Education | Inspiration | Support
IN-PERSON
Birth and postnatal doula training in a small group
Spend four days learning with Kicki Hansard and no more than seven other students.
We will explore pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period alongside communication, boundaries, trauma-aware support and the practical foundations of beginning your doula work.
The course includes pre-course and post-course learning and leads to the Diploma in Birth & Postnatal Doula Support.
4 DAYS | MAXIMUM 8 PARTICIPANTS | LONDON & HERTFORDSHIRE | £848
What makes learning in person different?
If you feel drawn to supporting women and families through pregnancy, birth and the early postnatal period, this course will help you turn that interest into practical understanding and a clearer sense of how you might work as a doula.
Learning in person gives you space to ask questions as they arise, hear different perspectives and reflect with other aspiring doulas who are beginning the same journey. You can practise comfort measures and massage, explore positions for labour and look at ways of supporting feeding, positioning and attachment.
The course draws upon more than 20 years of experience supporting families and training doulas. Alongside learning what a doula does, you will begin developing the emotional steadiness, communication skills and professional awareness needed to support people through experiences that can sometimes feel uncertain or intense.
By the time you have completed the course and the reflective learning, you will have a clearer understanding of antenatal preparation, labour and birth support and postnatal care. You will also have explored how to begin your doula work, establish professional boundaries and start shaping your own doula business.
Your learning can continue through the BirthBliss community, live support sessions and our optional Certification Programme as you begin gaining experience with families.
What will I receive when I finish?
When you successfully complete the course, including the pre-course and post-course learning, you'll be awarded The BirthBliss Doula Academy Diploma in Birth & Postnatal Doula Support.
The Diploma shows that you have completing your doula education.
The course is FEDANT accredited and recognised by The Doula Association of Ireland.
What you'll explore
Pregnancy & preparing for birth
Understanding the antenatal period, birth choices and how a doula can help women and families prepare for what lies ahead.
Trauma aware support
Understanding how previous experiences can affect pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period and learning to work with sensitivity, awareness and appropriate boundaries.
Birth physiology & practical support
How birth works, comfort measures, positioning, the birth environment and practical ways of supporting someone through labour.
Postnatal support & infant feeding
The early weeks after birth, emotional and practical postnatal support, infant feeding and helping families find their own way into parenthood.
Communication & advocacy
Listening well, asking useful questions, supporting informed decision making and understanding the difference between supporting someone's voice and speaking for them.
Becoming a working doula
Understanding your role, professional boundaries, working with maternity professionals and the practical foundations of setting up your doula business.
Your course facilitator, Kicki Hansard
Kicki has worked as a doula since 2002 and has been teaching doulas since 2005. She founded The BirthBliss Doula Academy in 2012 and has trained more than 1,500 doulas in the UK and internationally. Her teaching draws on more than two decades of supporting families and training doulas, alongside continued study and a deep interest in how we support people through one of the most significant transitions of their lives.
What does it feel like?
"This experience has been truly transformative. I’ve loved every second of learning, growing, and connecting. I now feel 100% prepared and deeply inspired to begin my journey as a doula. Grateful for the knowledge, support, and community that have made this week so special!"
LarenaDoula
"I highly recommend Kicki’s course for anyone considering becoming a doula. Kicki’s knowledge and experience are impressive, and she shares it in a warm and approachable manner, providing plenty of laughs along the way! I have learned so much and feel inspired and excited about my new venture following this course."
Laura Waltzer
"Kicki’s 4-day course was fantastic! I loved it from start to finish. Kicki is very insightful, driven, informative, knowledgeable, and fun! I came away energised, motivated and excited to start my new career as a doula. Thank you so much Kicki!"
Lisa Le Touze
Your journey doesn't end with the course
Completing your BirthBliss course and receiving your Diploma in Birth & Postnatal Doula Support is an important milestone, but you don't then have to work everything out on your own.
You'll continue to have access to the BirthBliss community, our members' area with resources and templates and regular live Zoom sessions where you can keep learning, ask questions and stay connected with other doulas.
As you begin working with families, you can also choose to continue into the BirthBliss Certification Programme, where you'll work alongside an experienced Doula Coach and have somewhere to take the questions, experiences and situations that naturally arise when you start practising as a doula.
Every BirthBliss graduate also receives six months free membership of The Doula Directory, giving you a place to create your professional profile and begin making it easier for families looking for a doula to find you.
The course gives you the knowledge and preparation to begin. The support afterwards is there as you put that learning into practice.
The practical details
Four consecutive days, Monday to Thursday, usually 9 am to 5 pm with the final day ending at about 4.30 pm. Current venues are in London and Watford. The fee is £848 and you can pay in full or use a three or six month payment plan at no additional cost. Accommodation and lunch are not included.
Questions before you book?
Still researching your options?
Read our Complete Guide to Becoming a Doula in the UK for a clear explanation of training, qualifications, certification, costs and starting your doula business.