Online Birth + Postnatal Doula Pathway

Become a birth and postnatal doula, with an experienced doula beside you while you train. Our FEDANT accredited online course gives you the freedom to learn from home and set your own pace, with proper mentoring built into the heart of the qualification.

You’re fascinated by birth and you want to support families through it. You might be drawn to the intensity of labour, the often overlooked weeks after a baby arrives, or the difference it makes when someone has a trusted person alongside them who really listens. You want to do this work well, and you want training that helps you understand what that means in practice!

That’s why we’ve built this pathway differently. You’ll learn through original videos, podcasts, practical work and self-reflection, then talk it all through with an experienced doula mentor. You can study from the comfort of your own home without paying for hotels or travel, but you are never left alone with your laptop. You can ask questions as they come up, and you’ll have an in-depth mentor check-in at the end of each phase before moving on when you feel ready.

Who This Is For

You’re ready to train as a birth and postnatal doula and want the flexibility to study around work, family and everything else going on in your life.
You care about supporting families through a wide range of birth and postnatal experiences, without assuming there is one right way for them to do it.
You want to understand birth rights, consent, inclusion and the realities of the maternity system, as well as the practical skills of doula work.
You want to support ALL families safely without judgement
You’ve looked at training that involves days away from home and know that the time, travel or hotel costs would make it difficult.
You want the freedom of self-paced learning, with a real person to ask when you have questions.
You’re already working with families and want to add birth and postnatal doula support to what you offer.

You do not need to have given birth yourself or have previous experience in the birth world. You do need to be curious, open to learning and willing to reflect on how you support people whose choices and experiences may differ from your own.

What You’ll Walk Away With

Deep training you can move through at your own pace. You’ll learn through a mix of videos, podcasts, reading, practical work and reflection, so you have different ways to take in the information and put it to use.
An experienced doula mentor alongside you throughout. You can ask questions as they arise, rather than saving them all up or trying to work out the answers on your own.
Four in-depth mentor check-ins. The course is divided into four phases. At the end of each one, you’ll complete a check-in and have a two-hour call with your mentor to discuss your learning before you move on.
A clearer understanding of your role in real situations. We cover practical and emotional support, communication, consent, boundaries and how to work alongside families without making decisions for them.
Support to build your doula business. You’ll work through client agreements, fees, finding clients and creating a way of working that is realistic for your life.
A FEDANT accredited birth and postnatal doula qualification, built around supporting families through pregnancy, birth and the early weeks with their baby.
Min 12 months inside The Perinatal Collective, with ongoing learning, mentoring, business support and a community of birth workers around you as you begin practising.

The Perinatal Academy was founded by Sam — Antenatal Educator, Doula, Breastfeeding Peer Supporter and Hypnobirthing Instructor.

We’ve created this course for people who need online training to fit around their lives but still want the conversations, guidance and depth that this work deserves. Every phase gives you time to learn, reflect, ask questions and develop your own way of being a doula.

You bring the heart. We’ll help you hone your skills!

The Investment

£1,345. Payment plans are available.

Your training includes the online course, personal mentor support and five two-hour phase calls, specialist workshops, business training and 12 months in The Perinatal Collective.

The Logistics

Start when you’re ready. Once you enrol, you can access the online learning and begin working through the course at your own pace.

The four phases

Phase 1: Doula Beginnings
Phase 2: Pregnancy & Birth.
Phase 3: Postpartum & Nurturing Families
Phase 4: Practicalities & Business

At the end of each of the four phases, you’ll complete a check-in and book a two-hour call with your mentor. You’ll move on to the next phase when you feel ready. Once you’ve completed all four phases, you’ll have a fifth two-hour call to bring your learning together and talk through your next steps.

Specialist workshops

Your training also includes workshops covering:

Birth Rights, Consent and Advocacy with Emma Ashworth
Cultural Safety with Mars Lord
Supporting All Families: Inclusion and Neurodiverse Birth

Birthing Your Business

You’ll have access to our self-paced business course, so you can work through the practical steps of setting up and return to them when you need to. We cover the parts people often get stuck on, from making your work visible to finding clients and setting up the systems behind your business.

You’ll also receive 12 months minimum in The Perinatal Collective

Finishing your training is the beginning of putting it into practice, and that’s when new questions tend to come up. Your first 12 months in The Perinatal Collective are included as that's usually when people need us the most, giving you continued access to learning, mentoring, business and marketing support, workshops and a community of people doing this work. You can bring the questions that come up as you find your first clients, work out your offers and grow in confidence. After your included membership ends, you can choose whether to stay for a small monthly fee.

Good to Know

Do I need to attend training on set dates?
No. The core course is self-paced, so you can work through the learning around your own commitments. Your two-hour mentor call at the end of each phase is booked when you’re ready for it.

Is it really possible to learn doula work online?
Yes, because you aren’t simply given content to watch. The course includes practical activities and reflection, questions you can bring to your mentor as they arise, and an in-depth conversation at the end of every phase. We’ll ask you to think about how you would support families in real situations, including when things are complicated or don’t go to plan.

Will I have the same mentor throughout?
You’ll be paired with an experienced doula mentor to support you as you move through the phases and develop your own approach to the work. If your Doula mentor is unable to meet the expectations of the mentorship you will be matched with a new mentor.

Can I train as both a birth and postnatal doula?
Yes. This pathway covers support through pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. You can decide as you learn whether you want to offer birth support, postnatal support or both.

Do I need any previous qualifications?
No. You can begin without previous birth work experience. We start with the foundations and build from there.

When will I receive my certification?
Your certificate is issued once you’ve completed the course work and met the requirements for the FEDANT accredited qualification. We’ll guide you through what you need to complete as you move through the training.

Ready to become a doula, without putting the rest of your life on hold?

Enrol in our Online Birth & Postnatal Doula Training and begin when you’re ready.