Heart and Hands Postpartum Doula Training & Certification Program
Mastering the Art of Mother and Baby Care
Learn skills to support new mothers and care for newborns immediately following birth and the first months
This training can be brought to your agency or you can join one of our courses in n Los Angeles.
ABOUT THIS COURSE
In this class, you will learn skills to support new mothers and care for newborns immediately following birth and the first months, More than a Baby Nurse, a Postpartum Doula provides emotional support, physical care and comfort to
Instructors Tai Carson (L) & Cordelia Hanna (R), Teaching About Care of the Perineum After Childbirth, Los Angeles, 2014.
the new mother, instruction on self-care and baby care, and instills confidence in her clients for motherhood. Services also may include breastfeeding support, meal preparation, care of siblings, and linking families to supportive services in the community.
COURSE DETAILS
The instructional methods include lecture, demonstration, discussion, and experiential processes including videos.
Dates and Location of Course: Call us for Dates or to Schedule at your agency
Days and Hours of Course: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, 3 days, 20 hours total.
COURSE FEES
$400.00 per person, includes materials and certification upon completion of requirements.
$100.00 deposit to register. Balance due 1 week prior to first day of course.
Early Bird Special: $300.00 per person.
Group Discounts: Available for 4 or more persons registering from same company: $150.00 per person when staff are attending our course in our location.
In-Service Option: This course can also be brought to your worksite. For In-service, there is a global fee and up to 20 persons may attend. Contact us for details.
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Within one year of course, participants desiring certification with The Association for Wholistic Maternal and Newborn Health will:
- Complete take-home, open-book written exam.
- Complete and Infant CPR course and submit proof of certification.
- Compile a Community Resource List for Families.
- Assist 3 families in the postpartum period, and submit 3 parent evaluations and 3 self-reports.
Recertification is annual. $250 re-certification fee plus proof of attendance at a continuing education course must be submitted. If requirements are not met within 12 months of course, there will be a charge of $100 for certification.
CORE COMPETENCIES FOR POSTPARTUM DOULAS
- Describes the role of the Postpartum Doula as a member of the maternity care team
- Discusses ethical guidelines for Postpartum Doulas
- Describes social, political and personal reasons why women don’t breastfeed
- Describes the benefits of breastfeeding to mothers, infants, fathers, grandmothers and society
- Demonstrates cultural awareness when working with mothers of diverse cultures
- Demonstrates communication skills to help address mothers concerns about breastfeeding, newborn care and postpartum
- Identifies and describes the anatomy of the lactating breast and the physiology of how the breasts make milk.
- Describes the nutritional components of breastmilk and how they are uniquely suited to support the growth and development of human infants.
- Demonstrates to support a breastfeeding mother and get the baby latched on.
- Discusses how to manage breastfeeding so it works for the mother.
- Discusses how to address common problems of breastfeeding and parenting the growing baby.
- Describes an approach to childrearing which promotes strong family bonds and security in infants called Attachment Parenting.
- Describes Kangaroo Mother Care—a method of caring for newborns which promotes physiological regulation of the newborn
- Discusses Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and two approaches to prevention.
- Discusses the impact of birth interventions on breastfeeding.
- Identifies normal and abnormal adjustments to motherhood in the postpartum woman.
- Supports basic breastfeeding management.
- Identifies and describes anatomy and physiology of lactation.
- Provides care and assessment of full-term and premature newborns.
- Provides physical care and emotional support for postpartum women
- Facilitates attachment and bonding of the mother-infant dyad
- Identifies and distinguishes between Baby Blues, Postpartum Depression and Postpartum Psychosis and describes appropriate resources for help.
- Discusses holistic healing approaches for healing after childbirth and common issues of newborn infant
- Demonstrates cultural competency when working with families of diverse backgrounds.
- Demonstrates communication and counseling skills for working with clients.
- Serves as a resource person in the community, linking families to services
- Demonstrates care and soothing methods for babies.
