This course
Certified Postpartum Doula Training
$550
- About 24 hours of video and activities
- Practical activities for daytime and overnight support
- Initial one-year certification when you complete the training
Certified Postpartum Doula Training
Become a steady source of support for new families.
A fully online, self-paced certification training covering parent recovery, newborn care, feeding and sleep, with practical daytime and overnight support.
$550
- Fully online, self-paced
- About 24 hours of video and activities
- Anna Rodney, M.Ed.Doula trainer and lead faculty
- 15+ yearssupporting families
- About 24 hoursof video and activities
- Self-pacedFully online, on your schedule
Prepare for the day-to-day work of postpartum support.
Postpartum doulas support the whole household. The training follows the practical work you’ll do on daytime and overnight shifts.
Supporting the whole household
Care for parents, baby and family with clear scope and communication.
Helping parents recover
Understand physical and emotional recovery and offer steady, informed support.
Hands-on newborn care
Holding, soothing, bathing, diapering and babywearing.
Overnight shifts
Support sleep, routines and safety so parents can rest.
Feeding support
Support feeding, including families with twins or multiples.
Tricky situations
Navigate NICU stays and challenges, and refer families to the right resources.
Take a look at the training
A short introduction to Certified Postpartum Doula Training.
From doulas who trained with BBU
Words from doulas who trained with BBU and Anna. Each review names the training it describes.
“…full of practical details that truly prepared me for the day-to-day work of being a postpartum doula.”
“You can tell she poured in her years of experience into these trainings, it's all very well thought out — she knows exactly what she needs to touch on and she also does it in consideration of the doula. I learned so much.”
Anna’s experience and passion shine through in every part of the course.
“Even after six years as a certified birth and postpartum doula, I gained so much from my training with Birth & Baby University. Anna Rodney has built a program that’s not only solid for doulas just starting out and working toward certification, but also incredibly valuable for returning or seasoned doulas who want to deepen their understanding and expand their skills. This wasn’t just a general refresher, it truly helped me fill in gaps, sharpen my approach, and walk away with practical, evidence-based tools I’m already using with clients. The content was thoughtful, comprehensive, and grounded in real life doula work. Whether you’re brand new or years into your practice, I can’t recommend Birth & Baby University enough. Anna’s experience and passion shine through in every part of the course, and it left me feeling more confident, informed, and re-energized in my work.”
“Anna’s training actually changed how I do things!!”
“Her classes are interesting, engaging and full of useful information.”
The training is thorough, evidence-based, compassionate, and deeply respectful of families and the role of doulas.
“The best place to become a birth & postpartum doula. I completed my birth and postpartum doula certification through Birth and Baby University, and I can confidently say it was the best decision I could have made for my professional journey. The training is thorough, evidence-based, compassionate, and deeply respectful of families and the role of doulas. It prepares you not just to become certified, but to truly serve families with confidence, professionalism, and heart. One of the biggest strengths of this program is that it is approved training, which directly helped me become certified as a Medicaid doula in Illinois. Having a program that is recognized and aligned with state requirements made a huge difference in my ability to expand access to care and serve families who rely on Medicaid. Anna Rodney is absolutely incredible. She is an outstanding educator and mentor whose teaching style is clear, supportive, empowering, and rooted in real-world experience. You can truly feel how much she cares about her students and about raising the standard of doula care. If you are looking for high-quality training that is respected, approved, and truly prepares you for real-world birth and postpartum work, Birth and Baby University is hands down the best place to get certified. I am incredibly grateful for this education and proudly carry it into my work with families.”
“It really gave me a renewed sense of my responsibility as a postpartum care provider and what families expect and how I can be the best support for them.”
Truly prepared me for the day-to-day work of being a postpartum doula
“I completed my postpartum doula training through Birth and Baby University and had a fantastic experience. The course was incredibly informative, well-paced, and full of practical details that truly prepared me for the day-to-day work of being a postpartum doula. Anna, the instructor, was an excellent teacher—knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly passionate about both postpartum care and education. I left the training feeling confident, supported, and inspired. I highly recommend this program to anyone considering becoming a postpartum doula.”
“I have completed multiple other labor doula courses over the years and I can confidently say this is the most informative and useful course I have taken.”
“Anna is extremely knowledgeable about birth and radiates that passion onto everyone she teaches. I would highly recommend taking any and all courses with Anna!”
