Birth and postnatal doula training course

Would you like to become a doula? Looking for a course that will get you the skills needed to start straight away? We have been successfully running our course since 2005 and we are accredited by Doula UK (The only non-profit organisation that recognises, supports and promotes doulas in the UK). You do not need to have given birth to take part! We strongly recommend that you check our course FAQ page for more details.

If you are wondering what doulas who trained with us several years ago have to say:

I trained with Nurturing Birth back in 2005, although with Nurturing Birth, the training never really stops. The ongoing support over the years has been second-to-none, resulting in a sense of community that is very precious. Accessing the forum whenever questions about my own practice arise feels like asking friends, even though I’ve only met a few of the other doulas in person, and responses often come within minutes. When asked about my doula training, I feel proud to be able to say I’m a Nurturing Birth doula, and recommended the course without question whenever I’m asked by potential new doulas for my opinion. Gina, Midlands – Trained in 2005

More quotes here.

To register your interest or get an application form, contact us - an application form can be e-mailed (PDF) or sent by post (You can not download it directly from this site).

The aim of the course is to introduce women to a doula's role, including her role in labour situations. Her relationship with the parents of the baby as well as her interaction with the baby and health professionals she may encounter. Her role as a 'counsellor' is explained and role-played, addressing issues such as a difficult birth, breast or bottle feeding problems, etc. Alongside her role, all the details of how to run your own business (contracts, back ups, fees etc) and how to get clients is explained.

The course contains :

Debriefing of one's own birth and postnatal experiences (birth, feeding, first few weeks)
Birth: Birth physiology, anatomy, obstetric scenarios, antenatal support and discussions, optimal foetal positioning, supporting parents in informed choices, understanding father's needs,... how to "be" in labour, know your boundaries,...
Breastfeeding basics (as well as bottle feeding basics) - understanding the issues and common problems of feeding a newborn: Constant feeding (unsettled), mastitis, thrush, green nappies, "not enough milk", "too much milk", let down reflex, skin to skin, expressing, mix-feeding, safely preparing bottles, who else can help, body image, weaning,....
Common issues with new mothers and babies : Lack of sleep, too many visitors, unsettled babies, routines, no routines, spots,...
Counselling and support of new families (listening skills versus coaching) : What it is to listen, no judgment, reflecting back, seeking further help,...
How to empower a woman to look after her baby herself (showing versus doing)
Roles of a postnatal doula and expectations by the client : To clean or not to clean?, counselling issues, how to best prepare your clients to your role and what to expect from you,...
Knowing your local scene, contacts/working with other health professionals - How to diplomatically work with local health professionals, networking, hardship fund,...
Running your own doula business, contracts, insurance, training,... : How to get clients, are contracts useful, how to write a contract, should you get insurance, should you get a police check, first aid course, breastfeeding courses, how to get other relevant skills,...

There is large course manual for each participant containing key information and references for doulas. There is some work to be done before and after the course (mainly to prepare yourself to the course and to reflect on what you learned).

A certificate will be issued once the work has been successfully submitted. After attending this course you can choose to become a member of Doula UK and/or start working right away. You can also be listed on our Doula Directory.

There is the possibility of attending one extra day on birth and on breastfeeding. This is optional.

The 3 day course is £350 and includes the pre- and post-course modules, the manual, course attendance, a monthly e-news, access to our online forum and the follow-up of a mentor. Payment can be made in installments.

Check here for a list of venues and dates for this course.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE A COURSE IN YOUR AREA, CONTACT VALERIE. Maybe you have a lounge/dinning room big enough for 8 and you would like to host a course at your house (there is a discount for the host). Or do you know a local venue big enough for 8 women that could be rented for 3 days? We are always looking for venues so get in touch ! You do NOT need to find the participants, we take care of that!

What did students say about this course?

"I thoroughly enjoyed the nurturing birth training course. I felt that I learnt a lot. Each day of the course gave me something new; challenged my understanding; showed me diversity; and left me feeling
positive and enthused.
The people at the course were truly gorgeous. Everyone was very relaxed and friendly. At no point did I feel that anyone was being judged for their beliefs. Additionally, it was clear that we were all there to learn and grow. It was wonderful to watch everyone develop and become more comfortable with the image of themselves as doulas.
When I began the course it was with a desire to become, mainly, a birth doula. My core aim has not changed although it has been expanded to include post-natal work. I still want to help women have a positive birth and post-natal experience. However, I know that I’m still a trainee with a lot to learn. I look forward to gaining practical experience as well as attending further courses/workshops."

"Doing the Nurturing Birth doula course was the best thing I ever did. The three days training were hugely enjoyable. I met a really great bunch of women and I learnt so much. I really wanted to rush off and have another baby straight away using everything I'd learnt - despite being past it! The manual we were given remains my doula bible to this day - it's always by my side at all antenatal sessions and during births. Even though I dip into it less frequently now - I still take it with me. The newsletters are a really good read and the ongoing training courses are always very good."

"I found the course so helpful and such a great spring board to the next stage of my life and to the work of being a Doula. Kicki and Valerie are both such inspirational teachers and taught me so much that I am eager to put into practice. I feel that it will be an honour to work under the banner of Nurturing Birth, to have your support and to have a network of so many wonderful and wise women in the months and years to come."

"Just wanted to say a HUGE thank you for the course this week - I finished the 3rd day on a complete high, in a head spin with all the info and thoughts/ideas for the future - haven't stopped smiling yet! Your knowledge, experience and patience during the course was invaluable and for this I thank you!!"

"The most thought provoking and inspiring 3 days I have ever spent. The clarity, relevance and quality of the training material was exceptional as was its delivery. The on-going support offered is enormously encouraging, leaving me fully prepared to work as a doula. - Ex-sales director of international publishing company… now doula!"

