Become a certified doula with our DONA Approved Birth Doula Training Retreat

How do I become a DONA Certified Doula

posted in: Becoming a doula | 9

Are you wondering how to become a DONA Certified Doula?

Read this blog post for a great overview of how to become a certified doula

Our unique, tropical, DONA Approved Birth Doula Retreat takes place in Bali, Indonesia only once per year and it taught by CNN Hero of the Year, Midwife Extraordinaire and Founder of the Bumi Sehat Foundation and Birth Center, Ibu Robin Lim, alongside World Renowned DONA Doula Trainer, Author/Filmmaker and Founder of the Orgasmic Birth Movement, Debra Pascali-Bonaro. When you join our retreat you will be on your pathway to becoming a DONA Certified Doula.

Our 8 night, 7 day retreat is the beginning of your journey to become a DONA Certified Birth Doula. Our retreat is the most comprehensive doula retreat offered, and the only DONA Birth Doula Retreat held on the island of Bali. Our Eat Pray Doula Gentle Birth Doula Retreat fulfills 3 of the requirements of DONA certification. You’ll connect with a circle of support from around the world to help you as you continue on to become DONA certified by completing the other steps which include reading, writing, resource lists and experience. With your new doula sisters, you will create lifelong bonds of support for certification and beyond – creating book clubs, sharing resources and supporting each other as you attend births as a doula. Eat Pray Doula will transform your life and prepare you to become a certified doula and offer you doula skills around the world!

When you attend Eat Pray Doula Gentle Birth Doula Retreat you will be fulfilling 3 of the requirements of DONA certification.

  • Workshop – DONA International Approved Birth Doula workshop with DONA Doula trainer, Debra Pascali-Bonaro
  • Childbirth Education – Childbirth for Doulas offered by DONA Doula Trainer & Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, Debra Pascali-Bonaro
  • Breastfeeding

After attending/completing the 3 courses, you will receive a certification of attendance/completion which is included in the workshop fee.

To become a DONA Certified Doula, you will continue with additional self-study + experience-related requirements to complete and apply for certification. (See infographic below for these self-study items. Please note there is also required reading.)

DONA has created some great guides on becoming a Certified Birth Doula for you:

You can also explore DONA’s website for more information and support.

Costs associated with Doula Certification

*Pricing below is in USD

  • Find more in DONAs guide to Certification
  • Membership $100
  • Required reading estimated $75 
  • Application Fee $155
  • Workshop, Breastfeeding + Intro to Childbirth is included in our retreat fee – you have 4 years to complete your certification requirements and submit your application after you finish our workshop/training.

So Why Eat Pray Doula?

What makes Eat Pray Doula Birth Doula Retreat different from my local doula training?

Want to become a certified doula? Our workshop fulfills 3 of the requirements of DONA Birth Doula Certification and so much more.

A more traditional doula workshop is usually 2 days, and does not include the Intro to Childbirth or Breastfeeding Certification requirements, meals or lodging.

Our week-long retreat allows us time to expand upon the required topics for certification, spend more time on comfort techniques and cover additional doula-related topics.

Our in-person retreat also includes:

  • Yoga each morning
  • Breakfast and lunch each day of the workshop
  • Welcome Dinner
  • -Celebratory Dinner
  • Additional 3 (a total of 6 instructional days) days of instruction to truly enhance your doula learning
  • Invitation to join a cultural excursion

Ready to get started? Join Eat Pray Doula to start your journey to certified.

We can’t wait to welcome you to our circle!


9 Responses

  1. Kim Rice-Demers

    Any word on when you will be having the week long retreats again? vs. virtual?

    And where are they held?

    Look forward to learning more!

  2. Kim Rice-Demers

    Awesome!
    Researching now & planning to make it come together for the March 6-13 2022 Birth Doula Retreat.

    I worked as a home birth midwife for 10 plus years & attended 100 births, which included a 6 week externship at a local birth clinic in Senegal.

    I have not done births for 5 or 6 years now but feel the need to reconnect.

    While I could take my training with DONA or CAPPA here in the states, I am very intreged by the spiritual aspect of your program as well!

    I look forward to discussing things with you more.

    Sincerely,
    Kim Rice-Demers

  3. Chelsea Etienne

    Hello!
    I live here in bali and really interested in both the gentle birth doula certifiction retreat & the advanced skills certification retreat. (Id like to do the third but maybe the year after.
    Are there any online retreats/trainings happening sooner? I am feeling it would be amazing to definitely do both in person in retreat but also open to doing 1 online and 1 in person.

    Can you confirm the closest dates for the – gentle birth doula certification retreat & the advanced skills retreat
    Sorry I got a bit confused earlier when looking.

    Thank you so much
    much love

    • Megan Stark

      Hi Chelsea, 
      Thanks so much for your interest in Eat Pray Doula!

      Our 2022 Birth and Postpartum Retreats will be Virtual, the 2023 Birth and Advanced Workshops we hope to be in person.
      2022 Birth Doula Virtual: March 7-9, 14-16, 21-23, 28, 2022 – https://www.eatpraydoula.com/virtual-birth-doula-retreat2022 Postpartum Doula Virtual: March 28, April 4-6, 11-13, 19-21, 2022 – https://www.eatpraydoula.com/virtual-postpartum-doula-retreat/
      2023 Birth Doula in person: May 13-20, 2023 – https://www.eatpraydoula.com/gentle-birth-doula-workshop/
      2023 Advanced Doula in person: May 27-June 3, 2023 – https://www.eatpraydoula.com/advanced-skills-workshop/

      Please let me know if you have any questions! We’d love to have you join us!Best, Megan 

  4. teryn

    Hello,

    Very excited to come and attend your Doula workshop in 2023. A procatical question I was wondering if there are accommodation ioptions nearby that would be suitable for my family also (husband and daughters (4 & 2yrs) , within a cheap price range..?

    • Megan Stark

      Hi Teryn,
      Yes! There are many great, affordable accommodations within walking distance of our workshop home. I’m going to email you with some suggestions.

      Best, Megan

      • Olivia Orr

        Hi there 🙂

        What a lovely space to all connect!

        I too am hoping to attend the 2023 doula workshop 🙂 I’d love to know more details 🙂

        Warmest,

        Olivia

        • Megan Stark

          We’d love to have you, please let us know what questions you might have.

          Best, Megan

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