Welcome to Our Program
A research-informed postpartum doula training that prepares you to support families, strengthen parent–baby relationships, and grow into confident professional practice—whether in independent doula work or the expanding field of family support and home visiting programs.
The first months after a baby arrives are a profound time of transition for every member of a family. Doulaing The Doula’s Postpartum Doula Certification Program prepares you to support families during this tender and transformative stage. Grounded in Dr. Amy Gilliland’s decades of work in attachment, infant mental health, and human development, our approach helps infants and their caregivers develop mutually satisfying relationships. While we certainly “mother the mother” in the traditional doula way, we help all family members learn to recognize and understand their baby’s unique ways of communicating and connecting.
Rather than arriving with a rigid set of instructions or formula, DTD postpartum doulas learn to observe carefully, recognize a family’s existing strengths, and build upon them. Our goal is to help families settle into their new lives with confidence, deepen their enjoyment of the postpartum experience, and strengthen the relationships that will shape their child’s earliest years.
““DTD helped me understand babies and parents in a completely different way. I now feel confident entering a home and supporting families during those first fragile weeks.”
— L.L., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, DTD Postpartum Doula Training Attendee
Postpartum Doula Training Dates
April 17-19, 2026 Madison, Wisconsin
Why Choose DTD for Your Postpartum Education
DTD postpartum doulas are trained to understand the relationship between parent and baby—not just manage household tasks.
Many postpartum doula trainings teach helpful skills—but few prepare you for the long-term realities of supporting families and building a sustainable practice. At Doulaing The Doula, we approach education as guided professional development. Over several months, you work in a small group with an experienced Coach, reflecting on real experiences, asking questions, and growing your confidence as you step into your role. Certification happens when you complete the requirements and feel ready—not on a rigid timeline.
What truly distinguishes the DTD program is the depth of knowledge we bring to postpartum support. Our training integrates three areas that are rarely taught together: infant mental health and attachment, strengths-based observation of family dynamics, and preparation for working within emerging home visiting and family support programs. These skills allow postpartum doulas to do more than provide practical help—they allow you to understand what babies and parents are communicating to each other, support parents in building confidence, and strengthen the earliest relationships in a family.
DTD prepares you not only to build a successful postpartum doula practice, but also to participate in the broader systems of care that are increasingly recognizing the value of relationship-centered support during the earliest months of life.
“This training changed how I observe families. Instead of giving advice, I learned to see what was already working and help parents build confidence in themselves and their baby.”
— SD, Madison, Wisconsin, Certified Postpartum Doula
What You Will Learn
Supporting families in the postpartum period requires a wide range of knowledge and skills. In this program, you will learn how to enter a household with confidence, provide nurturing care, and help parents build trust in themselves and their baby. Our training combines practical postpartum doula skills with deeper insight into family relationships, infant development, and the emotional realities of early parenthood.
Supporting Families
- communication skills
- trauma-informed care
- safer sleep options
- working with different family structures
- family values and cultural traditions
Understanding Babies
- infant mental health and attachment
- sleeping and crying
- diapering with a purpose
Complex Situations
- NICU and preterm care
- Medical complications
- multiples
- challenging families
Professional Practice
- the business of being a postpartum doula
- boundaries and personal safety
- self-care and stress management
Together, these skills prepare you to support families with both practical care and deep understanding of the emotional and developmental realities of the postpartum period.
“I started using the newborn communication and observation tools immediately with families. It was a whole new way to get to know their baby, and so fun to be a part of.”
— M.D., Brooklyn, New York
Support on Your Postpartum Doula Certification Journey
Training is only the beginning. What shapes confident postpartum doulas is guided experience and thoughtful reflection.
Throughout your certification process, you’ll work closely with our Director of Postpartum Programs, Jaime Healy-Plotkin, who will mentor you during training and support you for the next six months as you begin working with families and building your practice.
In addition to coursework and fieldwork, your certification includes:
Foundations of Postpartum Doula Practice
A structured course to help you clarify your target clients, develop professional paperwork, build a marketing strategy, and navigate your first client experiences with confidence.
Postpartum Book Club
A facilitated discussion space to deepen your understanding of infant development, family dynamics, and the emotional realities of early parenting while building community with fellow postpartum doulas.
“All of the regular meetings and assignments kept me on track. I never realized just how complex doula work was until I started doing it…I don’t know if I would have continued (on my own). I felt like my trainer was always there if I had a question or needed reassurance.” – DTD Certified Birth Doula, now in the postpartum doula program
Your Pathway to Certification
Our certification process is designed to be clear, supportive, and achievable. You will complete coursework, gain hands-on experience with families, and engage in reflective learning—all with guidance from the DTD team.
Coursework & Workshops
Attend our core courses and workshops, in-person and online.
Complete Core Training
Attend the DTD Childbirth Course, DTD Postpartum Course, and our 3-Day Postpartum Doula Training (in any order)
Enter the Certification Program
Sign our Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics, receive your provisional certification and directory listing, and start supporting families!
Complete Fieldwork & Reflection
Support 3–4 families, complete required observation and reflection work, while completing online coursework and discussing required readings in small groups.
Final Review
Submit your materials for review and receive full certification from the DTD team.
What You Receive as a Certification Candidate
When you enroll in the DTD Postpartum Doula Certification Program, you receive professional tools, identity support, and resources to help you begin working confidently with families and presenting yourself as a trained professional.
- Fieldwork observation tools
- Parent feedback materials
- A copy of Birth and Attachment
- Provisional certification status and directory listing (supports hospital and professional identification)
- Community resources and DTD materials to support your professional identity
Essential Success Package
Ideal for doulas who want comprehensive training and certification with strong foundational support.
- Seven courses
- Certification Program
- Directory Listing
- Social Media post featuring you
Premier Success Package
Designed for doulas who want advanced mentorship, deeper community engagement, and one-on-one coaching support. Everything in the Essential Success Package plus:
- Access to All In Person and Online Courses (except birth doula training)
- Two private coaching sessions with DTD Faculty of your choice
- One private coaching session with Amy Gilliland
- Free access to all DTD community events for two years
