Become a Postpartum Doula

with melissa chappell, ldem, cpm

If you feel called to support women as they become mothers…

You’re Invited to join Us in becoming a postpartum doula!

Postpartum care in our country is failing women and families, and more social support is the answer.

Community postpartum doulas are an integral part of that social support team.

What is a Postpartum Doula?

A postpartum doula is a woman who assists families who have just had babies in the forty-day recovery and integration period after birth. In this training, you’ll gain all of the basic skills and knowledge, plus some of the advanced skills and knowledge you’ll need to help families gracefully navigate the transition and healing from pregnancy to having a new baby!

This training is for anyone who feels called to be part of the remedy for the many issues women face in the postpartum period such as…

  • Depression

  • Anxiety and OCD

  • Lack of family support and paid time off

  • Insufficient time and support for physical and emotional healing

  • Absence of knowledge around newborn care and breastfeeding

  • Loneliness and isolation

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN AT A postpartum DOULA TRAINING…

  • What is the role of a Postpartum Doula?

  • Postpartum physiology

  • Immediate postpartum period

    • Bleeding

    • Afterpains

    • Warning signs

    • Initial breastfeeding latch

    • Newborn care

    • Diapering plus options

    • Vaginal / perineal wound care

    • Padsicles

    • Herbal packs

    • Herbs for immediate postpartum w/ recipes

    • Maternal and newborn sleep

    • Food and recipes for postpartum

  • Weeks 1-6

    • Bleeding and afterpains

    • Pelvic floor health

    • Breastfeeding helps, support, problems, and solutions

    • Recognizing babies who are surviving vs those who thriving

    • Gathering social support through postpartum plans

    • Food and recipes for postpartum

    • Maternal and newborn sleep

    • Sexuality and fertility

    • Postpartum mood disorders

  • Rituals and Ceremonies of the postpartum period

    • Cord burning

    • Postpartum bath

    • Closing of the bones

    • Rebozo wrapping

    • Postpartum cacao

    • 3 ways to honor the placenta

    • Poetry and music for the postpartum period

    • Perineal sitz bath herbs and blends

    • Womb massage

    • Herbal foot baths

    • Postpartum mother’s blessings

  • Processing and Holding Space for…

    • Birth story

    • Trauma

    • NICU

    • Extended hospital stay or transfer

    • Changes in newborn feeding plans

    • The power of rebirthing ceremonies

  • Cultural awareness and competency

  • Business aspects of being a postpartum doula

  • How to gracefully end the postpartum doula relationship

  • Certification questions and test

About Melissa

Melissa is a state licensed and nationally certified midwife which enables her to bring an expertise to her doula trainings that you won’t often find in other workshops.

Over the course of 21 years, Melissa has trained over 1,300 women to be doulas. Melissa’s workshops are heartfelt and connective. You won’t just learn how to be a doula, you’ll also grow and develop your personal expertise as an advocate, supporter, and champion in other areas of life, as well.

 

 WORKSHOP POLICIES & DETAILS

  1. This is a two-day training held on Friday and Saturday, from 9am to 6:30pm both days. You are required to attend the whole training in order to receive your certificate.

  2. You will be certified after taking this training. Please see FAQs below for details.

  3. At this training you will receive a copy of, “The First Forty Days.”

  4. At the training, you’ll be provided with delicious lunches and snacks throughout, and you’ll receive a resource book of copy-able handouts and articles for use in your own postpartum doula practice.

  5. There are two prerequisites for attending this class: You must 1) read the book, “Nurturing Beginnings, Guide to Postpartum Care for Doulas and Community Outreach Workers AND 2) have a basic working knowledge of the six-week postpartum period, such as knowledge about what postpartum bleeding is, what it means to have a vaginal or perineal tear, what engorgement means, etc.

  6. Non-mobile nursing babies are allowed but please be considerate of other students. Older nursing babies are allowed to visit on breaks but not during class. Dogs are not allowed, unless they are registered service animals (you must show the certificate).

  7. Workshop fees are non-refundable but can be put toward future training if you aren’t able to attend the workshop you registered for. You must coordinate with me to reschedule, as you will not be automatically added to a new training without chatting with me first.

  • Doula Trainee

    “Melissa was an incredible instructor for my Doula training! She has so much knowledge and you can tell she has a true love and passion for what she does. She really created an incredible space for all of us to feel loved and comfortable to not only learn but to feel open to talking about our own experiences and to connect with all of the other doulas in training. I left the training every day full of excitement and gratitude for being able to be apart of her amazing training. I ended the training feeling confident in what I had learned from her in order to start my Doula career.”

  • Tara C.

