Program Outline:
Introduction: Foundations of Doula Practice
This introductory module establishes the historical, cultural, and professional foundations of contemporary doula care. Students explore the evolution of maternity care, the emergence of the modern doula profession, and the evidence supporting continuous labor support. Emphasis is placed on understanding professional scope of practice, ethical responsibilities, trauma-informed and culturally responsive care, and the doula’s role in supporting communication, advocacy, and shared decision-making. This module provides the framework for practicing as a knowledgeable, collaborative, and client-centered birth professional.
Module 1: Pregnancy Physiology and Prenatal Care
This module provides a comprehensive understanding of the physiological changes of pregnancy and the foundations of effective prenatal support. Students learn how to educate families, prepare individualized birth plans, encourage optimal fetal positioning, and support emotional, mental, and practical preparation for childbirth. At Birth Coach Method™, the prenatal period is viewed as the foundation for building trust, establishing rapport, and developing the coaching relationship that supports confidence and informed decision-making throughout pregnancy and birth.
Module 2: Physiology of Childbirth and Childbirth Education Fundamentals
This module explores the physiology of childbirth and the biological processes that support normal labor. Students develop a clear understanding of contraction patterns, cervical dilation, effacement, and the signs of labor progress while learning how to translate physiological knowledge into meaningful childbirth education. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the Fear–Tension–Pain response and its influence on coping and labor progress, preparing students to educate and coach clients with confidence throughout labor.
Module 3: Labor Stages and Phases
This module focuses on recognizing the characteristics, physical signs, and emotional experiences associated with each stage and phase of labor. Students learn to anticipate changing support needs as labor progresses while developing the observational skills necessary to provide timely, individualized care. Emphasis is placed on the doula’s role in promoting confidence, effective coping, emotional reassurance, and physiological support throughout labor.
Module 4: Comfort Measures and Labor Support Techniques During Early Labor
This module introduces evidence-informed comfort measures appropriate for the early phase of labor. Students learn how to assess the goals of early labor support, determine when to provide in-home support and when to transition to the birth setting, and apply positioning, movement, communication, and emotional support strategies that encourage comfort, confidence, and physiological labor progress. Techniques are taught within the context of maternal physiology and fetal positioning.
Module 5: Comfort Measures and Labor Support Techniques During Active Labor
This module examines the physiological changes of active labor and the increasing support needs of birthing individuals. Students learn to adapt labor support techniques as contractions intensify while using movement, hydrotherapy, vocalization, positioning, and coaching strategies to promote coping, fetal rotation, engagement, descent, and efficient labor progress. Particular emphasis is placed on supporting clients through moments of uncertainty, fatigue, and fear.
Module 6: Comfort Measures and Labor Support Techniques During the Transition Phase
This module prepares students to confidently support clients during the most intense phase of labor. Students learn how physiological and emotional changes influence coping and how to adapt comfort measures, coaching, and communication accordingly. Emphasis is placed on maintaining a calm environment, strengthening client confidence, supporting physiological labor progress, and helping families navigate the challenges commonly experienced during transition.
Module 7: The Second Stage – Delivery
This module focuses on the physiology and biomechanics of the second stage of labor, as well as the doula’s role in supporting physiological birth. Students learn evidence-informed positioning, movement, breathing, and comfort measures that facilitate fetal rotation, descent, and maternal coping while promoting optimal pelvic dimensions. Additional topics include supporting physiological pushing, partner involvement, common variations and interventions, placental birth, immediate postpartum support, skin-to-skin contact, and early breastfeeding initiation.
Modules 8–9: Medical Context of Birth
This module prepares students to understand common medical procedures and interventions encountered during labor and birth. Topics include triage, fetal monitoring, induction methods, epidural analgesia, cesarean birth, assisted vaginal birth, meconium, episiotomy, and informed consent. Birth Coach Method™ emphasizes helping clients understand their options, communicate effectively with healthcare providers, and actively participate in evidence-informed decision-making while fostering respectful interdisciplinary collaboration.
Module 10: Communication, Advocacy, and Shared Decision-Making
This module develops the communication, coaching, and advocacy skills that distinguish the Birth Coach Method™ approach. Students learn the Birth Coach Method™ Advocacy Model, a client-centered framework that strengthens self-advocacy, informed decision-making, and collaborative communication throughout the perinatal journey. I place additional emphasis on building rapport, trust-centered relationships, reflective coaching conversations, and supporting client agency while working collaboratively with families and healthcare teams.
Module 11: The Newborn
This module introduces the newborn’s transition to extrauterine life and the doula’s role in supporting families during the immediate postpartum period. Students learn normal newborn adaptation, APGAR scoring, newborn instincts, and early parent-infant bonding. Emphasis is placed on helping families understand normal newborn behaviors and facilitating a confident transition into parenthood.
Module 12: Postpartum Care
This module prepares students to support families during the physical and emotional transition to parenthood. Topics include maternal recovery, hormonal changes, emotional adjustment, partner involvement, sleep, and family support planning. Students also learn the Birth Coach Method™ Postpartum Wellness Framework (NURSE), providing practical coaching strategies that promote nourishment, understanding, rest, spirituality, exercise, and the development of sustainable postpartum support systems.
Module 13: Lactation Support and Breastfeeding Education
This module provides foundational knowledge in lactation physiology and evidence-informed breastfeeding support within the doula scope of practice. Students learn to support breastfeeding initiation, effective latch and positioning, milk transfer, common breastfeeding challenges, pumping, milk storage, and referral pathways to lactation professionals when appropriate. Emphasis is placed on supporting informed infant feeding decisions while providing compassionate, nonjudgmental care.
Module 14: A Thriving Professional Practice
This concluding module prepares students to establish and sustain a successful professional doula practice. Students learn the practical and administrative aspects of business development, including certification, NPI registration, licensing considerations, liability insurance, client agreements, reimbursement pathways, and professional documentation. The module equips graduates with the knowledge and confidence to build ethical, sustainable, and financially viable birth support practices.
