HLHS 400V - Doula Micro-Credential
Course Description
Are you looking for a career where you can make a difference in the lives of pregnant people and families? Birth doulas and postpartum doulas are non-clinical care providers who work with people during pregnancy, labour, birth, and early postpartum. They provide information, practical hands-on care, emotional support and advocacy.
This evidence-based micro-credential will give you the knowledge, skills and confidence to help expectant families navigate this unique season of life. You will learn various approaches to support physiologic birth, lactation, newborn care, and postpartum recovery/adjustment. You will learn about the options available to birthing people in both home and hospital environments, including how to help them make informed choices about their care. You will learn about how to get started as a doula in this largely self-employed industry.
Learner Outcomes
By the end of this micro-credential learners will be able to:
- Understand and apply cultural safety principles in providing doula care.
- Develop the confidence and skills necessary to provide support to expectant and new families, including adoptive parents and surrogates.
- Demonstrate the ability to provide emotional, physical, and informational support for families during labor and birth.
- Demonstrate the ability to provide postpartum support to families, including emotional support, newborn care, and postpartum recovery support.
- Acquire a fundamental understanding newborn feeding including lactation, body feeding and formula use.
- Understand common perinatal medical procedures and interventions, their purposes, and potential outcomes
- Advocate for the rights and preferences of clients within the scope of doula practice.
- Master the skills needed to conduct effective interviews, prenatal and postpartum visits with clients.
- Understand the ethical and professional boundaries of doula practice, including when and how to refer clients to other healthcare providers and helpers.
- Develop a professional support network for themselves, and access mentorship opportunities within the doula community.
- Enhance communication skills that apply to the work of the doula
- Explore the historical context and evolving role of the doula.
- Explore the history of birth and how it impacts current practices.
- Take the first steps to start a doula practice.
- Identify and utilize online and community resources for both doula professional development and client support.
We are especially grateful to live, work, and play on the traditional territories of the Lekwungen (Songhees, Esquimalt), Malahat, Pacheedaht, Scia'new, T'Sou-ke, and WSÁNEĆ (Pauquachin, Tsartlip, Tsawout, Tseycum) peoples. We acknowledge their welcome and graciousness to the students who seek knowledge here.
