Why I became a certified birth doula… and let my certification lapse
I love what I doooooula.
I’ve been a doula for 11 years and what a wonderful career it has been!
I completed Birth Doula + Postpartum Doula + Lactation Support Educator training with Maternity Wise International in 2014. I did an additional Birth Doula training with DONA International at Bastyr University in Seattle with Sharon Muza and Kim James in 2017.
Being a part of the birth worker communities on O’ahu and Lexington is such a joy. It’s been a privilege and honor to support families through their birth experience and postpartum transition.
I joined DONA International in 2017. DONA is the largest doula certifying organization in the world. They provide education, set standards, provide support to doulas, and facilitate networking opportunities. Honestly, the doula profession is unregulated, so I had zero intentions of ever completing my certification. I have advanced degrees (a Master of Public Health), so didn’t need another piece of paper.
But then… COVID happened.
Ugh.
Hospitals implemented all sorts of wild policies during COVID. Many of them would allow doulas to attend births with our clients, but they required certification. So, alas, I did the work to gather and complete my certification packet and earned certification in 2020.
My certification recently lapsed in 2023, and I’m not going to renew it. At this stage, I believe I do not need a piece of paper to prove I have eleven years of experience, knowledge and wisdom as a birth and postpartum doula under my belt. Since I’m not currently attending many births, I’m perfectly fine not paying for a membership or renewing my certification. There is a time and a place for certifications and professional association memberships, and my season for DONA is currently taking a break.
When you’re interviewing doulas, do you ask if they are certified? I rarely get asked, but I’m sure it does matter to some families. Most importantly, I believe, is finding a doula that you connect with on an emotional level.
I’m not currently attending births on O’ahu or in Lexington.
For O’ahu families, please reach out to my friends at Best Birth Hawai’i.
In Central Kentucky, please reach out to:
Fearless Beginnings - Doula, Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula
Faith-Based, Christian Birth Doula & Childbirth Educator in Lexington, Ky
I support parents in newborn sleep, postpartum doula, surrogacy and a variety of other services in Lexington, KY, Hawai’i, and nationwide. If you’re seeking help for your family, please book a call with me so we can discuss how I may serve your family.
