How to Become a Doula: A Real + Raw Guide to Starting Your Birthwork Journey
So you feel the call to birthwork.
Maybe it started when you held space for a friend during labor, or maybe you’ve always been drawn to the intensity, the intimacy, the realness of birth.
Either way, you’re not alone—and you’re in the right place.
We’re Flow of Life, and we’ve trained hundreds of doulas across the U.S. and beyond. We’re here to break it down for you—real talk, no fluff. Because becoming a doula is more than getting a piece of paper. It’s about stepping into one of the most sacred, misunderstood, and important support roles on the planet.
Let’s dive in.
What Does a Doula Actually Do?
A doula is a non-medical professional who supports people physically, emotionally, and informationally during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.
There are different types of doulas:
Birth doulas support clients prenatally and during labor.
Postpartum doulas support clients after birth, often in the home.
Full-spectrum doulas support all reproductive experiences, including abortion, miscarriage, and surrogacy.
Doulas do not perform clinical tasks (like checking dilation or catching babies). But they do hold it down when it comes to:
Comfort measures and labor support
Advocacy and education
Holding emotional and cultural space
Providing referrals and resources
Step 1: Understand the Role and Scope
Before jumping into a training, it’s key to understand what being a doula really involves:
On-call life: unpredictable hours and missed sleep
Emotional labor: supporting folks through fear, trauma, and transformation
Collaborative care: working with partners, nurses, midwives, and OBs
This is intimate work. And it’s not for everyone. But if you’re willing to show up with humility, learn constantly, and commit to your growth—it might be for you.
Step 2: Choose the Right Doula Training Program
Here’s where a lot of folks get stuck. There are a lot of doula trainings out there. But not all are created equal.
Look for a training that:
Centers inclusion + trauma-informed care
Goes deep into anatomy and physiology
Offers mentorship and ongoing support
Respects your lived experience and intuition
We designed our Embodied Doula Training to do exactly that. Because the world doesn’t need more cookie-cutter doulas. It needs grounded, embodied birthworkers who understand the pelvis, power dynamics, and how to actually support someone in labor.
Step 3: Get Certified (or Not—Let’s Talk About It)
Here’s the truth: you don’t legally need to be certified to practice as a doula in most areas.
However, a high-quality certification can:
Build your confidence
Help you network
Open more doors at hospitals or birth centers
Certification shouldn’t be a hoop to jump through. It should be a transformative education. If you’re choosing a program, ask: “Will this training change how I show up for my clients?”
If the answer’s yes—go for it.
Step 4: Get Experience and Build Your Confidence
No one feels 100% ready at their first birth. That’s normal.
Here’s how to start gaining experience:
Attend births as a backup or volunteer doula
Offer sliding scale rates while you gain hours
Join a local doula collective or community
Stay connected to mentors + peers
We offer mentorship inside our Flow of Life trainings—because we know how vital community is when you’re just starting out.
Step 5: Start Your Doula Business or Join a Collective
Once you’ve trained and attended some births, you’ll decide whether you want to:
Start your own doula biz (freelance model)
Work in partnership or a collective (check out our WNC collective here!)
Join a hospital-based doula program
If you go the solo route, you’ll need to:
Create a brand + website
Set your rates and boundaries
Build relationships with providers
Get liability insurance (check your state)
We cover this in our training too—because being a doula is more than heart work. It’s a career.
Bonus: How to Make a Sustainable Career as a Doula
Burnout is real. And too many amazing doulas leave the field because they weren’t supported to build something sustainable.
To stay in it for the long haul:
Charge rates that honor your time
Rest between births
Collaborate, don’t compete
Keep learning (PYTT, Spinning Babies, lactation, etc.)
And most of all? Stay connected to your why. This work is sacred. And your presence matters.
Ready to Become a Doula?
We’d love to support you. Check out our upcoming Embodied Doula Trainings and get the education, mentorship, and movement tools you actually need to thrive.
🔗 www.theflowoflifeyoga.com
📲 @flow_of_life_yoga
You don’t have to do this alone.
Let’s change the perinatal health game—together.