Supportive and welcoming learning environment.
“I cannot recommend Birth and Baby University highly enough. The content was incredibly well-organized and digestible, making it easy to absorb even complex topics. The instructor, Anna, is outstanding—patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely kind. Throughout the program, I felt fully supported, with a wealth of resources available at my fingertips any time I needed them. Whether you’re pursuing a path as a doula or simply want to feel more confident caring for babies, this is the place to start. The program empowers you with both practical skills and meaningful insight, all within a supportive and welcoming learning environment. I’m so grateful I chose Birth and Baby University.”
If I could give Birth & Baby University 10 stars I would!
“If I could give Birth & Baby University 10 stars I would! I took my recertification for Postpartum Doula and a Breastfeeding training recently and the training was so amazing! Anna is so great at explaining things and her trainings were easy to get through and it’s self pace, which I needed. Thank you, Anna and Birth & Baby University for your wonderful trainings! I will definitely be coming back to take more trainings!”
“This is a great certification process to go through, it had lots of information that was usable — it comes through an app so you can have that space to process all the information.”
Her knowledge and how she structures the information makes this training accessible, easy to follow, and overall a great resource to come back to
“I took the postpartum certification training with B&B University earlier this year! I really appreciated Anna’s, the instructor, calm and reassuring demeanor throughout each section of the course. Her knowledge and how she structures the information makes this training accessible, easy to follow, and overall a great resource to come back to.”
“Even as a birth worker I had so much to learn from her.”
“What I loved about her training is that she incorporated her years of experience as a doula into it and made it personal with tips and advice for new doulas.”
So knowledgeable and a true leader in the birth and baby world.
“I took the postpartum doula training through Birth & Baby University. It was engaging, informative, and evidence based. It was nice to have Anna Rodney teaching the class rather than just scrolling through PowerPoint. She is so knowledgeable and a true leader in the birth and baby world. I loved the real life stories she weaves in. I learned so much, was never bored and would highly recommend!”
The material keeps me engaged, it was so informative!
“This course is designed to help anyone who is passionate about becoming a successful Doula. The material keeps me engaged it was so informative I didn’t even skip a single session. Great job! continue to share your knowledge with us!”
Hear it from doulas
Prefer to read? The written reviews above say it in their own words.
Full video testimonials on YouTube:
Your instructor
Learn with Anna Rodney, M.Ed.
Anna is a Newborn Care Specialist and Lactation Educator who founded her own doula agency, Chicago Family Doulas. She structures this training the way a career educator would: clearly, practically and in the order you’ll need it.
- Master of Education (M.Ed.) with 15+ years supporting families
- Former special-education teacher
- Doula trainer and childbirth educator
- Newborn Care Specialist and Lactation Educator
- Founder of Chicago Family Doulas and Birth & Baby University
What you’ll learn
Seven areas of practice, from supporting the household to building your business. Open any section to see what it covers.
Your role, scope and communication Supporting the whole household professionally.
- Whole-household support
- Scope and communication
- Culture and family expectations
Parent recovery The physical and emotional postpartum period.
- Physical recovery after birth
- Emotional recovery and adjustment
- Supporting parents through the early weeks
Newborn care Hands-on care and what’s normal.
- Newborn appearance and behavior
- Holding, soothing and bathing
- Diapering and babywearing
Sleep, routines and safety Helping families rest, day and night.
- Newborn sleep
- Building routines
- Safety at home
Feeding and multiples Practical feeding support.
- Feeding support
- Supporting families with twins and multiples
Tricky situations and referrals Knowing what to do, and who to call.
- Tricky situations and NICU stays
- Referrals and resources
Building your practice Working as a professional postpartum doula.
- Client interviews
- Agency vs. independent work
- Business and marketing
How it works
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Enroll in the training
Check out securely and access the training through the BBU student portal.
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Learn at your own pace
Work through about 24 hours of video and activities online, on your schedule.
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Complete the training
Finish the training to earn your initial one-year certification.
How certification works
Your initial certification and your renewal are separate steps.
See current certification requirements (opens in a new tab)- Initial certificationComplete the training to earn your initial one-year certification.
- Full certificationWithin that year, complete BBU mentorship or 15 eligible birth/postpartum CEUs for full three-year certification.
- RenewalContinuing education is required to renew every three years.
