Understanding the Essentials of Doula Education

When people first start looking into becoming a doula, they often come with a mix of curiosity and questions.

“Do I need a qualification to call myself a doula?”

“Where do I even begin?”

“Is this something I can actually make into a career?”

These are the right questions to ask. But the answers might not be what you’d expect.

Let’s unpack what doula education really involves – and what it doesn’t. Whether you're exploring this path for yourself or just want a better understanding of what doulas actually do, this will give you a solid starting point.

Do You Need Qualifications to Be a Doula?

Legally speaking, no. Doulas aren’t regulated in the UK. There’s no official license and no governing body that decides who can and can’t call themselves a doula. That can feel liberating – but also a bit daunting.

Without a clear path to follow, how do you know you're doing it right?

This is where doula education becomes essential. Not to tick a box or gain a title but to make sure you’re truly prepared to step into this work. Supporting people during one of the most intense and transformational times in their lives requires skill, self-awareness and deep respect. These don’t just appear overnight.

Doula UK, the largest organisation for doulas in the UK, offers a Code of Conduct that many doulas choose to follow. They also approve certain courses that meet their standard, including ours, which helps provide structure, guidance, and a supportive community for new doulas.

What Is Doula Education?

Doula education is a process. It's less about memorising facts and more about building the mindset, knowledge and confidence to walk alongside women through pregnancy, birth and the early days of parenting.

At its core, doula education covers the fundamentals of childbirth and postnatal life, but it also goes far deeper. It involves learning how to listen fully, support without judgement and show up with a calm, consistent presence when others might be overwhelmed.

Good doula education helps you develop your unique approach. You're not being moulded into a copy of someone else. You're uncovering your natural strengths and learning how to apply them in a birth or postnatal setting.

Core Areas Every Doula Course Should Cover

A high-quality doula course will give you a strong foundation in a few key areas. These form the building blocks of your future practice, no matter who you support or where.

1. Birth Physiology

Understanding the natural process of labour and birth is crucial. You'll cover:

• How hormones like oxytocin, endorphins and adrenaline influence birth

• The stages of labour and what typically happens in each

• What helps labour progress and what might interfere

You’re not training to be a midwife or doctor, but you do need to understand how birth works in order to support it well.

2. Emotional and Psychological Support

Birth isn’t just physical. The emotional side of the experience is often what stays with someone for years. You’ll explore:

• How fear can impact labour

• Supporting clients who’ve had trauma

• What holding space actually looks like

• How to be present without needing to fix or advise

This part of your training is where many people realise how deep doula work goes. It’s not about doing more but about being more available in a grounded, non-judgemental way.

3. Postnatal Care

The early days after birth are often overlooked in maternity care, but they’re a huge part of what doulas support. Your course should include:

• Newborn behaviour and communication

• Infant feeding basics (breastfeeding, bottle feeding, expressing)

• What to expect in the postnatal period

• How to support parents emotionally in this vulnerable time

You may find that this part of the course is where you’re most needed – especially if you live in an area with limited support for new families.

4. Boundaries and Scope of Work

Knowing what not to do is just as important. A good doula course will be clear about:

• When to step back and let medical professionals take the lead

• What it means to support choice without imposing your own views

• How to recognise when your client needs more specialised help

It’s about staying in your lane while being a consistent and supportive presence.

5. Building Your Confidence

Doula education isn’t only about the client – it’s about you too. The best courses help you recognise your strengths and face any inner doubts.

You’ll often do this through:

• Role play and group work

• Reflective exercises

• Peer discussions

• Facilitated feedback

You don’t need to be the loudest person in the room to be a brilliant doula. But you do need to know how to trust yourself in the moment.

What Makes a Doula Course Worthwhile?

There’s a growing number of doula courses out there. Some are face-to-face, some are entirely online, some are self-paced, and others run as group intensives. So how do you choose?

