best doula program for busy rural area gal

[heartsopenwide]

I live in a rural area (~15 bed hospital) with no local doula training and was wondering about the best distance learning doula programs out there. I have heard of DONA and ALACE. What do you suggest and why?

[teachinmamaof4]

For distance learning I would suggest CAPPA or CBI.

[Acacia]

DONA and ALACE are not really distance programs. You have to attend a workshop with both of them. CBI has an online distance program. All the course work is online, no workshops so it can all be done in your won time on your computer. Just do a search on CBI on this site and I'm sure you will find a lot of topics that have been discussed and will probably answer many of your questions!

[heartsopenwide]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acacia DONA and ALACE are not really distance programs. You have to attend a workshop with both of them. CBI has an online distance program. All the course work is online, no workshops so it can all be done in your won time on your computer. Just do a search on CBI on this site and I'm sure you will find a lot of topics that have been discussed and will probably answer many of your questions!

This is great. So, where does the hands on stuff come in? Do you have to attened so many births before you are certified? Are these school accredited or some sort of equivilent to the doula world? I just want to make sure I do not spend a bunch of time to only find out it really does not count for anything or wil not allow me to attened births. Is there like some national doula certification test or somthing?

PS. what does CBI and CAPPA stand for? I am having a hard time googling it

[Kacy]

CBI stands for Childbirth International and CAPPA stands for Childbirth And Postpartum Professionals Association.

For CBI, you're required to attend two births to become certified. It's actually an hour requirement, and if you don't meet that requirement with the first two births, you have to keep working until you do. Some people choose not to get certified at all.

There is no national doula test or anything like that - which is one reason some people choose not to get certified. Basically, you pick an organization and go with it. (Although there are great doulas who aren't affiliated with any organization, I'm sure.) Each organization has its own practices and regulations, and the members are expected to adhere to them. Every organization is a separate entity, and because there's no universal regulation of doulas, they pretty much answer to themselves.

I'm personally a very visual person, and it was hard for me to grasp some of the physical comfort measures through a book. I'm a CBI student, so it wasn't required for me to attend a workshop. I'm attending a CAPPA training this August anyway so I can see it all in person and really finalize what I've been taught.

[doula Michele]

Right now my 19 yr old daughter is taking a distance doula program with Ontario Perinatal School. But she is getting all her hands on experience from me.