Choose your training
Enroll in postpartum doula training on its own, or choose the bundle if you’d like to support families through birth too.
Optional upgrade: Birth + Postpartum bundle
Train for birth and postpartum support.
$900 total
Add birth doula training for $350 more
| Certified Postpartum Doula Training (this course) | $550 |
|---|---|
| Certified Birth Doula Training | $550 |
| Bought separately | $1,100 |
| Bundle total | $900 |
Save $200
A separate purchase you choose instead of the single training. Nothing is added to your order automatically. Certification requirements apply to each training.
Get both trainings for $900Questions, answered.
Official course page (opens in a new tab)Who is this training for?
Aspiring postpartum doulas, nannies, newborn care specialists and care professionals who want to support families after birth, as well as doulas who want to sharpen their practice.
Is the training online?
Yes. It’s fully online and self-paced, with approximately 24 hours of video and activities.
How does certification work?
Complete the training to earn your initial one-year certification. Within that year, complete BBU mentorship or 15 eligible birth/postpartum CEUs for full three-year certification. Continuing education is required to renew every three years.
Is mentorship required?
No. The training is a standalone purchase. BBU mentorship is one of two ways to move from initial to full certification; the other is 15 eligible birth/postpartum CEUs.
What’s the difference between the single training and the bundle?
This page’s training ($550) prepares you for postpartum support. The Birth + Postpartum bundle ($900) adds Certified Birth Doula Training, instead of $1,100 for both separately.
Does it cover agency and independent work?
Yes. The training covers client interviews, working with an agency versus independently, and business and marketing basics.
Can I use benefits to pay?
BBU certification is accepted by Carrot, Maven and other workplace benefit companies and Medicaid programs in some states.
Will the training guarantee me work or income?
No. The training prepares you for the day-to-day work of a postpartum doula, but it can’t guarantee clients, employment or income.
I’m already trained. Is there another option?
Yes. Trained and previously certified doulas can explore cross-certification and recertification instead.
Some postpartum doula training topics include:
- A Postpartum Doula’s Role
- Supporting the Entire Postpartum Family
- Family Dynamics and Culture
- Communication
- Family and Doula Expectations
- Postpartum Physical and Mental Recovery
- Newborn Care, Sleep, and Feeding
- Tricky Situations
- Going Above & Beyond
- Interviews, Business, and Marketing
- Resources
- And More!
I love birth and babies, but I don’t have consistent childcare. Which training would be the best fit for me?
Given the unpredictability of birth, you may want to start as a postpartum doula. Many people find that working overnight hours is possible if childcare is a challenge. If you have school-age kids, daytime hours can also fit well.
How long will it take me to complete the training?
Each training includes about 24 hours of videos and activities. You can complete it at your own pace, and many people finish within 3–4 days.
Will I be certified after the training?
Yes, after completing the training, you’ll automatically receive a one-year certification. Within that year, you’ll need to complete our mentorship program or earn 15 birth or postpartum CEUs to receive the full three-year certification.
How will I re-certify every three years?
You’ll need to complete additional perinatal professional trainings through us, which may include the birth or postpartum program. A minimum of 15 CEUs is required to recertify.
Is this certification accepted by Carrot and other insurance companies?
Yes, Birth & Baby University is recognized by Carrot, several state Medicaid programs, and many insurance companies.
What sets Birth & Baby University trainings apart from other training organizations?
Everything sets us apart! Anna Rodney has supported tens of thousands of families and trained and mentored thousands of doulas. When developing this training, she drew on her extensive experience as a doula, agency owner, and business professional. She is a skilled educator with a Master’s Degree in Education and years of experience as a Special Education teacher. Her approach is relatable, professional, and relevant, and everyone loves her trainings, even those with years of experience.
Can someone make a career out of being a doula?
YES! There’s no better time than now. Doulas are in high demand, and so many people are building amazing careers as doulas.
Do I qualify to take the cross-certification training?
If you have previously completed a doula training, you qualify for our cross-certification program. Those who have completed a labor doula training are eligible for our Cross Certification Labor Doula Training, while those who have completed a postpartum doula training qualify for our Cross Certification Postpartum Doula Training. After signing up, we will ask you to share your certificate with us.
Be the steady support a new family needs.
Certified Postpartum Doula Training is $550: fully online, self-paced, about 24 hours of video and activities.