- Discusses impact of perinatal loss on families and demonstrates sensitivity when working with families after a loss
- Describes ways to involve father/partner in care of newborn and postpartum woman.
- Describes ways to reduce parenting stress.
- Identifies signs of child abuse and neglect and appropriate referral mechanisms
- Discusses the Doulas role in helping clients become a family
- Discusses safety issues with families and demonstrates safe food handling guidelines
TOPICS COVERED IN THIS CLASS
UNIT ONE: PROFESSIONAL ISSUES
- The Scope of Work of a Postpartum Doula & Ethical Considerations
- Types of Services Postpartum Doulas Provide, Length of Service & Compensation
UNIT TWO: CULTURAL AWARENESS AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS
- Working with Families of Diverse Cultural Backgrounds
- Cultural Awareness
- Communication and Counseling Skills for Doulas: The Three Step Strategy
UNIT THREE: SUPPORTING BREASTFEEDING
- Supporting Breastfeeding
- Why women don’t breastfeed: Historical, Cultural and Personal Reasons
- Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mothers and Babies
- Anatomy and Physiology of Lactation
- Nutritional Components of Breastmilk
- Types and Stages of Breastmilk
- Breastfeeding Management
- Myths and Realities of Breastfeeding
- Getting Moms Started
- Breastfeeding in Special Situations
- Biological Nurturing Approach: A New Paradigm for Mother-Baby Care
- Making Breastfeeding Work
- Dealing with Common Problems
- Dealing with Infant-Mother Separations
- Metabolic Disorders of the Newborn
- Premature Babies
- Twins and Multiples
- Adoptive Mothers
- Relactation
- The Effect of Medical Interventions on Breastfeeding
UNIT FOUR: SUPPORTING BONDING AND ATTACHMENT, CONTINUED
- Kangaroo Mothercare: Restoring the Natural Paradigm for Mothers and Babies
UNIT FIVE: PHYSICAL CARE OF POSTPARTUM MOTHERS AND INFANTS
- Maternal Care: Physical Care of Postpartum Women
- Newborn Care
- Newborn Appearance
- Newborn Characteristics Newborn Medical Procedures
- Medical Issues and Illness
- Bathing, Swaddling and Soothing Newborns
- Working with Twins and Multiples
UNIT SIX: PROVIDING EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR POSTPARTUM WOMEN
- Postpartum Mood Disorders: Baby Blues, Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Psychosis
- Other Mental Health Issues: PTSD, etc.
- Helping Parents Deal with Parenting Stress
- Child Abuse and Neglect: What Doulas Can Do
- Perinatal Loss: Helping Parents After a Loss The Doula’s Role in Helping Clients Become A Family
UNIT SEVEN: CREATING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT
-
Safety Guidelines for Families
-
Safe Food Handling Guidelines
- Suggestions for Easy Meal Preparation for Parents
COURSE LEADERS
Cordelia Hanna, MPH, CHES, ICCE, CLE, CBA (Principal Course Leader)
Cordelia obtained her Masters in Public Health (MPH) in Health Education and Promotion/Maternal Child Health from Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California in 2008 and her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance from Indiana University, Bloomington in 1986. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), the gold standard for professional health educators, accredited by NCHEC. Cordelia is also an ICEA-Certified Childbirth Educator, CAPPA-Certified Lactation Educator, and ALACE-Certified Birth Assistant who since 1991 has taught Childbirth Preparation Classes and Breastfeeding Education to hundreds of couples in private practice, clinics, public health, hospital and community settings. She is an apprenticeship-trained midwife, who has worked as an Assistant Midwife and Labor Companion/Monitrice in homes, birth centers and hospitals throughout Los Angeles County. Cordelia worked for The Pasadena Public Health Department Black Infant Health Program from 2002-2009, a California Department of Health funded program to reduce African-American perinatal health disparities. Here she initiated and managed a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor and Volunteer Doula Program. Cordelia is passionate about promoting midwives, doulas, promatoras (community health promoters) and breastfeeding peer counselors to address ethnic health disparities such as low rates of breastfeeding, high rates of prematurity and cesarean section, and to reduce maternal mortality globally. Cordelia is a mother of two home-born, breastfed and attachment-parented children who are now capable, bright young adults. She is a grandmother to two girls. For more information about Cordelia go to her website.
