HOLISTIC DOULA TRAINING CURRICULUM

Day 1

Morning Session

• Introductions – Hand-outs – Scope of the Class – Certification Requirements
• The Role of the Holistic Doula and her Scope of Practice
• Models of Care – Technocratic to Quantum
• Quantum Caregiving and Creating Soul-level Connections

Afternoon Session

• The Importance of the Correct EBD (Estimated Date of Birth)
• The Endocrine System: Hormones as Messengers
• Reproductive and Birthing Hormones
• Birth as an Altered State

Day 2

Morning Session

• The Caregivers Spiral
• Ideas not Ideologies in Childbirth
• Brain Wave Patterns and the Neurological Perspective on Childbirth
• The Circle of Nurturing and the Caregivers Greatest Gift

Afternoon Session

• Emerging as a Doula: Creating a Brochure, Creating a Lifestyle
• The Journey Begins: Understanding Conception and Reproductive Cycles
• Women as the Ancestral Sex

Day 3

Morning Session

• Undisturbed Birth and the Work of Michel Odent
• The Birth Atlas: Understanding the Uterus, Cervix and Dilation & Effacement
• Cardinal Movements of Labor: How the Baby Navigates the Pelvis

Afternoon Session

• The Holistic Stages of Labor: A New Language for a New Paradigm
• The Work of Constance Benyon: The Two Stages of Second Stage
• Vertical Birth…even in a hospital
• Non-invasive strategies for checking the progress of labor
• Checking the cervix on the foot!

Day 4

Morning Session

• Facilitating and supporting a Woman in Labor
• Non-pharmacological Strategies for Pain Relief
• When Labor does not go as planned
• Understanding Position and Posterior Presentation

Afternoon Session

• Navigating Controversial Topics in Childbirth
• Who’s in Charge of the Birth?
• Techniques for Collaboration and Creating Win/Win solutions
• Placenta Alchemy:
• Placenta Medicine…Placenta Readings

HOLISTIC DOULA TRAINING READING LIST 

For certification in our Holistic Birthing Doula Program, we require that you read ‘Natural Hospital Birth’ by Cynthia Gabriel. We ask that you choose two other books from the Pregnancy and Birth section to read. Those marked with an asterisk are preferred.

Pregnancy and Birth 

• Natural Hospital Birth by Cynthia Gabriel (required for certification)*
• The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer*
• Gentle Birth Choices by Barbara Harper*
• A Good Birth, a Safe Birth by Diana Korte and Roberta Scaer*
• Birth Reborn by Michel Odent, MD*
• The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin*
• Unassisted Childbirth by Laura Shanley*
• Birthing From Within by Pam England*
• Active Birth by Janet Balaskas*
• Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn by Simkin, Whaley, and Keppler*
• New Natural Pregnancy by Janet Balaskas
• Women Giving Birth by Limberg and Smulders
• Special Delivery by Rahima Baldwin
• Waterbirth: A Midwife’s Perspective by Susan Napierala
• Back Labor No More by Janie King*
• The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger
• Mothering the Mother by Marshall and Phyllis Klaus
• Nurturing Touch at Birth: A Labor Support Handbook by Paulina Perez
• The Birth Book by Martha and William Sears
• The Scientification of Love by Michel Odent, MD*
• The Farmer and the Obstetrician by Michel Odent, MD*

Breastfeeding

• Nursing Your Baby by Karen and Gayle Pryor*
• Breastfeeding Your Baby by Sheila Kitzenger*
• The Nursing Mother’s Companion by Kathleen Huggins*
• The Breastfeeding Book by Martha and William Sears
• Breastfeeding Naturally by Hannah Lothrop
• The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League
• Nursing Mother, Working Mother by Gayle Pryor

Postpartum and the Newborn

• After the Baby’s Birth by Robin Lim*
• Natural Health After Birth by Aviva Romm*
• Mothering the New Mother by Sally Placksin
• Nurturing Your Newborn by Jeanne Lindsay
• Your Amazing Newborn by Marshall and Phyllis Klaus

Health in Pregnancy and Complementary Healing Modalities

• The Natural Pregnancy Book by Aviva Romm*
• Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year by Susun Weed*
• Herbs for a Healthy Pregnancy by Penelope Ody
• Prenatal Yoga and Natural Birth by Jeannine Parvati Baker
• Mother Massage by Elaine Stillerman
• Herbal Healing for Women by Rosemary Gladstar
• Natural Healing for the Pregnant Woman by Elizabeth Burch
• Healing Wise by Susun Weed
• Herbal Remedies for Children’s Health by Rosemary Gladstar
• The New Holistic Herbal by David Hoffman
• Herbal Rituals by Judith Berger
• Homeopathy for Pregnancy, Birth and Baby’s First Year by Miranda Castro*
• The Homeopathic Childbirth Manuel by Betty Idarius
• Homeopathy for Birthing by Jana Shiloh
• Teach Yourself Homeopathy by Gillian Stokes
• The One-Minute (or so) Healer by Dana Ullman

Miscarriage

• Ended Beginnings by Claudia Panuthos
• Help, Comfort & Hope After Losing Your Baby in Pregnancy by Hannah Lothrop

Midwifery

• Heart and Hands by Elizabeth Davis
• Book for Midwives by Susan Klein
• Polly’s Birth Book by Polly Block
• Tricks of the Trade by Midwifery Today
• Christian Midwifery by Betty Peckman

Fertility and Family Planning

• Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler*
• Your Fertility Signals by Merryl Winstein
• A Co-operative Method of Natural Birth Control by Margaret Nofziger

Cesareans and Childbirth Advocacy

• Silent Knife by Nancy Cohen
• Immaculate Deception by Suzanne Arms
• VBAC Companion by Diana Korte
• Open Season by Nancy Cohen

Parenting

• The Path of Parenting by Vimala McClure
• Hip Mama Survival Guide by Ariel Gore
• 10 Principles for Spiritual Parenting by Mimi Doe
• Natural Family Living by Peggy O’Mara

Resources

• Birth and Life Bookstore — (800) 443-9942 Call for catalog
• Moonflower Natural Product Catalog — (800) 443-9942  Call for catalog
• Mothering magazine
• The Compleat Mother magazine
• Midwifery Today magazine
• Midwifery Today e-news – www.midwiferytoday.com