Available Services

THE BIRTH DOULA

The Professional Certified Birth Doula is trained in 5 Core Competencies:

Physiology of Childbirth
Common Interventions and Evidence Based Care
Comfort Measures for Childbirth
Emotional Support
Communicating with Medical Care Providers and Clients Utilizing Emotional Intelligence

Tasks of the birth doula:

- Evidence based education during pregnancy including comfort measures and interventions. (optional)

- Attendance at the birth

- Comfort Measures During Childbirth

Relaxation Techniques
Touch Techniques
Positions
Warm and Cold comfort measures (heating pad or cold pack)

- Emotional Support during pregnancy and Childbirth

- Advocate (Assisting in facilitating better communication between birth facility staff and the birthing woman.)

What a birth doula is not:

A birth doula is not a medical professional.
A birth doula is not a psychologist or mental health professional.
A birth doula does not perform clinical tasks such as checking fetal heart tones, check a mom’s cervix, taking blood pressure, suggesting medications (over the counter, prescription or herbal) or any other medical advice. If the doula also holds degrees in medicine, therapy, RN or the like, they will still stay only within the scope of practice for a doula during the time in a family's home while contracted as a Certified Birth Doula (CBD).
A birth doula is not an activist.

THE BIRTH EDUCATOR

The Professional Child Birth Educator is trained in 5 Core Competencies

A Certified Childbirth Educator Is Trained In 5 Core Competencies:

1. Promoting and Understanding Normal Physiological Birth

2. Understanding of Pregnancy and Fetal Development With an Ability to Relay The Knowledge to Class Participants

3. Possessing the Knowledge to Help Families Understand Birth Options, Birth Interventions and Informed Decision Making in an Unbiased and Evidenced Based Way

4. Understanding of Early Bonding, Infant Feeding, Infant Care Options and Postpartum Healing With the Ability to Relay This Information to Parents in an Unbiased and Empowering Way

5. Possessing the Knowledge and Skills to Design and Teach an Evidenced Based Class That Empowers Parents to Make Informed Decisions

Tasks of the childbirth educator:

Provide evidenced based information about pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.

Facilitate learning about infant feeding, infant care and parenting styles.

Acts as a resource for information about a variety of pregnancy and parenting topics.

Encourages parents to ask questions and be active participants in their pregnancy and birth experiences.

Provide information about birth options, interventions and how to evaluate the benefits and risks of each.

Facilitate group classes.

Provide private in-home sessions.

Connect parents with community resources.

Provide information about mental health and wellness, and maintain up-to-date resources to refer parents needing or desiring more support.

Maintain a social media, blog or other internet presence as a birth professional if desired.

What a birth educator does not do:

They do not provide medical advice – only information and resources.

They do not encourage class participants to go against their medical provider recommendations – they provide information to help parents make their own informed decision with their medical provider (or another medical provider if the parent chooses to seek another opinion)

A childbirth educator never performs clinical tasks; does not attempt to interpret a participants lab work, ultrasounds or other tests; does not make medication recommendations; nor provide any specific medical recommendations – an educator only provides information and resources for parents to make informed decisions alongside their chosen medical professional.

If you’re a licensed medical professional, you still do not perform any clinical tasks or make medication recommendations. If you’re teaching in the medical facility you’re licensed and approved to work in at the same time you’re teaching, it’s possible there’s an exception. However, that would be based on your scope of practice and employment/contractor guidelines and has nothing to do with your childbirth educator certification or agreements. Speak to your boss, HR department, etc., to make necessary clarifications.

THE YOGA DOULA

Yoga Instructor Scope of Practice

As a yoga teacher, the following are within your scope of practice, based on the scope of practice guidelines from similar professions:

• Design a yoga sequence or program according to a student’s individual needs.

• Coach and provide general information.

• Direct a student to seek medical attention as necessary.

• Receive recommendations and clearance from your student’s medical provider to ensure student safety.

• Cooperate with referring medical providers.

• Promote yoga to improve general health.

• Request permission to touch your students, and observe the laws within your jurisdiction governing touch.

• Use appropriate touch to facilitate movement, position, and prevent injury within those laws.

Despite Yoga Alliance’s standards review, scope of practice will undoubtedly continue to vary on an individual basis depending on where you live and what education you’ve received. I hope you find these guidelines helpful as a framework for ensuring that your students get the help they need—from you, as well as from any other appropriate professionals

THE POST-PARTUM DOULA

The ProfessionalPostpartum Doula is trained in 5 Core Competencies:

Caring for and Understanding the Needs of the Postpartum Birthing Person, Partner or Significant Other
Caring for and Understanding the Needs of Baby/Babies
Caring for and Understanding the Needs of the Siblings
Caring for and Understanding the Needs of the Home
Emotional Intelligence/Communication Skills

Tasks of the postpartum doula:

Assessing the Needs of the Family
Providing Recommendations and Referrals
Emotional Support of the individuals parenting choices
Encouragement and positive affirmations
-Newborn care hands-on education and care including:
Normal newborn behavior
Newborn appearance
Sleep habits
Feeding
Bathing
Dressing Baby
When to call the doctor
And so much more...
Breastfeeding counseling
Advanced breastfeeding education
Help knowing what is normal or when you need specialized care
Help with comfortable positions for mom and baby
Establishing helpful routines
Establishing a good latch
Establishing a good milk supply
Learning to use your pump
Proper milk storage
Preparation of bottles and washing/cleaning/sterilizing
Cord and circumcision care
Establishing routine
Organizing the nursery
Light house work
Sibling education and transition
Care of older siblings
Creating shopping lists
Food shopping
Meal preparation

What a postpartum doula is not:
A postpartum doula is not a medical professional.
A postpartum doula is not a psychologist or mental health professional.
A postpartum doula does not perform clinical tasks such as checking the baby's respiratory rate, check a mom’s c-section incision, suggest medications (over the counter, prescription or herbal) or any other medical advice. If the doula also holds degrees in medicine, therapy, RN or the like, they will still stay only within the scope of practice for a doula during the time in a family's home while contracted as a Certified Birth Doula (CBD)

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