    “I took Melissa Chappell‘s Doula training a couple years ago. I am a grandmother and having had all C-sections when I was child-bearing age, it was not only informational and educational but very healing to me as a mother. Melissa has a way of endearing people to her and being able to guide them and teach them in a way that is very special. I would recommend her training to anyone who wants to be not only an educated and evidence-based Doula, but also a compassionate and caring Doula.”

  • Alyssa Barnett

    “This doula training by Melissa is absolutely incredible! She brings such a calm, empowering presence with her and teaches you how to do the same for laboring women! There was a great variety in activities, yummy snacks and such a fun group of doulas working together for the same goal. It prepared me super well for my first births as a doula! I highly recommend this training to everyone who has a desire to become a doula!”

  • Allison Carlson

    “I learned more at this doula training than I did in my entire other doula certification. I tell everyone I meet that wants to be a doula to go to Melissa’s training. She teaches hands on tips, business tips, tips about the birth community, etc! Such a valuable training! 🙏🏽🤍”

  • Kendrah Yardley

    “I am so privileged to have been trained as a doula by one of the best midwives in the state of Utah. The things Melissa taught me and continues to teach me are invaluable parts of my approach to being a doula in my own business. Melissa is so knowledgeable and graceful about birth work. She is eager to impart her years of experience to others and she is such a talented teacher. The best part of her training is truly feeling like you matter to this work. Melissa and her team of professionals really make you feel like there is space for you in the birth world. She is intentional when she speaks to others, she is gentle with her words, and she is passionate about evidence based practices. And if you need any more evidence, she’s just a wonderfully bubbly person all around (and she’s an excellent cook!). Even if you don’t end up certifying with DONA, getting trained by Melissa is something you will never regret!”

  • Cassie Ratushniak

    “Melissa and her doula training opened a whole world full of information, experience, support, and love. Melissa teaches you not only what unconditional support, comfort measures, knowledge, and advocacy can do for other moms during pregnancy and labor, but also what it can do for you and your own experiences. I met a wonderful group of supportive women I still stay in touch with, and Melissa provided such a safe and positive environment for us to all be ourselves. If you are thinking of taking Melissa’s training, do it!!!”

  • Camille Osborn

    “After just a couple moments after being in Melissa’s Doula training I felt like every penny of my investment was worth it. She was so educational and inspiring. I left with a TON of practical information and techniques about how I can best show up for my clients. Her experience as a Midwife and a successful business owner was invaluable! A week after training I found my first family to support as their Doula and I got all the resources from Melissa I needed to feels safe and confident supporting this family. If you keep thinking about whether or not this is a good fit for you, I promise it is. I’m confident to say you won’t find anything else like this out there.”

  • Ana Vidal

    “I took the doula training class because for so long I wanted to be a doula but I did it mostly because my friend was doing it. Melissa changed my life that weekend, her knowledge, her kindness and her heart made me see women on another level and appreciate women’s bodies even more, our ability to create, help bring life into the world, care and nurture one another.”

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Absolutely not. Being a birth doula can inform your postpartum doula practice, just as being a postpartum doula can inform a birth doula practice. Having one or the other first is not necessary as both are very different.

  • Yes! In my twenty years of training, I’ve noticed that it’s very difficult for people to follow through with the certification process when they’re just ready to get out there and work! The last bit of this training is solely focused on making sure you fully understand what you’ve been taught through the use of a multiple choice quiz, a reflection paper, and several scenarios and case studies that we’ll go over as a group and as individuals.

  • Yes! We have one payment plan that allows you to pay half now and half just before the training. You’ll find it at checkout.

  • No. I do not offer refunds because my trainings always get full and a lot of early planning and preparation go into making each training special for the participants. If for some reason you are unable to attend the training, reach out to discuss applying your training fee to a future training.

  • Yes. Please see this calendar of events. I teach 4-8 postpartum doula trainings every year.

  • There are no regulations for doulas because doulas are a non-medical part of the birth team. Some states are considering licensure for doulas but that hasn’t happened as of yet and likely won’t. This means that you can start providing support at any time.

  • Babies who are not yet mobile and are breastfeeding are welcome to attend. That said, I ask that their caregiver is attentive to others and takes the baby out if they are crying or otherwise disrupting the class. For all attendees, it works best when there’s isn’t a crying baby, so whatever you need to work out to make this an enjoyable learning experience for all would be most appreciated.

  • Lunches are provided and we purchase from places that fit all dietary needs and restrictions. We ask, though, that you bring your own water bottle for refill so that we don’t have to use several plastic water bottles.

ARE YOU READY TO ANSWER THE CALL TO improve postpartum experience for mothers?

Join us at the next postpartum doula workshop!

September 15-16, 2023 (sold out)

February 22-23, 2024 (sold out)

August 23-24, 2024 (sold out)

January 17-18, 2025 (sold out)

March 13-17, 2025 - Vail, CO retreat