Support the Village
Train as a Postpartum Doula 

Centering Black postpartum wellness through culturally grounded care and guidance.

Why Train with NBDA for Postpartum Doula Care

  • Black-Led. Community-Rooted: NBDA is led by career doulas who understand the realities of postpartum work and the needs of Black and BIPOC families during the fourth trimester and beyond.
  • Training Designed for Real-World Postpartum Practice: Our curriculum prepares you for real client care in homes and communities — covering newborn care, parent support, recovery, and practical day-to-day postpartum needs.
  • Advocacy Extends Beyond Birth: We center informed consent, respectful care, and advocacy for families navigating postpartum systems including healthcare, mental health, and social support services.
  • Business Education: Is Built In We teach you how to build a sustainable postpartum doula practice — including pricing, packages, boundaries, documentation, and long-term client relationships.

Postpartum Doula Certification Requirements (NBDA)

Completion of an NBDA Postpartum Doula Training is the first step toward certification. To apply for certification, trainees must complete all of the following requirements:

1. Complete the NBDA Postpartum Doula Training

Trainees must successfully complete the NBDA Postpartum Doula Training, including all required modules, coursework, and learning activities within the designated access period.

2. Complete NBDA-Approved Postpartum Mentorship

After training, trainees must complete an NBDA-approved postpartum mentorship to gain guided, hands-on experience and professional support as they begin working with postpartum families. Mentorships vary in focus, structure, and cost.

3.Support Postpartum Families

To meet certification requirements, trainees must provide postpartum doula support to a minimum of four (4) families, for no less than ten (10) total support hours. All support must align with NBDA’s postpartum scope of practice.

4. Submit Required Documentation & Certification Application

Trainees must submit all required documentation, including postpartum client support records, completed mentorship verification, and any required evaluations, along with the certification application and applicable fees.

Curriculum Overview 

NBDA Doula Foundations & Scope of Practice

Understanding the role of the postpartum doula, professional boundaries, ethics, and what it means to practice within NBDA standards and values.

The Postpartum Period & Family Adjustment

Comprehensive education on the postpartum period, physical recovery, emotional changes, family transitions, and recognizing normal versus concerning postpartum patterns.

Hands-On Postpartum & Newborn Support

Practical support techniques including newborn care, feeding support, recovery support, household assistance, and emotional care for birthing and non-birthing parents.

Advocacy, Informed Consent & Communication

Supporting client autonomy, navigating postpartum healthcare and support systems, understanding informed consent, and communicating effectively with families and care providers.

Culturally-Rooted & Trauma-Responsive Postpartum Care

Centering Black and BIPOC postpartum experiences, addressing bias in maternal and infant care, and providing respectful, trauma-responsive support during the fourth trimester.

Building a Sustainable Postpartum Doula Practice

Foundations of running a postpartum doula business including pricing and packages, contracts, scheduling, documentation, professional boundaries, and community-based referrals.