Elevate Your Doula Practice: An Evening of Connection & Professional Growth

Elevate Your Doula Practice: An Evening of Connection & Professional Growth
Hosted by Tracy Massillon

Are you ready to take your doula practice to the next level? Being a doula can be joyful and deeply rewarding, but it can also bring feelings of overwhelm, exhaustion, and isolation. Join us for an evening of connection, knowledge, and replenishment designed specifically for birth/postpartum workers like you.

What to Expect:
This immersive professional workshop offers Doulas valuable guidance from seasoned birth and postpartum professionals.

Supporting the NICU Family: A Guide for Birth & Postpartum Doulas
For families whose babies arrive in the NICU, a Doula’s presence and guidance can make all the difference. Recent studies show that 10% of babies will spend some time in the NICU. This talk will equip you with the knowledge and tools to confidently hold space for NICU families, from preparing clients during childbirth education all the way through hospital discharge and beyond.

We will explore why the NICU conversation is an essential part of birth preparation, gain a deeper understanding of the emotional and physical impact of the NICU experience, and learn practical, compassionate strategies to help your clients feel empowered during one of the most vulnerable seasons of their lives. Because every family deserves to feel supported — no matter where their birth journey takes them.

After attending this class, participants will be able to:

1. Explain why it is important to include the NICU conversation in childbirth education
2. Identify two facts related to the impact of the NICU experience
3. Identify three ways to help your client have an empowered experience while in the NICU
4. Explain how you can support NICU families upon discharge from the hospital

Dessert and tea will be provided (dinner not included - feel free to bring your own food).

Hosted by Tracy Massillon

About Amanda Newstetter:

Amanda Newstetter, MSW, is passionate about creating a new niche as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Doula who cares for families both during and after a NICU admission. Her first career as a social worker during the early HIV epidemic focused on supporting patients and families during illness, loss, and end of life. After retiring as the Director of the UCSF AIDS Education and Training Center in 2021, she realized she had more to give and wanted to balance her life out with birth and new life.

Amanda’s youngest daughter was born very sick and spent a month in the NICU after her birth. This experience inspired Amanda to attend the Birth and Postpartum Doula trainings at Natural Resources and focus on postpartum care. She is a Certified Breastfeeding Counselor through the International Doula Institute and attended the 10-week Beta training with the NICU Doula Academy in 2025. In addition to supporting NICU families, Amanda mentors Doulas who have clients with a baby in the NICU.

This workshop creates a nurturing environment where your professional growth is supported through expert guidance, holistic well-being practices, and community connection—essential elements for anyone looking to establish themselves in the meaningful work of supporting new families.