DONA Workshop Course Outline

I.        Introduction to Labor Support

II.       Prenatal Support and the Doula Business

III.      Communication/ The Ideal Birth

IV.      Comfort Measures

V.       Support in Labor

VI.      Getting to know the Labor Room

1. During this portion, we go upstairs to an actual labor and delivery room at Mercy Hospital.
2. You will receive demonstration on: where everything is, what you can or should not touch, positions for the bed for labor, positions in the tub for labor and uses for the birth ball in the labor room.

VII.     DONA International/Certification Process

VIII.    Challenging Childbirth

IX.      The Newborn/Doulas Role in Breastfeeding

X.       Postpartum Support

Pre-training reading requirements:

• “The Doula Book” by Klaus, Kennel and Klaus
• “The Birth Partner….” by Simkin (revised, 4th Edition if possible)  Please bring this book with you to class.  There is now a 4th Edition that goes hand in hand with the workshop materials.  I will have a few to borrow, but this book is essential to any doula library.

If you have not had children or have little to no birth experience, I would suggest one of the following:

• “The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth” by Kitzinger (revised)
• “Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn, The Complete Guide” by Simkin, Whally and Keppler (revised)