BirthBliss Aspiring Doula Foundation Course

Aspiring Doula Foundation Course

- Course Syllabus -

© 2016 BirthBliss Doula Services
BirthBliss Doula Services, 75 Kindersley Way, Abbots Langley, Herts, WD5 0DG
Tel. 07905-895466 Web. www.birthblissdoulacourses.co.uk E-mail. [email protected]

Course curriculum

The course curriculum is divided into eight different units that all will to be covered during the course
including the pre-course and post-course modules. The units can be taught in any order and will, at
times, overlap and be covered on more than one occasion. This course uses supplementary text,
videos, and role-play to build theoretical knowledge and teach practical skills.

Course Faculty: BSc Open, Birth & Postnatal Doula
Kicki Hansard

Numbers of hours: Cost: £475.00

Four days course, each day seven hours of learning – 28 hours
Pre-and post-course work – approx. four hours

Course total hours approx. 32 hours

Aims:

After attending this course, participants will be able to:

 Recognise birth as a significant life experience.
 Understand the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman and her partner in

labour.
 Provide continuous support, practical comfort measures, and an objective viewpoint to aid in

decision-making.
 Complement the care provided by the woman’s partner and other birth attendants.
 Understand basic infant and new-mother care.
 Support growing families with physical and emotional needs.
 Recognise common breastfeeding problems, how to solve them and when to signpost.
 Be conscious of their own journey of self-discovery and reflective practice.
 Setup and offer birth and postnatal doula services.

Prerequisites:

This course is designed for those who have had some or a little experience in the field of childbirth and
parenting. You do not have to have given birth to attend this course. The pre-course module will
equip all learners with some basic knowledge before attending the four day course.

© 2016 BirthBliss Doula Services
BirthBliss Doula Services, 75 Kindersley Way, Abbots Langley, Herts, WD5 0DG
Tel. 07905-895466 Web. www.birthblissdoulacourses.co.uk E-mail. [email protected]

Learning Outcomes for each unit

Part 1 – The doula

At the end of this unit participants will be able to:

 Understand the history of doulas and the doula’s role.
 Be familiar with how doulas work, charge and what’s included in the packages.
 Conduct an interview and prepare antenatal sessions.
 Support women and their partners, emotionally, practically and informatively.
 Explain the role of the midwife and understand her point of view.
 Describe the benefits of joining Doula UK and their philosophy and ethics.
 Start out as a self-employed person.
 Identify the options for setting up a business and arranging liability insurance and DBS checks.
 Identify sources of professional and personal support.
 Identify avenues for continuing their learning.

Part 2 – The birth process

At the end of this unit participants will be able to:

 Describe the different hormones involved and their effect on the birth process.
 Explain the different stages of labour and birth.
 Recognise indications of labour progress.
 Identify normal labour patterns.
 Understand the reasons for pain in labour.
 Identify options available for pain management.
 Explain the pharmacology of pain-management drugs used in labour and the pros and cons of

each.
 Describe the concept of a "cascade of intervention."
 List routine procedures for pregnant and labouring women.
 Discuss the benefits and disadvantages of a VBAC.
 List techniques that help to support a woman during a normal labour, including massage,

positioning, and relaxation methods.
 Explain the different roles of the supporters at a labour.
 Identify the doulas role during an emergency.

© 2016 BirthBliss Doula Services
BirthBliss Doula Services, 75 Kindersley Way, Abbots Langley, Herts, WD5 0DG
Tel. 07905-895466 Web. www.birthblissdoulacourses.co.uk E-mail. [email protected]

Part 3 – After the birth

At the end of this unit participants will be able to:

 List ways that a mother may want support in the early postnatal period.
 Explain the physiology of the birth of the placenta.
 List normal feelings for the mother after the birth.
 List symptoms that may indicate postnatal depression or other postnatal illness.
 Explain the physical and behavioural characteristics typical of a new-born infant.
 List common health issues that can affect new-born infants.
 Describe different parenting "styles" and list strategies for supporting parents' chosen

approaches.
 List common concerns of family members such as the baby's father, grandparents, and siblings.
 List ways you can mark the end of your time with a family.

Part 4 – Methodology and theories

At the end of this unit participants will be able to:

 List common causes of malpositioning.
 Explain the potential consequences of malpositioning for the mother and the baby.
 Explain optimal foetal positioning.
 Explain Spinning Babies techniques.
 Explore mindfulness and how this can help women in labour.
 Manage panic routines and help ground women and their partners.
 Teach the ‘diving’ technique, breathing, visualisation, yoga and mindfulness to mothers.

Part 5 – Pregnancy

At the end of this unit participants will be able to:

 Explain the physiology of normal pregnancy.
 Explain the role of the pelvic floor.
 Explain the role of the placenta in pregnancy.
 Discuss the ethical issues related to testing.

© 2016 BirthBliss Doula Services
BirthBliss Doula Services, 75 Kindersley Way, Abbots Langley, Herts, WD5 0DG
Tel. 07905-895466 Web. www.birthblissdoulacourses.co.uk E-mail. [email protected]

Part 6 – Self-reflection and developing reflective practice

At the end of this unit participants will be able to:

 Describe the impact language can have on caregivers and parents.
 Demonstrate three expressions of body language that could influence communication.
 Explain the difference between offering information and giving advice or recommendations,

and describe the impact giving advice can have on the effectiveness of support and on client
empowerment.
 Describe and demonstrate four active listening skills.
 List questions you could ask and techniques you could offer to a mother who is struggling to
come to terms with difficult aspects of her birth experience.
 Become conscious of own personal journey as a doula.

Part 7 – Infant feeding

At the end of this unit participants will be able to:

 Describe the benefits of breastfeeding to mother, baby and to others.
 Explain the anatomy of the breast.
 Explain the physiology of lactation.
 Role of hormones: oxytocin, prolactin, F.I.L early priming, Supply and demand.
 Benefits of skin to skin and Rooming in.
 Barriers to Breastfeeding.
 What’s in breast milk?
 Describe latch and positioning.
 List strategies for supporting breastfeeding in a way that encourages the mother to actively

develop her own skills and take responsibility for her decisions.
 Demonstrate how to prepare a bottle of formula milk, and discuss safe ways of heating and

storing it, as well as how to sterilize bottles and equipment.

Part 8 – Loss

At the end of this unit participants will be able to:

 Acknowledge miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal death.
 Discuss how it may impact the role of a doula, how it impacts the clients and how it may

impact future pregnancies.

© 2016 BirthBliss Doula Services
BirthBliss Doula Services, 75 Kindersley Way, Abbots Langley, Herts, WD5 0DG
Tel. 07905-895466 Web. www.birthblissdoulacourses.co.uk E-mail. [email protected]

Activities and Resources

 Flipchart
 Use of doll for demonstrations
 Film clips from You Tube
 DVDs
 Printed photos and other visual aids
 Verbal expression (VE)
 Discussions
 Group work
 Paired work
 Hands on activities
 Participant activities
 Practical work
 Practical demonstration
 Questions and Answers (Q & A)
 Role play

© 2016 BirthBliss Doula Services
BirthBliss Doula Services, 75 Kindersley Way, Abbots Langley, Herts, WD5 0DG
Tel. 07905-895466 Web. www.birthblissdoulacourses.co.uk E-mail. [email protected]