EMBRACE a first-of-its-kind, interdisciplinary Birth & Postpartum Doula Training with Partum Health.

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.

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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. 

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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:

1. Ours is a full-spectrum doula training, which means students will earn a certification to provide birth and postpartum doula care. 
2. Unlike other doula training programs, our groundbreaking interdisciplinary curriculum incorporates course modules on lactation/breastfeeding, maternal mental health, pelvic floor anatomy, and nutrition.
3. Partum Health maintains a commitment to empowering all expectant mothers & birthing parents, which is why our training incorporates principles of anti-bias and birth justice training. We are committed to enabling birth workers who share our passion for reducing maternal mortality rates, acknowledging that Black maternal health is in a state of crisis in the US, and that culturally diverse communities such as LGBTQ+ and Latinx deserve culturally-competent support.

Partum Health’s EMBRACE training is $700 per student, which includes 5 full days of interdisciplinary instruction, meals, 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 the attending physician, midwife or nurse practitioner; 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 5 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 at the Rauner Family YMCA, located at 2700 S. Western Avenue in Chicago.

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 and each birth's primary care physician, attending physician/midwife, or nurse practitioner. 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
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More questions? Reach out to us at hello@partumhealth.com