Birth & Postpartum Doula Training
New Course Begins March 1
Family Trees Birth Programs is a Lamaze-Accredited Childbirth Educator program offering a variety of courses and workshops in maternal-child healthcare including birth and postpartum doulas.
Our Doula School comprehensive curriculum prepares new doulas to step into their own doula practice fully prepared to care for a family. This affordable program is dedicated to empowering all people pursuing this career.
Flexibility
Family Trees Doula School consists of a 16-week on-demand course that students can work through at their own pace. An optional hands-on training is offered throughout the year. The hands-on training is an additional fee and is not required for for Doula School completion.
Flexibility
Family Trees Doula School consists of a 16-week on-demand course that students can work through at their own pace. An optional hands-on training is offered throughout the year. The hands-on training is an additional fee and is not required for for Doula School completion.
Dual Certification
We teach a continuity of care model, meaning students learn to support families from pregnancy through postpartum. Our doulas are well-equipped to provide prenatal support, birth support, and postpartum support. Our curriculum covers topics from anatomy & physiology, childbirth education, comfort measures, postpartum care, and basic lactation. Family Trees doulas earn a dual certification as a birth and postpartum doula. |
About Family Trees
We believe that childbirth is a normal, biological part of life and that evidence-based care and compassionate support during pregnancy and birth are basic human rights.
Family Trees seeks to educate professional, caring doulas who will support all families with respectful and personalized care, while making significant contributions to the doula profession.
While providing labor and postpartum support are our key roles, doulas must also have additional skills to have a successful practice. Doulas are business owners, researchers, teachers, writers, website designers, and so much more.
Doulas must be able to speak with medical professionals, understand research, write thoughtful, evidence based papers, present topics of interest to other professionals, organize events, yet maintain caring hands when called to a birth. Our program develops professional job skills for the successful doula.
Expand your skills by learning additional modalities that support childbirth, further your knowledge (as it applies to your scope of practice), and more.
We believe that childbirth is a normal, biological part of life and that evidence-based care and compassionate support during pregnancy and birth are basic human rights.
Family Trees seeks to educate professional, caring doulas who will support all families with respectful and personalized care, while making significant contributions to the doula profession.
While providing labor and postpartum support are our key roles, doulas must also have additional skills to have a successful practice. Doulas are business owners, researchers, teachers, writers, website designers, and so much more.
Doulas must be able to speak with medical professionals, understand research, write thoughtful, evidence based papers, present topics of interest to other professionals, organize events, yet maintain caring hands when called to a birth. Our program develops professional job skills for the successful doula.
Expand your skills by learning additional modalities that support childbirth, further your knowledge (as it applies to your scope of practice), and more.
Getting Started
Register for Doula School! Upon registration & payment in full, students will be provided with a required reading list and access to the on-demand, online Doula School. This generally takes 24-48 hours to activate your account.
On-Demand Doula School Begins
Student doulas will receive access to the 16-week online Doula School modules within 24-48 hours. Students must complete the online modules in order to receive a certificate of completion. Students who are unable to complete the course within the 16 weeks may request extended time for an additional fee.
Register for Doula School! Upon registration & payment in full, students will be provided with a required reading list and access to the on-demand, online Doula School. This generally takes 24-48 hours to activate your account.
On-Demand Doula School Begins
Student doulas will receive access to the 16-week online Doula School modules within 24-48 hours. Students must complete the online modules in order to receive a certificate of completion. Students who are unable to complete the course within the 16 weeks may request extended time for an additional fee.
Hands-On Training
Family Trees offers live, hands-on training for new and experienced doulas. Participation in the hands-on training is optional for Doula School students. The live, hands-on training is offered virtually over Zoom as well as in-person in Lancaster, PA. Training dates will be posted here. Birth & Postpartum Support During Training Attending births and/or providing hands-on postpartum support during Doula School is encouraged but not required to complete certification. Investment: 16 week Doula School $375 Optional hands-on birth doula training $100 Optional hands-on postpartum doula training $100 |
About The Instructor
Wendy is the Executive Director and Instructor for Family Trees Birth Programs. Her exciting and dynamic teaching style makes Family Trees classes and seminars fun and energetic. Wendy holds a Masters degree in Health Sciences with a concentration in midwifery and women's healthcare. In 2015, she was inducted into the prestigious Fellowship of the Academy of Certified Childbirth Educators and earned Lamaze Accreditation for the Family Trees Lamaze Educator program. |
After a 15 year career in early childhood and art education, Wendy answered the call to work with childbearing families. She became a certified doula through DONA International & Lamaze Educator through Duke University's ADHOC program. While in midwifery school, she spent over five years working as a birth assistant in the local Amish and Mennonite communities. She has supported hundreds of mothers as they've welcomed their new babies into this world. A graduate from UC San Diego's Lactation program, she is a Lactation Education Counselor (LEC) and Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC).
As a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE) and Program Director for Lamaze, Wendy provides empowering education to parents and professionals. She consistently receives glowing reviews from her students and coworkers. Wendy has taught at major hospital systems throughout the United States and has trained childbirth educators from around the world.
Professionally, Wendy was involved with research at Towson University School of Nursing which was published in the Journal of Perinatal Education. She regularly guest lectures at several universities and hospitals across the US. Wendy was the featured speaker at the regional AWHONN meeting, a co-presenter at the Nurse Family Partnership state conference, and often presents at the Lamaze International and related conferences. She proudly represented her state lobbying for better maternity care on Capitol Hill in 2017 & 2020, holding appointments with multiple members of the US Congress.
Committed to dynamic teaching, Wendy volunteers with multiple organizations. She is the Education Council Chair for Lamaze International and a co-trainer and advisor at Diversifying Doulas Initiative.
Wendy is passionate about addressing the healthcare disparities that exist within the United States maternity care system. She thoroughly enjoys sharing her love for labor support and education with other birth professionals.
Above all else, she is most proud of her four children.
As a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE) and Program Director for Lamaze, Wendy provides empowering education to parents and professionals. She consistently receives glowing reviews from her students and coworkers. Wendy has taught at major hospital systems throughout the United States and has trained childbirth educators from around the world.
Professionally, Wendy was involved with research at Towson University School of Nursing which was published in the Journal of Perinatal Education. She regularly guest lectures at several universities and hospitals across the US. Wendy was the featured speaker at the regional AWHONN meeting, a co-presenter at the Nurse Family Partnership state conference, and often presents at the Lamaze International and related conferences. She proudly represented her state lobbying for better maternity care on Capitol Hill in 2017 & 2020, holding appointments with multiple members of the US Congress.
Committed to dynamic teaching, Wendy volunteers with multiple organizations. She is the Education Council Chair for Lamaze International and a co-trainer and advisor at Diversifying Doulas Initiative.
Wendy is passionate about addressing the healthcare disparities that exist within the United States maternity care system. She thoroughly enjoys sharing her love for labor support and education with other birth professionals.
Above all else, she is most proud of her four children.