Becoming a Doula: Turning Your Passion for Birth Into a Fulfilling Career

If you’ve ever felt called to support people through pregnancy and birth, you might be wondering how to turn that passion into a career. Becoming a doula allows you to do meaningful, heart-centred work — guiding families through one of the most transformative experiences of their lives.

Whether you’ve just heard about birth work or you’re ready to take the next step, here’s how to begin your doula journey and build a thriving business that aligns with your values.

Step 1: Understand What a Doula Does

Doulas provide emotional, physical, and informational support before, during, and after birth. Unlike medical professionals, doulas don’t perform clinical tasks — instead, they focus on helping families feel informed, supported, and empowered.

There are two main types of doulas:

• Birth Doulas – Offer support during pregnancy, labour, and immediate postpartum.

• Postpartum Doulas – Support families after birth with recovery, infant care, and adjustment at home.

  
  

Some doulas specialize further in fertility, bereavement, or sibling support — there’s room to make this work uniquely yours.

Step 2: Take a High-Quality Doula Training Course

A reputable doula training program is the foundation of your practice. Look for one that balances the art and science of birth, including:

• Physiological and emotional aspects of labour

• Communication and advocacy skills

• Practical comfort measures

• Trauma-informed and inclusive care

• Business guidance for new doulas

Our Foundational Birth Doula Training offers all of this and more — a supportive, in-person learning environment that helps you feel confident and ready to begin supporting families right away.

Step 3: Set Up Your Doula Practice

Once you’ve completed your training, it’s time to get organized. Here are the basics every new doula should have:

• A business name and domain

• A simple, professional website

• Contracts, intake forms, and a clear service agreement

• Business email and payment system

• Networking connections for referrals and backup

  
  

Don’t wait until you feel “ready” — starting small and learning as you go is part of building your confidence as a birth professional.

Step 4: Build Your Visibility

Most families find their doulas online, so your digital presence matters.Start with:

• A heartfelt “About Me” section that shares why you do this work

• A few professional or lifestyle photos

• Clear descriptions of your birth and postpartum services

• A blog (like this one!) that shares educational posts, birth stories, and resources

• Google Business Listing to get reviews

Posting regularly helps potential clients connect with you and tells search engines that your website is active — improving your Google ranking over time.

Step 5: Find Community and Mentorship

Birth work thrives in community. Connecting with other doulas, midwives, childbirth educators, and perinatal professionals can open doors to collaboration, backup partnerships, and ongoing learning.

Many training programs, including ours, offer mentorship opportunities where new doulas can observe, ask questions, and build experience with guidance and support.

Step 6: Keep Growing and Evolving

Your doula journey doesn’t stop after your first training. Birth work is always changing — continuing education helps you stay current and inspired.

Consider adding skills in areas such as:

• Breastfeeding Course for Doulas

• Helping clients navigate the medical system the doulas role

• Intro to Birth Photography

• CPR Course for Doulas

Each new layer of learning helps you serve families more deeply and sustainably.

Start Your Doula Journey Today

Becoming a doula is about more than just launching a service — it’s about joining a community of care. With the right training, mentorship, and mindset, you can create a meaningful and flexible career that supports both families and your own growth.

If you’re ready to begin, learn more about our upcoming Foundational Doula Training — a comprehensive, hands-on program designed to help you start your practice with confidence and heart.