Training and Certification for Doulas and Childbirth Educators

"I have been given a confidence in the innate ability to birth and be born that my fellow midwifery students do not yet have and I have to thank you for giving me that. I believe the confidence I have gained will allow me to empower women to have the same confidence in themselves. I will always be thinking back to this work. It has become my foundation. Thank you."

“The vision and values of BirthWorks International resonated with me and transformed my personal and professional relationship to maternity and the perinatal period. They positively impacted my professional approach to supporting women in their own prenatal care and deliveries working in Family Medicine with Obstetrics. During my experience in medical school, the focus of information was on problems that could occur in the prenatal period and during childbirth. Birthworks was a valuable addition to my knowledge—in expanding it to recognize the innate ability and empowering role birth has in women’s lives—including the births of my two daughters. Approaching pregnancy and childbirth through the lens of values provides a fundamentally strong foundation for preparing women in a respectful and loving manner.”

“I feel privileged doing ACED training and completing the Kangaroula advanced doula training through BirthWorks International—because what I’m learning is evidence-based. The programs gracefully balance feminine ancestral wisdom with the science of physiology. Birthworks has such skilled expertise in being able to marry the science of birth with ancestral wisdom, and the art of this is seen throughout their program, including their carefully selected books. I’m also pleased Birthworks has partnerships with leaders in birth and lactation, public health, and neuroscience. I know what I’m learning is not commonly found anywhere and the knowledge and skillset I can return to my community is invaluable.”

“BirthWorks believes in the power of women and their capability to birth, honoring intuition and connection to their own body and their babies. It also empowers women in the best way to believe in themselves, and to understand and trust if and when medical support is (or is not) the best choice. To me, the BirthWorks Experience is about women re-connected to their divine power and innate capabilities - this is deeply needed and must be part again of our ideology and conversation about birth, and even more than that, needs to be the norm.”

“We attended BirthPrep! for Parents and were able to get to know their actual fears, hopes, anxieties, struggles, and excitement to soon be holding their little ones. It was amazing to see them grow more confident within those two days which is so encouraging to know that they will be better equipped for their journey as they transition into parenthood. Every participant should be able to say afterwards that they are glad they had decided on taking a BirthWorks childbirth education class, prepared to trust their instincts and use the relaxation techniques not just during birth but also during parenthood.”

“The biggest reason I am involved is I want birthing parents to know that they have choices. BirthWorks provides evidence-based education for the birthing community to understand their rights and choices as a “consumer.” It is imperative that birthing parents understand that just because something is routine doesn’t mean that it is best and that they have a say in their experience. The BirthWorks Philosophy is very inspirational. Teaching women they have the power and knowledge within them to birth their babies is so important in today’s society... BirthWorks encourages and allows parents to lean into this and prepares them for the entire birth experience... so that birthing parents can open up and experience childbirth education in a whole new way.”

“I trained with Birthworks because I treasured the human values philosophy of Birthworks trainers, educators, doulas, and clients. Expectant parents come to Birthworks because they want to experience truth, right action, peace, love, and non-violence in their births. In the mid-90s, I met Cathy Daub and Liz O’Shea... and began a relationship that moves forward to now. My service to mothers as their doula is the ultimate spiritually empowering engagement I’ve ever experienced in life. My service to Birthworks, in collaboration with organizational building, is constant because my advocacy runs deep and passionately. Birthworks sustains because parents tell us they have achieved glowing, healthy births where they’ve participated in a wonderful, life-giving family event.”

"I am grateful that I chose Birthworks for certification. The Philosophy and values of BWI resonate with my own birth experience and how I view birth itself. I love the fact that BWI truly embraces that each mother is unique and each birth is unique. I love the fact that BWI integrates mind, body and spirit in their approach. These are some of the core principles that I feel deeply connected in my heart. Completing the BWI training is not just about being competent and professional in helping mothers in their journey, but also equally important, it helps me grow as a person too. My learning journey with BWI is a valuable experience that I'll never forget!"