Certification Requirements

1. If you are in town, attend a full series of natural childbirth classes taught by a BirthWays instructor and complete the homework assigned each week. If out of town, attend a full series of natural childbirth classes taught by a certified Bradley^® instructor and complete the homework assigned each week. The classes are important as this is where you will learn the key components of pregnancy, labor and birth.



2. Read the following books:
   1. Silent Knife - Nancy Wainer-Cohen
   2. Guide to Effective Care in Pregnancy & Childbirth - Murray Enkin, et al.
   3. Birth Reborn - Michele Odent
   4. A Midwife's Story - Penny Armstrong
   5. The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding - La Leche League International
   6. Ina May's Guide to Childbirth - Ina May Gaskin
   
   Provide a 2-page report on each book listed above, which includes:
   1. What you learned
   2. How the philosophy of the book meshes with your own ideals


3. Research three interventions from the list below and compare and contrast the approach taken from both the medical model’s (AGOG) and the midwifery model’s point of view. Then, write a 3-4 page report, which includes your findings, along with your opinion regarding usage in pregnancy, labor and birth:
   1. Non-stress testing
   2. Electronic Fetal Monitoring
   3. Induction of Labor
   4. Vaginal Exams
   5. IV
   6. Group B Strep testing
   7. Wall Suctioning for Meconium Staining
   8. Episiotomy
   9. Cord clamping
   10. Erythromycin ointment
   11. Vitamin K injection
   12. HIV vaccination
   13. Glucose heal stick
   14. Breastfeeding


4. Interview a Labor and Delivery Nursing Supervisor at your local hospital and ask the questions below. Analyze your findings in a two-page report:
   1. What is the hospital's philosophy regarding natural childbirth
   2. How do they proceed if a client waives a recommended procedure
   3. How does the hospital regard doulas
   4. How does the hospital regard doulas as mediators for their clients birth plan


5. Obtain certification in Infant and adult CPR



6. Attend a BirthWays half-day workshop, which provides you with the steps necessary when accepting a doula client. In the workshop you will learn:
   1. How to proceed in establishing a relationship with your client, from the initial meeting, through the first weeks postpartum
   2. How to fill out the necessary paperwork
   3. What is your basic role as a doula
   4. How to you apply the knowledge you gained in your natural childbirth class to your clients’ pregnancy, labor and birth
   5. How to provide back-up for dates you are unavailable
   6. The eight steps necessary in gaining informed consent
   7. Birth plans
   8. The definition of a direct and an indirect advocate when mediating a birth plan
   9. The definition of continuity of care
   10. About pregnancy nutrition
   11. Comfort measures in labor
   12. How to apply perineal compresses


7. Attend 3 births, following the guidelines outlined in the half-day workshop



8. Write a letter to the CEO of each hospital birth attended above describing:
   1. The details of the birth
   2. The positive aspects of the birth in relation to the hospital
   3. Ways in which the hospital can improve their services in the future


9. Provide a progress report each quarter during your training process



10. Complete the doula certification requirements within one year