DONA Training

jesscardona · 05-12-2006, 02:31 PM

Hello...
Okay I have a question here...should I order the certification paket from (Dona) first or start with just reading any of the books first??

DL · 05-12-2006, 02:54 PM

I certified through CAPPA, but they do things similarly to DONA. You could do it either way, but I had all of my reading finished by the time I bought my cert. packet. I started reading in Feb. and completed it before taking my training (bought my cert. packet in June while at the training). I liked doing it this way as I was more knowledgable for my training, and having read the books did help me as I started attending births.

Your best decision, however, would probably depend on how soon you are planning to attend your training. Once you attend your training, you can start attending births for cert., whether or not you've finished your reading yet. Keep in mind that any births you may attend before purchasing the cert. packet won't count towards cert. Getting those first 3 evaluation births in is what usually takes the most time for most doulas, so it's often wise to make each attended birth count. That's why it might be good for you to get that cert. packet if you want to be able to attend births as soon as possible after your training, if your training is really soon. Of course, you can start reading even if you do purchase the cert. packet. You can check out books from the library if you can't buy them right now. ;-)

~Tranquility~Doula · 05-12-2006, 03:01 PM

I would wait to order your cert. pack until after your reading and training and before you attend your first birth. The reason I say this is because you have exactly 2 years from the date you order your packet to complete it to become certified. HTH

jesscardona · 05-12-2006, 03:09 PM

Thanks for the information Lori..

jesscardona · 05-12-2006, 03:11 PM

Hi, Noelia...
But don't you have information in there that you need?

~Tranquility~Doula · 05-12-2006, 03:52 PM

The has information and forms that you'll need for your certification births.

fearlessbirth · 05-12-2006, 04:43 PM

Just my .02....I was really anxious to get this doula ball rolling and knew it was going to be a few months before I could attend the training. So I started where I could. I got the reading list and just started there. Once I finished the minimum I went on and read more. It was a way for me to feel involved and like I was working towards my goal even though financially I couldn't do it just then. A couple of the books I purchased, others I borrowed from the library and I found e-bay to be a GREAT source for cheap books (I got 8 preg/birth books for $16.00!!!). Also, if you have other doulas in town with lending libraries, I'm sure they wouldn't mind lending a hand...your public library might not carry some of the titles required.

And Noelia had a GREAT point. I wish I'd thought of that when I ordered my cert packet. Even though I think I'll be certified long before my 2 years is up, I 'wasted' a few months in the meantime between getting cert pkt and taking the training and building up my confidence and education to take on clients. (I did my training in Feb, had 1st cert birth in March and have 2 more clients lined up but you never know if they'll 'count').

Best of luck to you! Keep us posted!

capandcradle · 05-13-2006, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearlessbirth

(I did my training in Feb, had 1st cert birth in March and have 2 more clients lined up but you never know if they'll 'count').

Why wouldn't they count? What are the rules about births counting toward certification?

tlcdoula · 05-13-2006, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capandcradle

Why wouldn't they count? What are the rules about births counting toward certification?

They might not "count" if she can't get the evaluations from the doctor, nurse, mama. I know many doulas who have done many births just to get their certification because they couldn't get forms, didn't get called when the birth was happening, etc.

MothertheMother · 05-13-2006, 01:26 PM

And isn't it true through DONA that you have to be with the mom from 4cm through the end (or something like that)? I think I remember reading that when I was researching.

tlcdoula · 05-13-2006, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MothertheMother

And isn't it true through DONA that you have to be with the mom from 4cm through the end (or something like that)? I think I remember reading that when I was researching.

Yes, I believe you are right

fearlessbirth · 05-13-2006, 02:14 PM

Yes, Michelle and Christy you are right. Only 1 of my births can be a c-section and my support will only 'count' if I have arrived before mom is 4 cm. Sooooo......I'm assuming even if a mom is showing signs of just starting labor at home and gets to the hospital at 6 cm, DONA won't count it because they won't 'know' I've been there for all of active labor.

And then there's the evals. I don't foresee a problem but you never know!

1stimestar · 05-13-2006, 03:04 PM

You must be there for all of active labor, which DONA counts as from 4 cm. But as an example, you go to mom's house to provide support at home, then get to the hospital after a couple hours and mom is at 6 cm, DONA will assume that you were there for active labor since of course, you didn't do a vaginal exam at home. It would still count. Say mom was dilated to 5 cm. a week before labor started, you went when she called, still counts since you were there for active labor. Only one of your births can be a c-section. With all 3 births combined you must have spent at least 15 total hours of support. So if you have 3 really fast births, you might need another one. There are lots of things that can make the births not count and we suggest that you not assume you will be certified after ONLY 3 births. But really, the evaluation team is very fair. If there are extenuating circumstances, you can explain them in order to see if a birth will count or not. You can also ask the certification team directly on DONA's website forum.

I recomend that you don't order your cert. pack until after you complete your training as the training lasts 4 years, cert. pack lasts only 2. You must have both in order for a birth to count towards certification.

Acacia · 08-03-2006, 12:47 PM

How do you pronounce DONA? Is it like is the DO like dough or dawn? I am just wondering!

MindOverLaborDoulas · 08-03-2006, 12:48 PM

Like donut, dope, DONA!