The Birth Helper

The Birth Helper is a starter course for expecting parents and their friends & family who want to learn about childbirth and how to support someone through it well.

Whether you’re learning for your own birth, showing up for a loved one or exploring starting doula work, this course gives you the essential knowledge and practical skills to help birthing mamas with confidence and care.

Perfect for support team, incl. dads, family, & friends
Learn about birth & comfort techniques for labor

Understand how to help after the baby is born
Build knowledge and confidence to support mom

No prior knowledge or experience required
A foundational step to prepare for being at a birth

The Birth Helper Course Curriculum

MODULE 1 Welcome to the Birth Helper Course!

•⁠ ⁠Welcome!
•⁠ ⁠Intro Message from Jana

MODULE 2 The Doula Foundation

1 History and Purpose of the Doula
2 Doula Lifestyle / Ethics & Confidentiality
3 Golden Rules / Scope of Practice

MODULE 3 Before Baby Comes

4 Informed Consent / Informed Decisions
5 Common Discomforts of Pregnancy
6 Pregnancy Warning Signs & Signs of Labor
7 Prenatal Flow / Writing Birth Preferences

MODULE 4 Know Normal Birth

8.1 Normal Physiological Birth Part 1: Nearing Labor - Active Labor
8.2 Normal Physiological Birth Part 2: Transition - Placenta

MODULE 5 Heart & Hands On

9 How to help mom in labor / Hands-on Session 1

MODULE 6 Next Steps

10 How to get GEM Doula Certification / Q&A

MODULE 7 Practice Comfort Skills

11 Hands-on Session 2
12 More Comfort Measures & Tools
13 The Doula Bag

MODULE 8 The Spirituality of Birth

14 Intro to The Spirituality of Birth
15 Body, Soul & Spirit
16 How to Engage the Spirit / Spiritual support of the laboring woman

MODULE 9 Hospital & Difficult Birth

17 Hospital Procedures & Interventions Pt. 1
18 Hospital Procedures & Interventions Pt. 2
19 Miles Circuit & Fantastic 4

MODULE 10 Caring For Mama After Birth

20 Immediate Postpartum Needs & Norms
21 Postpartum Doula Support Services