How to Become a Postpartum Doula
Have you ever thought about becoming a postpartum doula? Serving families as a postpartum doula is a deeply rewarding career that allows you to support parents during one of the most important times of their lives. Postpartum doulas provide care, education, and emotional support to parents and their newborns, helping families navigate the challenges of the postpartum period. I completed my first postpartum doula training in June of 2014, and have been serving families in their childbearing years ever since. If you’re interested in becoming a postpartum doula, this article will walk you through the essential steps and requirements.
What is a Postpartum Doula?
A postpartum doula is a trained professional who offers non-medical support to families after childbirth. The role includes assisting with newborn care, educating parents, providing emotional support, providing referrals to resources in the community, and helping with light household and baby-related tasks. Unlike birth doulas, who focus on labor and delivery, postpartum doulas specialize in the first weeks and months of a newborn’s life and the holistic transformation of becoming parents.
Why Become a Postpartum Doula?
Meaningful Work: Supporting new parents during the postpartum period can have a lasting impact on a family’s well-being. How parents experience the fourth trimester has a lasting impact on their transition to parenthood. You can make a significant impact on how they remember this time of their lives.
High Demand: As more families seek professional postpartum support, the demand for trained doulas continues to grow.
Flexible Career: Many doulas work on a freelance basis, allowing for flexible hours and a personalized approach to scheduling.
Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Postpartum Doula
Step 1: Understand the Role of a Postpartum Doula
Before embarking on this career, it’s important to understand the scope of the role. Postpartum doulas help with:
Holistic postpartum recovery for mom and the entire household
Newborn care (feeding, diapering, soothing techniques)
Educating parents on infant behavior and development
Emotional support for parents adjusting to life with a newborn
Assisting with breastfeeding and bottle-feeding guidance
Light household tasks to ease the transition for new parents
Providing resources in the local community and referrals for services like IBCLCs, pelvic physical therapists, pediatric chiropractors, postpartum massage therapists, etc.
Step 2: Choose a Postpartum Doula Training Program
To become a qualified postpartum doula, enrolling in a training program is highly recommended. Certification programs offer comprehensive training on the postpartum period, breastfeeding support, infant care, and maternal mental health. Popular training and certification organizations include:
DONA International
CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association)
ProDoula
These programs typically involve both in-person and online training, covering topics like newborn care, postpartum recovery, and the emotional and physical needs of new parents.
Step 3: Complete Required Training and Certification
Doula work is an unregulated industry. Once you’re trained, you can work as a postpartum doula. Certification is not required. However, there are some insurances (like Carrot) that do require certification in order to get reimbursed for services. Many families across the country are starting to request certified doulas to be able to use their insurance benefits.
While specific requirements vary by program, most postpartum doula certification processes include:
Training Workshops: Attend a postpartum doula training workshop where you’ll learn practical skills for supporting families.
Hands-On Experience: Some programs require you to work with families and submit evaluations to demonstrate your skills.
Reading and Coursework: Most programs include required readings on topics like breastfeeding, infant development, and postpartum mental health.
CPR Certification: Basic infant and adult CPR certification is often required for certification.
Step 4: Gain Experience Working with Families
After completing your training, it’s essential to gain hands-on experience. Many postpartum doulas start by offering their services to friends, family, or through volunteer organizations. This helps you build confidence in your skills and develop a portfolio of positive testimonials.
Step 5: Establish Your Postpartum Doula Business
Once you’re trained and have gained some practical experience, you can start building your business. Here’s how to get started:
Register Your Business: Choose a business name and register it according to your local state laws.
Set Your Rates: Postpartum doulas typically charge by the hour, with rates varying depending on location, experience, and services offered.
Create a Website: Your website should outline your services, qualifications, and include contact information. Make sure your website is SEO optimized for terms like "postpartum doula services" and "postpartum care".
Client Contracts: Develop clear contracts outlining the scope of your services, pricing, and scheduling expectations.
Professional Liability Insurance: You can purchase liability insurance (to protect you and your assets in the event of an adverse event) as a postpartum doula through CM&F.
Step 6: Market Yourself
To attract clients, you’ll need to actively market your postpartum doula services. Here are some effective marketing strategies:
Networking: Build relationships with local birth doulas, midwives, obstetricians, pediatricians, and childbirth educators who can refer clients to you.
Social Media: Share your knowledge and tips on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Posting about common postpartum challenges, newborn care, and self-care tips for new moms can help attract your target audience.
SEO and Blogging: Write blog posts about postpartum recovery, newborn care tips, and breastfeeding support to rank higher in search engines. Keywords like “how to become a postpartum doula,” “postpartum doula services,” and “newborn care” are essential for SEO.
Client Testimonials: Positive testimonials from families you've supported can boost your credibility and attract new clients.
Skills and Qualities Needed to Be a Successful Postpartum Doula
Compassion and Empathy: New parents often face physical and emotional challenges, so it’s important to approach your work with sensitivity and understanding.
Good Communication: You need to clearly explain newborn care practices and provide emotional support to parents.
Patience: Every family is different, and some situations may require more time and understanding.
Problem-Solving: Postpartum doulas often need to adapt to unexpected challenges, from sleep issues to feeding difficulties.
FAQs About Becoming a Postpartum Doula
Do You Need a Medical Background to Become a Postpartum Doula?
No, postpartum doulas do not need a medical background. However, having experience with newborns and knowledge of infant care is helpful.
How Much Can You Earn as a Postpartum Doula?
Earnings can vary, but postpartum doulas generally charge between $25 and $50 per hour, depending on location, experience, and services offered.
How Long Does Certification Take?
Most certification programs take 3 to 6 months to complete, depending on the program and your schedule.
Is Being a Postpartum Doula a Full-Time Job?
Many postpartum doulas work part-time, offering services as needed by families. However, depending on demand, it is possible to work full-time as a doula.
Final Thoughts
Becoming a postpartum doula is a fulfilling career that allows you to support families during one of the most transformative times of their lives. Whether you’re offering practical help with newborn care or emotional guidance, the work you do as a postpartum doula can have a lasting impact on parents and their babies. By following these steps, you can build a successful career helping families thrive during the postpartum period.
I hope you found these insights helpful. Contact me if you have any questions and if you decide to start a postpartum doula career!
