)
  • Guest Lecture: Labor & Delivery Nurse – Collaboration and Relationships in L&D

 

C. Hands-On In-Person Workshops

Total: 2 Workshops | 10 Hours

Workshop Focus

• Practice of Labor Support Techniques
• Comfort Measures for Each Stage of Labor, integrating support props: Physio ball, Peanut ball, Rebozo, Massage tools, TENS unit, and others. 
• Hands-on Skill Building (Positioning, Movement, Touch, and Partner Support)
• Integration of Verbal Coaching and Physical Support Tools

D. Practical Experience (Clinical Integration)

Hands-On Client Experience with Professional Mentorship

As part of the certification pathway, a structured matching program is offered in collaboration with medical birth practitioners, bridging training and real-world practice by facilitating students’ placement with their first clients in a guided, supportive environment that includes on-site mentorship from participating providers.

Program Components

• Matching up to two clients to support continuity of care from prenatal through postpartum
• Collaboration with affiliated medical birth providers (e.g., L&D nurses, midwives, physicians)
• On-site mentorship and observational learning within clinical and birth settings

Learning Objectives

• Apply theoretical knowledge and practical skills in real-life birth scenarios
• Develop confidence in providing continuous labor support
• Practice communication and collaboration within interdisciplinary care teams
• Strengthen professional identity and scope of practice as a doula

Overall Learning Outcomes

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the physiology of birth
• Provide informed, evidence-based labor support
• Apply practical comfort measures and labor techniques
• Support informed decision-making and client autonomy while maintaining collaboration with medical teams 
• Support new parents dueing the initial postpartum period
• Integrate coaching strategies into birth support practice
• Establish and manage a professional doula business

Program Structure Summary

• Online Classes: 60 hours
• Live Mentorship: 18 hours
• Hands-On Workshops: 10 hours
• Practical Experience: supporting 2 persons prenatally, throughout their birth, and in the PP period.