Here are some signs that a course is likely to be worth your time and money:

• It’s run by experienced doulas – not just trainers but people who’ve supported a range of births and postnatal families

• It includes real-time interaction – whether online or in person, you need space to discuss, reflect and ask questions

• There’s follow-on support – good training doesn't end after a few days. Look for mentorship, community groups, or ongoing sessions

• It’s upfront about the realities of the work – both the joy and the emotional demands

• It encourages you to develop your own style – rather than copying a set method or formula

Ask questions before signing up. Speak to graduates. Read reviews. A good course will welcome your curiosity.

The Inner Work of Becoming a Doula

No one talks about this enough. Alongside the practical learning, there’s also a lot of inner learning that takes place during doula education.

This might include:

• Challenging your assumptions around birth and parenting

• Looking at your own birth or postnatal experiences

• Unpacking emotional triggers so you don’t bring them into client work

• Learning how to sit with discomfort and not rush in to “fix” it

This isn’t therapy, but it is transformative. Many people say their doula training changed them, not just how they show up for others but how they live their own lives.

Doula Education Is Ongoing

Even after your initial course, you’ll keep learning. Birth and parenting are constantly evolving areas. New research comes out, different trends emerge, and every family brings something new to the table.

You’ll learn by:

• Supporting your first clients and reflecting on what came up

• Connecting with other doulas and hearing their experiences

• Attending extra workshops, reading widely, and staying curious

• Being honest about what you don’t know and being willing to grow

That’s why many doula courses now include an accreditation phase – a period where you work with clients while receiving guidance and feedback. It’s not about grading you. It’s about helping you find your feet and build confidence in real-world situations.

What About Specialised Training?

Once you’ve completed your core doula training, you might want to go deeper in certain areas. Some popular extensions include:

• Supporting survivors of trauma or abuse

• Understanding perinatal mental health

• Bereavement and loss support

• Advanced infant feeding support

• Bio-mechanics and rebozo support

These aren’t compulsory, but they help you feel better prepared to support a wide range of clients. As doulas, we often work in intimate, emotionally charged spaces. Being as informed and aware as possible is part of our responsibility.

The Role of Mentoring and Peer Support

Being a doula can be isolating without the right network. Having someone you can call after a tough birth or a group you can turn to for support makes all the difference.

This is why good doula education includes community. Whether it’s:

• A WhatsApp group

• Monthly Zoom catch-ups

• In-person meetups or retreats

• A private online forum for sharing resources

You need people around you who get the work. Not just what you do but what it takes emotionally.

Some courses also offer access to a coach or mentor as you start taking on clients. This can be a lifeline when you're navigating contracts, addressing client concerns, or simply trying to stay grounded.

Can Doula Work Become a Career?

Yes. But it takes time and intention. Your doula training should also give you a sense of what the practical side of the work looks like.

This includes:

• Setting your rates

• Managing your schedule

• Getting insurance

• Creating a basic website or profile

• Understanding how to attract and retain clients

Some doulas do one or two births a year alongside other work or family responsibilities. Others go all in and build a full-time business. There’s no right way – just your way.

Real People, Real Journeys

Let’s bring it to life with a few quick stories.

Tasha, a mid-thirties mum of two, joined a doula course after feeling let down during her own birth. She didn’t think she had the confidence to support others. But during the course, she realised that her empathy and lived experience were exactly what other women needed. She now runs her own local doula collective.

Meena, in her early fifties, trained after years of working in social care. She was looking for something more heart-led. She now combines doula work with volunteering at a perinatal mental health project and says it’s the most meaningful work she’s ever done.

and non-traditional families and brings a unique presence to every client relationship.

Final Thoughts

Doula education isn’t about collecting qualifications. It’s about learning how to show up – fully, respectfully, and consistently – for others. It’s about building the skills and mindset to support, not rescue. To walk beside, not lead.

If you feel drawn to this work, that pull is worth listening to. If you’re already walking the path, keep learning, keep growing, and keep supporting others in finding their strength.

This work matters. The way we show up matters. And good doula education is where it all begins.

Thinking about training? Chat to people who’ve done it. Ask about their experience. Take your time to find the right course for you.

And if you’ve already trained, share this article with someone who’s still at the start. They’ll thank you for it.