"I would like to say thank you for organising such a brilliant course. I have already recommended to someone who is thinking about doing the course shortly.
Bushra was an excellent trainer. She is obviously very experienced and extremely down to earth. The other thing which truly blew me away was the idea of students' positive feedback on each other. You managed to bring a lot of perceptive people together on this course. Keep on doing what you are doing at Nurturing birth and I look forward to seeing your organisation expanding."

"In my current job I attend a lot of courses and I can quite honestly say that none have been anywhere near as amazing as this course. Partly due to my passion on the subject of childbirth but also because Kicki is so lovely, a real people person. Thank you so much!"

"Kicki was excellent at delivering the course in an informative, friendly way in a relaxed atmosphere. Thank you so much Kicki. You are an inspiration."

"Thank you very much for the recent doula course I enjoyed it immensely and got an awful lot out of the intense training sessions, I would also like to tell that Bushra is total fabulous having great passion, knowledge and patience, she is a total asset and does you so proud."

"Thank you so much for making the course so interesting. Everything was said from the heart and your experience spoke volumes. Your approach was relaxed and the course venue was so welcoming. I know I've got so much out of this course and where it will lead to, will be rewarding."

"The course was inspiring and enlightening. Valerie has a tremendous amount of knowledge and is very 'geared-up' and driven to the cause. I felt that Valerie is training doulas with a vision of morality and feminine understanding and not only for commercial reasons. The course was the best I have attended and I was sorry it had to end."

"I was truly moved to be taught so much by a person who is so aware of the importance of this role in society and so dedicated from the heart to serving this sacred time and space between a newborn and his/her mother." an ex-midwife

"I thought I knew how to be a good doula before I came on the course and to be honest I thought I just had to do the course to get accepted with Doula UK. How ignorant I was! Valerie taught me a whole new perspective in regards to being a birth doula."

"I was so underprepared for the doula course both in knowledge and experience. Never once did Valerie make me feel left out and only moved onto the next topic when all understood as a group what subject or discussion we were covering. True to her natural doula ability she nurtured me along through the entire course."

"I have just been offered a place at Kingston university to study Midwifery and I am really pleased. During the interview they were very interested in the work of a Doula and were impressed by all that I learnt from your course."

"The course was as I expected it and I would not recommend a midwife ever consider become a doula without attending a course. The breastfeeding update was particularly helpful and the business session crucial to decision making." An ex-midwife

"Thank you very much for the course, I really enjoyed it and although as I suspected before attending it the 'fact' based stuff was obviously very familiar to me. However I found it so refreshing to hear someone speak with such enthusiasm and with such confidence that 'normal' birth is possible and their ability to create that environment.... so it is possible!" A NCT antenatal teacher.

Recent feedback from doulas who have trained with us in 2005-2006:

"I chose to train with Nurturing Birth because they seemed to offer so much support once you had completed the course and set out on your own. As it turns out, four years on from my course I can happily say that the fantastic peer support of the forum and the ability to ring Valerie and many other wise women with questions big or small, has been invaluable. Nurturing Birth may be there to nurture new parents but just as importantly it nurtures new doulas! This is not a job you can learn in one weekend but with all the support on offer, my ongoing learning has given me much more confidence to support women at such a life changing time." - Ruth, Edinburgh Trained in 2006

"When I became a doula in 2005, there were very few courses out there but I am glad I found Nurturing Birth, the course was brilliant. They have always been there for me since.
The support we get is excellent (when you have a moment of self doubt you can always call). There are many courses around nowadays - and plenty of choice - but I found Nurturing Birth to be very professional, supportive and they don't stop innovating. I have met many Nurturing Birth trained doulas and it is very useful to be part of such a friendly group." Christine East Sussex, Trained in 2005

Our trainers :

Valerie Goedkoop, B.Sc. Soc., Breastfeeding counsellor, recognised doula with Doula UK and also trained with DONA (Doulas of North America). She has participated in several books on childbirth and babies as well as written articles. She is regularly interviewed in baby/pregnancy magazines and was featured on ITV's Baby House programme.

Valerie has spent 12 years as an advertising, PR and training executive for 2 blue chips companies. A few years ago, she decided to become a doula and she has developed her own small doula practice into a successful doula business, having worked for over 80 families as a birth and postnatal doula. She has been a very active member of Doula UK and was its co-chair in 2005. Valerie supports breastfeeding in the community as well as the local breastfeeding clinic. She is a very active member of the Maternity Services Liaison Committee of two hospitals. She is a Birthlight certified antenatal and postnatal yoga teacher. She is married and has three children.

Bushra Finch is an experienced doula, recognised with Doula UK and has held several volunteer and committee posts since 2003. She has been featured in baby and pregnancy magazines, interviewed for several radio programmes as well as speaking on pregnancy and birth at several conferences. She holds personalised antenatal sessions for parents and, in partnership with Diane Walters, has recently developed birth preparation day workshops for prospective parents. Bushra is a Maya Abdominal Massage practitioner, having completed practitioner and certification training with Rosita Arvigo in America. Maya Abdominal Massage seeks to preserve and restore women's health by correct placement of the internal organs. Bushra is currently training to be an hakima - a practitioner of Tibb (traditional eastern medicine). She is married and has four children.

Kicki Hansard, Cert Soc Sci (Open), SNHS (Professional Relaxation Therapy), is an experienced doula, recognised with Doula UK and a Certified Doula with BOND. She took part in the documentary about doulas called "Mum + One" which is currently being shown on the Discovery Home & Health Channel. She occasionally holds talks about doulas to student midwives and alternative health practitioners and is currently studying for a degree in Psychology.
Kicki is married and has two children.

Interested? Contact us for an application form.