Registration for January 2025 is now OPEN! Register below to get started!
Our training will prepare caregivers to support and empower expectant parents prenatally, during labor and delivery, and postpartum with newborn care. This training and certification exam, paired with birth observations, will qualify you to offer full-spectrum doula care. This training is approved by the State of Illinois.
Designed by experienced doulas in collaboration with our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Melissa Dennis. Partum Health’s doula training program is unique in that it brings an interdisciplinary, whole-person approach to doula education.
This means that in addition to in-depth training on prenatal care, labor and delivery, and postpartum care, EMBRACE students will also experience curriculum modules related to maternal mental health, lactation/breastfeeding, nutrition, and pelvic health, as well as additional training from outside experts in the areas of pregnancy loss, and LGBTQ+ care. Our training is rooted in birth justice with a focus on historical and current health disparities for women of color.
If you’re passionate about caring for others, value evidence-based care, and are seeking a career where you can make a profound impact on the lives of families in your community, our doula training program may be a great step for you.
Overview of Birth Justice & Maternal Health, and working with expectant parents and healthcare providers
Integrating Doula and OB care, and perinatal Maternal Mental Health
The Birthing Process and common complications, plus physical preparation and nutrition 101.
Lactation 101, Infant Care 101, and how to start your doula practice
Safety & Illness prevention, Certification Exam
“I am passionate about helping parents navigate pregnancy and early parenthood while also bringing the best support possible to my growing families.”
With a team of instructors as diverse in background as they are passionate in their teaching, our collective expertise brings a wealth of experience to our curriculum, ensuring an unparalleled learning experience. Instructors vary by training cohort; past featured speakers below!
"Becoming a Doula allowed me to marry my purpose with my profession. I'm passionate about bridging the care gap for all families."
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"A multidisciplinary Doula curriculum changes the standard of care for all families."
"I love helping people navigate the perinatal period where so often they aren't given enough support or guidance about their physical health and wellness"
"My specialized work includes maternal mental health with an approach centered on providing compassionate, individualized care through various life stages."
"I recognize that breastfeeding looks different for everyone and enjoy working with each family's unique's needs."
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"Food and meal choices never happen in a vacuum. This insight allows me to provide practical and empathetic counseling."
"I am an integrated community health educator who focuses on care for all pregnancy journeys, experiences, decisions and outcomes."
"I provide a wide array of LGBTQ+ affirming and supportive primary care"
"I’m an educator at heart and love working with families during this special time."
A birth doula is a professional trained in childbirth who provides emotional, physical, and educational support to a birthing individual during pregnancy, labor and delivery. This training is full spectrum, meaning it covers the know-how to provide both birth doula and postpartum doula support. We will also touch on doula support for families who experience pregnancy loss. Full spectrum doulas are evidence-based expert guides to help expectant parents build birth plans, answer questions, and be by the birthing parent’s side during some of the most important moments of their lives.
While doulas are not medical professionals, they are an integral part of a care team helping families have a safer and more empowering birth. Doulas provide continuous labor support, which has been shown to reduce the rate of unnecessary C-sections by as much as 40%, reduce time in labor while improving overall birth satisfaction, and get better Apgar scores, an early measure of infant health.
A postpartum doula provides support for the whole family after the baby has arrived, offering hands-on care for infants, and new moms as they navigate recovery. They can provide expert infant care so parents can take a break or get rest; newborn education, like learning how to swaddle, and starting a sleep schedule; postpartum recovery, such as tips on clogged milk ducts, c-section wound care, and emotional recovery; and household help, such as nursery organization, bottle preparation, and baby laundry.
The best doulas are individuals who have a passion for maternal and infant care, those who light up when they’ve empowered others, and those who are equally fascinated by the science of childbirth and the art of infant and maternal care. Our training is geared toward individuals who are seeking work in the caregiving field and who value certifications that fulfill a broad set of requirements. Partum’s EMBRACE doula training also centers birth justice, and those who are committed to disrupting the status quo as it relates to maternal health are encouraged to register. We are partnering with the YMCA of Metro Chicago for this training to reinforce our values of accessibility and community-based care.
Midwives are medically trained to deliver babies. A doula is a professional trained in childbirth who provides emotional, physical, and educational support to a birthing individual during pregnancy, labor and delivery. While doulas are not medical professionals, they are an integral part of any care team in service of a safer and more empowering birth. Doulas can work side by side with patients whether they are seeing an OB or a midwife. One doesn't replace the other. Often, parents will choose a doula to be a part of their birth team in order to receive continuous support, which medical professionals are not always able to provide.
Partum Health’s EMBRACE Doula Training is different in three key ways:
Partum Health’s EMBRACE training is $700 per student, which includes 4 full days of interdisciplinary instruction, course materials (including books), and a certification examination. To become fully certified, you will need to attend three births and receive good ratings from all three clients; and present proof of that field training to our certification team. Certification upon completion of your field training is an additional $300. Students who utilize an early bird discount code at the time of their course registration can receive $200 off their certification.
We are pleased to offer two scholarship spots for our training program. To apply for a scholarship, please click here. We also offer a monthly payment plan. To register using our payment plan option, please click here.
The EMBRACE doula training lasts 4 days, and goes from 8:30AM to 5PM each day. We are thrilled to partner with the YMCA of Metro Chicago to host this training.
The EMBRACE doula training includes course instruction on how to start your doula practice. Partum Health partners with full-spectrum doulas and may also be a good partner in helping you find clients to start caring for families. Since the State of Illinois has approved the EMBRACE doula training by Partum Health, upon certification, you will also be eligible to serve Medicaid patients in the State of Illinois.
You do not need practice hours to pass the certification exam, but in order to become a certified doula, you will need to provide doula service to three clients as part of your field training following the Doula training program, with good ratings from all three clients. Once you have completed your field training, you can submit documentation along with a $300 fee to obtain your Full Spectrum Doula Certification. For students who take advantage of our early bird rate, the certification fee is only $100 upon completion of your field training.
Educating and Mentoring Birth & Reproductive Agents of Change for Everyone
More questions? Reach out to us at hello@partumhealth.com
“The doulas I worked with completely changed my postpartum experience for the better. I learned a lot from them and I trusted them with my baby.”
“I couldn’t imagine going through my pregnancy or delivery without the help of my doula. She was magic, took care of me, kept me focused and allowed me to stick to my birth plan. I recommend everyone having a labor doula.”
By completing Partum Health’s EMBRACE Doula Training program, you’ll join a community of passionate, kind, and knowledgeable doulas and birth workers.
“I hope to support and empower parents, and provide additional support with concerns regarding perinatal mood disorders and symptom identification.”
“I celebrate the importance of prenatal education, informed decision making, and promote a calm, low-intervention environment, trusting the abilities of our bodies to do the work of birth, when given the time and space.”
“I bring my warm heart and wealth of knowledge to creating tailored support that meets the unique needs of each family, and I am passionate about empowering parents to make informed decisions and advocate for their own needs and desires.”
