Certification Requirements must be completed and submitted within 2 years of your training at Natural Resources. If you completed your training in 2022, you may complete these Certification requirements within 3 years of your training date due to a COVID extension.

If you are an "Established Doula" (have worked for 25 families within the last five years) click here to learn more about becoming a certified doula via our International Established Doula Certification Program.

1. Attendance Requirements - complete entire 39 hour Birth Doula Training

• 1 session may be missed and made up (within 1 year) at a future training.
• If you miss more than 1 session, you must enroll in a new training to receive a Certificate of Class Completion.

2. Reading Requirements


• Select 1 from each Category listed below 

• Submit a 1 page personal response for each book. What is your reaction to the material? Do you agree/disagree? Why? 

(A) Pregnancy & Birth

- Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

- The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin

- Babies Are Not Pizzas by Rebecca Dekker

- Nurture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, Early Motherhood and Trusting Yourself and Your Body by Erica Chidi Cohen

- Expecting Better by Emily Oster

- The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth by Genevieve Howland

- Ancient Map for Modern Birth by Pam England

- Optimal Care in Childbirth: The Case for a Physiologic Approach by Goer & Romano

- Having Your Baby: For the Special Needs of Black Mothers-To-Be, from Conception to Newborn Care by Hutcherson with Williams

(B) Doula Profession 

- The Doula Book by Klaus, Kennel and Klaus

- Birth Ambassadors: Doulas and the Re-emergence of Woman-Supported Birth in America by Morton with Clift

- The Doula Business Guide: Creating a Successful MotherBaby Business by Patty Brennan

- The Doulas: Radical Care for Pregnant People by Mahoney & Mitchell 

- The Heart of a Doula by Amy Gilliland

- Birth Work as Care Work by Alana Apfel 

(C) Healing from Trauma 

- When Survivors Give Birth by Klaus & Simkin

- The VBAC Companion by Diane Korte

- Cut, Stapled and Mended by Roanna Rosewood

- Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self while Caring for Others by Lipsky

- A Good Birth: Finding the Positive and Profound in Your Childbirth Experience by Lyerly

- Survivor Moms: Women’s Stories of Birthing, Mothering and Healing after Sexual Abuse by Spertich and Seng 

(D) Reproductive Justice & Cultural Competency 

- Killing the Black Body by Dorothy Roberts

- Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy by Angela Garbes

- Reproductive Injustice: Racism, Pregnancy, and Premature Birth by Dana-Ain Davis

- Reproductive Justice: An Introduction by Ross & Solinger

- Birth in Eight Cultures by Davis-Floyd & Cheyney

- Where’s the Mother? Stories from a Transgender Dad by Trevor MacDonald

- Journey to Same-Sex Parenthood by Eric Rosswood

- Red Medicine: Traditional Indigenous Rites of Birth and Healing by Patrisia Gonzales 

- Battling Over Birth: Black Women and the Maternal Health Care Crisis by Oparah, Arega, Hudson, Jones, Oseguera 

(E) Postpartum & Lactation 

- Breastfeeding Made Simple by Nancy Mohrbacher

- The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality by Kimberly Ann Johnson

- The First Forty Days: The Essential Art to Nourishing the New Mother by Ou with Greeven and Belger

- Latch: A Handbook for Breastfeeding with Confidence at Every Stage by Robin Kaplan

- A Taste of Our Own Medicine: 3 Vital Keys To Ending Postnatal Depletion, Nurturing Mothers And Improving Communities by Danett Bean 

- The Black Woman's Guide to Breastfeeding: The Definitive Guide to Nursing for African American Mothers by Katherine Barber 

(F) Films 

- The Business of Being Born produced by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein 

- More Business of Being Born (2011) produced by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein

- Microbirth produced by Harman and Wakeford

- Why Not Home? produced by Jessica Moore 

3. Proof of current Adult and Infant/Child CPR certification (Neonatal Resuscitation class is strongly recommended, though not required.)

4. Attendance at 6 births (occurring during or after the training) At least 3 births must include at least 1 prenatal meeting, continuous labor support, and at least 1 postpartum meeting within two weeks of baby’s birth. Must include Evaluation of Family Support Services form and Doulas Reflection on Family Support form for each birth.

5. Agree to Natural Resources Doula Code of Ethics/Standards of Practice

Natural Resources trained Doulas will receive our Certification Packet at the time of training. Once you have completed all of the required paperwork, you will purchase the Certification Application (linked inside the packet) for a $100 fee. If you trained with Natural Resources and need access to the Certification Packet, please email classes@naturalresources-sf.com.