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Starting the Search for a Doula Training
When I first started looking into doula training programs, I thought it would be simple. I’d pick a program, take the course, get certified, and start working with clients. Easy, right?
Not even close.
I quickly learned there’s a whole world of doula certification programs out there, and each one claims to be the best. I was already carrying my own birth story, a story that was filled with trauma, medical coercion, and a lot of unanswered questions, and I knew I needed a program that would both teach me how to be a skilled birth doula and help me heal. Ok, well, I did not know that exactly at the time, but I do now!
What I did know for sure, I wanted to support families in a way I hadn’t been supported. But I also didn’t want to choose the wrong program and end up wasting time, money, and energy because Reddit threads are filled with horror stories!
Why I Chose a Doula Training Online
At first, I thought I had to do my doula training in person, because that’s what everyone seemed to recommend. But when I started looking closely, it just didn’t make sense for my life. Also, there is one organization that gets talked about a lot but it is just because it has been around the longest, please do your research before signing up! OK, here are the logistics that I was struggling with:
- Travel costs.
- Childcare costs.
- Time away from my baby.
And for what? A weekend-long crash course where I’d be expected to absorb everything about birth work in two or three days? There’s just no way you can truly learn all you need to be a confident, effective doula in a single weekend.
That’s when I realized an online doula training made way more sense for me. With bebo mia’s full spectrum doula certification (aka the Maternal Support Practitioner training), I could work through the content at my own pace, attend live classes when I could, and watch the recordings when I couldn’t. They offer more than 85 live events each cohort, and the variety of topics blew me away. These live events were such things like book club, practicum sessions, office hours, workshops, events, business lessons and more.
The best part? I wasn’t just learning from one trainer in my city, I was learning from experts and classmates in over 50 countries. I heard perspectives from people in completely different healthcare systems, cultures, and communities. It made me think bigger about what it means to truly serve families.
Making Sure the Doula Certification Program Matches Your Values
Here’s something I didn’t think about at first, but I wish I had: values matter.
There are doula programs out there that, frankly, don’t celebrate all families. They might avoid talking about medical racism, obstetric violence, or reproductive justice. They might not take a strong stance on birther autonomy.
Once I realized that, I knew I couldn’t put my money into a training that wasn’t aligned with what I believe in. I needed an organization that didn’t shy away from these hard conversations…and not just in a single “diversity module,” but throughout the whole program.
That’s what I found with bebo mia. The entire doula training is built with an anti-oppression framework. We learned about everything from supporting sex workers to caring for families with disabilities, to honoring birth rituals from around the world. It wasn’t tokenized…it was woven into the DNA of the course.
The Free Therapy Nobody Talks About
This is the part that still makes me emotional.
bebo mia includes free therapy for all students and alumni. I’ve never heard of another doula training online that does this.
Learning about medical racism, obstetric violence, and birth trauma can be heavy. Pair that with processing your own experiences, and it’s a lot. Having access to therapy while I was in the program meant I could process my feelings in a safe, supported space instead of carrying them into my client work.
That alone made this training different from anything else I’d seen.
Avoiding Hidden Costs – Doula Training Organizations are sneaky!
When I was comparing doula training programs, I started to notice a pattern: the tuition price was just the beginning. There were hidden exam fees, recertification fees, membership fees, and continuing education requirements that cost hundreds of dollars every year.
I couldn’t believe how quickly the numbers added up.
With bebo mia, there are no hidden fees… like, never, ever. No surprise costs to stay certified. In fact, they give you free continuing education for life. That means you can keep learning and growing without worrying about your bank account.
Seriously, I cannot stress enough to review and ask about the hidden fees before you sign up for your doula training. One of the other programs I looked into even takes a percentage of your client fees for the first year! Yuck!
Another cool thing is that bebo mia donates over $50K a year to low and no income women and queer folks around the world. Yes, they have an amazing scholarship program. Check that out too, and if you are not sure if you qualify, just apply anyway! You can ask for a full or partial scholarship. It made me really happy with my selection of doula training courses when I heard about this in the program.
Why Comprehensive Doula Training Matters
Some programs only cover the basics, you know, phases of labor, a little bit about infant feeding, maybe a brief section on postpartum. But birth work is complex, being in medical facilities requires confidence, and families’ needs are diverse.
In my full spectrum doula training, we covered so much more:
- Supporting surrogates and intended parents
- Caring for families after loss or abortion
- Understanding cultural traditions and rituals
- Navigating disability and chronic illness in the perinatal period
- Trauma-informed care from the very first meeting
And because the training was spread out over time, I had space to practice what I learned, ask questions, and actually integrate the information. It made me feel prepared, not just informed.
Learning How to Build a Doula Business
This was another thing I didn’t know to look for: not every doula certification includes business training. In fact, there was no time to learn about the how-tos in the weekend doula trainings.
It’s one thing to know how to be a doula – it’s another thing to know how to actually find clients, set your rates, write a contract, and create sustainable income. bebo mia’s program included a full business component, so I graduated not just ready to support births, but ready to run my own thriving doula business.
They also have cool business support tools that were available if I wanted to keep the business learning going.
The Community That Lasts
Maybe my favorite part of this whole journey is the community.
In other doula training programs I’d heard from folks in the threads, once the course ended, so did the connection with instructors. One person shared that they had taken 3 trainings with the same organization and never saw or was able to get a hold of her trainers again! What?!
At bebo mia, the education team is still there for me after graduation. The alumni network is full of doulas who share resources, refer clients, and cheer each other on.
I’ve made friends in other countries, swapped client care tips with doulas in different specialties, and even planned a trip to visit one of my classmates in the Netherlands. That ongoing support makes all the difference.
If You’re Thinking About a Doula Training Online…
Looking back, I’m so grateful I took the time to find a doula training that fit my life, my values, and my goals.
If you’re starting your search, here’s what I wish I’d known:
- Ask about the values behind the training.
- Look for a program that offers both live and recorded options.
- Find out if there are hidden costs to stay certified.
- Make sure the curriculum goes beyond the basics.
- See if they’ll actually teach you how to run a business.
- Pay attention to what kind of community you’ll be joining.
For me, bebo mia’s full spectrum doula certification checked every single box… and then some. The Maternal Support Practitioner training gave me the skills, the confidence, and the support to step into birth work in a way that feels sustainable and deeply fulfilling. I made friends, my confidence grew and I have paid off all my credit card debt and even took my family on a week long beach vacation. I did all of this while protecting and celebrating families – it is truly a dream.
PS: After I completed my online doula training, bebo mia released a stand alone self study birth doula training. I have not taken this course, and I think it would be a great entry point if you are doula career curious or if you are sure you are not into fertility, loss or postpartum work. It is go-at-your-own-pace and it comes with your full birth doula business in a box which is cool. Again, I did the Maternal Support Practitioner training, not this one, but there were a couple people in a workshop I took that were transferring to the full spectrum course after getting those birth nerd vibes from the birth doula course.
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