DONA Trained vs. DONA Certified
I am not a DONA certified postpartum doula.
It’s important for me to share that upfront. The DONA Certification holds a lot of weight in professional birthwork. I am still in the process of earning that distinction, but I’m excited to share this journey with families in Hampton Roads. Follow my progress on social media!
DONA certification is designed to ensure that doulas entering birthwork have a solid professional foundation. I’ll be required to do over 30 hours of education, a lot of independent reading and assessment, and experience supporting families in my own community. The goal is to be able to come alongside any family and give them the tools for their own empowerment. This process is in place to help families understand the qualifications of the doula they choose to work with and is well respected internationally.
My first step was to join an absolutely fabulous training workshop in Raleigh, NC lead by Jen Chandlee of Luminous Postpartum and Tonya from Enjoy the Baby. It was an incredible weekend full of new connections. Having that many people committed to the betterment of the postpartum period was so energizing and was a powerful affirmation that I’m on the right path as I change careers!
I’m very excited about the extensive reading list, which emphasizes an expanded and inclusive worldview alongside practical, evidence-based advice. I’m sharing my thoughts on some of these books as I go. When I was first home with my little one, I couldn’t always find the time to get through all of the information I felt like I needed. I hope these blog posts can pass along some helpful information and maybe set you down a path for your own confident parenting journey.
I’ll also be assembling a community resource list to submit. As this comes together, I hope to be able to highlight the amazing providers and services in Hampton Roads. Keep an eye on the blog if you’re interested in finding out more.
One of the most important steps in this process, though, is to get in the field and start working with postpartum families. Nothing beats this hands-on experience to understand the needs of the unique families I’ll work with. In order to count toward my certification, these families will need to fill out an evaluation form recording their experience of our time together. This feedback will help me become a better doula but is also important so DONA can understand my style and how satisfied my clients are. However, this does add extra work for families who are already plenty busy. With that in mind, I will be offering a 15% discount on base packages booked during my certification window for families willing to complete evaluations. This is my way of saying thank you for your trust in me and an acknowledgment of the effort required. If you would like to work together but aren’t interested in completing the forms, I’d still be honored to work with your family during this time.
Intrigued but want to learn more? Check out my Frequently Asked Questions. Don’t see an answer there? I’d love to hear from you! My favorite part of this work is learning alongside new parents, let’s find out together!! To make it as simple as possible, you can email me, call or text me, or check out the Instagram for updates.