Dr. Sayida Peprah, Psy.D., CD (Co-Instructor)
Dr. Sayida Peprah, Psy.D., CD, has a Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Psychology, with a Multicultural Clinical-Community Emphasis, from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University. She is also a Certified Doula with Doulas of North America and offers services through Conscious Surrender Birthing. Dr. Peprah completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology and Religion at Spelman College. Dr. Peprah’s background, both academically and in the field, afford her unique competence in instructing courses, counseling and consulting, from a multicultural perspective. Dr. Peprah has a strong belief and background in cultural competence and, in effort to expand this, has participated in numerous international, cultural immersion studies. Previously, she has traveled to Ghana, Mexico, Egypt and India, studying mental health approaches, indigenous culture and local spiritual traditions. Professionally, Dr. Peprah is both an Educator, Clinician and Consultant. As a clinician, she has worked with a diverse client population and in a variety of clinical settings. As an educator, Dr. Peprah has taught for over 5 years, at the graduate and undergraduate level. Currently, she is a Professor of Psychology for the University of Phoenix, facilitating online courses in Diversity and Cultural Factors in Psychology. Additionally, Dr. Peprah has guest-lectured at numerous colleges, on topics of clinical considerations for working with special ethnic populations including Native Americans, African Americans and Muslim Americans. As often as possible, Dr. Peprah offers cultural competency, mental health and maternal/family health and wellness trainings and workshops. For more information go to Sayida’s website.
Khefri Riley CLEC, CD, CPYT (Co-Instructor)
Khefri is a Childbirth and Prenatal Yoga Specialist. She brings over 16 years experience as a Certified Lactation Educator Counselor, Birth and Postpartum Doula, Newborn Care and Childbirth Educator. Her foray into the world of babies and families has it’s inspiration from her paternal great-grandmother, a renowned Cherokee midwife. In addition to being a mother to 17 year old son Zen, Khefri has her Pre-Natal Yoga Certification from Golden Bridge Yoga, Certified Itsy Bitsy Yoga Facilitator, Certified Yoga Ed. Instructor, trained miniyogis teacher, and is a trained Doula with D.O.N.A (Doulas of North America). Her yoga classes have been featured in People Magazine, NBC and on Fox Ch. 11 News. Khefri has attended over 200 births and has taught thousands of mothers, fathers, and babies the joys of new motherhood and yoga. As a facilitator of parenting, yoga and arts based curriculums for kids, teens, and at-risk youth, she has touched the lives of thousands of children. In turn she has found that it is the children that keep safe human kind’s greatest values. Sharing her multi-disciplinary knowledge with others, she leads large group trainings for parents, teachers, healthcare professionals and educators. She is Founder of Urban Goddess Lifestyle in addition to being Postpartum Director and Birth Partner Doula of Los Angeles Birth Partner
CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellation must be made in writing by deadline (TBA). Tuition will be reimbursed less $50.00 administrative fee if notification received by this date. After this date, there will be no refunds. However in extenuating circumstances such as documented illness or emergency, the tuition is fully transferable to another person or training (this course or another topic); credit is good for the amount of training. If course registering into is higher price, the additional balance will be required. If it is a lesser price, there will not be any refund of balance. Credit will be honored for one year from the training. If not used by that time, the credit will expire.
Special Cancellation Policy for Doulas: If you are “on call” and have a birth during the training, please notify instructor as soon as possible that you will not be attending. The full tuition will be transferred to another person, or different training (this course or another topic) to be used within one year of the training date.If course registering into is higher price, the additional balance will be required. If it is a lesser price, there will not be any refund of balance.