BiA Doula Training is a comprehensive training to become a professional birth doula: a support for the pregnant mother (and partner) during pregnancy, birth and immediate postpartum.

The training is composed of different elements: in-person training, self-study, internships, mentoring, all of which build on each other. It is designed in such a way that you can choose according to your personal circumstances when to do which component of the training. We have students who fulfil all the certification requirements within 6-months, and others may take 1,5-2 years.

Usually you’d start with reading the books from the required reading list and other materials that we will send you when you subscribe for the training. This is followed by the in-person 3-day intensive Foundation Training , which will give you the essentials to immediately begin your observational internships (in hospital and with midwifery practice) and your first doula client(s). Taking the 3-day Advanced Training can then follow after 3 or 6 months. If you have prior education / extensive knowledge of pregnancy and birth you can choose to do the Foundation and Advanced Trainings consecutively. After the Advanced Training you will fulfil the remaining certification requirements , after which you complete your portfolio and certification. By becoming a certified BiA Doula, you can apply for full membership of the Dutch national professional association, the NBvD

Dutch and International

We welcome students from all over the Netherlands (Dutch and international), as well as from abroad. As the in-person Foundation and Advanced trainings are blocks of 3 days, you only have to come twice to Amsterdam and the other components of the training you complete in your own region / country.

Community

We know how important it is to be part of a community, where you can learn from your peers and give each other support. We have an active online student and graduate group and also organise regular online as well as 6-weekly in-person Support & Development meetings. Further more, we have bi-annual social get-togethers in the winter and summer.

Mentoring

The mentoring consists of the previously mentioned Support & Development meetings, where you learn from each other in a group setting with your trainers present, and where you can reflect on issues you encounter in your doula journey. Further more you can reach our administrative assistant for any practical matters and your mentor for (private) questions when needed. You can schedule one meeting in-person (or via video conferencing) with your mentor in the course of you certification process.

Continuing Education

We can always deepen our knowledge, and therefore we regularly organise or host different workshops and trainings. Sometimes exclusively for BiA Students and Graduates and very often for the larger community, bringing together doulas, midwives, childbirth educators, maternity nurses and bodyworkers.

For continuing education trainings organised by BiA Doula / BiA Doula Trainers, you receive a special discount as a BiA Doula student or graduate.

Advantages of training with BiA Doula