ɫ����̳

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Jessica Parent has a strong instinct when it comes to maternal care, and being a mom of three teens, she has extensive knowledge to bring into her classroom as an instructor for the new Doula Education Training program at ɫ����̳ Extension School (RWU EXT).

Parent has 15 years of experience under her belt, starting as a birth doula and breastfeeding specialist, eventually switching to postpartum work and now works in overnight postpartum care. In addition to her dedication as a doula, she runs a summer Girl Scout camp for young girls.

As doula care continues to peak the interests of expectant mothers, Parent emphasizes the importance of having the support of others besides your medical team.

“There’s the term, ‘it takes a village’ … but we don’t have that anymore,” she said. “Having that additional support system in place for them has become more and more important.”

Parent observes a larger shift to holistic care, home births and natural childbirths over the past 25 years, those of which having a doula to follow during the entire perinatal process is pertinent. In a , 75 percent of pregnant individuals expressed interest in having a doula, but only 6 percent had access to one. Expanding education and training resources is critical to provide accessible care in this field.

ɫ����̳ doula education program offers training in emotional and educational support to provide comfort and ease to patients. The program focuses on birth plan development, labor support techniques and postpartum recovery care, and provides guidance on infant care, breastfeeding and mental health support. What separates this training from traditional medicine is the emphasis on advocacy for one’s health and bedside manner of following a patient from the beginning through to the end of their birthing journey.

All of this is packed into a 20-hour, in-person perinatal program, fulfilling the educational component required to be certified by the . Additional CPR and ServSafe certifications may be required to obtain Certified Perinatal Doula status.

For full-time employees like Heidi Dagwan, the program fit well into her current schedule as a university employee and was able to easily complete the three-day intensive program to supplement her interest in the doula field. As a volunteer end-of-life doula, she’s always been interested in the birthing aspect and thought it would be complementary to her work.

In addition to the RWU EXT Doula Education Training certification, Dagwan received her end-of-life doula certificate in November from the University of Vermont. As someone who cared for her own family members in their final days, she was inspired through her own spiritual journey to help those who are ill and their families. After her training, she began volunteering with hospice care, aiding families in facilitating difficult conversations, dividing up responsibilities, but also the more tender elements like selecting music.

“I love being an advocate for people,” Dagwan said. “The birthing doula serves that purpose to make sure the client is getting exactly what they want out of the birth and be their vice during the process.”

Between her combined doula training, Dagwan said it “made you look at the whole picture.” She was touched and felt she could bring her end-of-life doula expertise to the discussion of stillborns, as this difficult journey would encompass all of her training.

Another student in the winter session, Sofia Day-Taylor, found the timing of the course was perfect as she continued her education exploration. After a few gap years, she found that taking non-degree classes worked best for her. Currently, she’s in the process of getting her certification as a life coach and doula education training was the perfect complement.

“During the program, I saw so many overlaps of active listening and open-ended questions,” Day-Taylor said. “It’s about having an open, accepting heart toward your client. It’s OK if you haven’t shared a background with them. I’m not a mom, but I don’t need to be a mom to be a doula.”

The three-day intensive course worked well for Day-Taylor as she was in between jobs and was looking to fill her time with courses. She commended Parent for the daily structure of classwork, knowing what to expect each day. She intends to become certified with the state to add doula to her toolbox as she continues her journey to becoming a life coach. Although the course can be useful for those targeting the birthing field, Day-Taylor said the training can be helpful for anyone working with children, including extended family and teachers.

“The program doesn’t have to be for people who want to be a doula,” Day-Taylor said. “It’s just a wealth of knowledge about humans.”

The next session will run on Saturdays from June 7-28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the RWU EXT School, 1 Empire St., Providence, R.I. Books and parking are included in tuition. Apply by May 30, 2025 for consideration.