Adela Stockton

... bringing community back to childbirth ... 

Approved by Doula UK, this preparation course adheres to the Doula UK Core Curriculum and fulfils the requirements for Doula UK membership.

The programme is suitable however, for anyone wishing to learn additional supportive skills as a lay person accompanying a mother or couple during labour, birth or the postnatal period, regardless of whether you go on to work formally as 'a doula' afterwards. It may be that the skills you acquire on the course will complement the field of work you are already involved in, or are sufficient to better inform you while supporting a friend or family member on an occasional basis.

All enquiries are very welcome.

BURSARIES

• **NEW** 10% discount for Yogabellies students/teachers
• 10% discount for members of Scottish Birth Teachers Association
• 25% discount Becca Preston award: two assisted places per core workshop session, on application
  

ESSENTIAL READING FOR WOULD-BE AND NEW DOULAS

• "Gentle Birth Companions: doulas serving humanity" - you can buy it here

**NEW** FOR FURTHER LEARNING

• 'Going Deeper' - Wysewomen workshop with Nicola Goodall [see below for details]

PHILOSOPHY

At Mindful Doulas, our aim is to bring community back to childbirth through doulas who are committed to the grassroots values of the work that we do. While we do not support the need for 'professional training', we do acknowledge the need for a period of 'preparation' before new doulas go out to support other women around the time of childbirth. This preparation is as much about pursuing our own personal journey as it is furthering our knowledge and skills in our role as a doula.

We believe doulas to be:

• lay people, chosen by the parents-to-be rather than by the maternity care system
• usually mothers themselves, who offer emotional and practical support to other women and their families during the time around childbirth
• committed to a lifelong journey of learning, of sharing with parents and honouring the births of our babies

Our course embraces the celebration of childbirth and aims to promote emotional wellbeing through pregnancy, to encourage gentle birth, and to support breastfeeding and positive parenting. We acknowledge that factors such as the mother or father's own birth and the way she or he was parented can impact on how they go forward to give birth and parent themselves, meaning that the path is not always smooth. Mindful Doulas hold the hands of women and their partners as they embark on their own rites of passage to parenthood, not to advise or guide, rather to uphold their wishes in creating the birth and parenting experience that is right for them.

Women who have prepared with Mindful Doulas are committed to:

• maintaining self awareness and a reflective attitude towards both personal and work related issues around birth and early parenting
• maintaining excellent listening and communication skills
• maintaining an attitude of respect and integrity towards fellow humans and our environment
• being mindful of our working boundaries and forging positive relationships with our midwifery colleagues
• offering our services on a sliding scale as appropriate

The course has traditionally been Scotland based, but due to increased interest from would-be doulas from in other areas of UK who feel drawn to our overall philosophy and outlook, we have recently set new dates for core workshops in York and London.

Why not join our Mindful Doulas community on Facebook?

PROGRAMME OUTLINE

There are three/four components to the programme which must be completed within a maximum period of up to six months (or thereabouts depending on individual circumstance). A Certificate of Attendance will be issued on completion of the course. Ongoing access to support from your facilitators is available until your new doula mentorship process is established.

1. Self directed study pack:

The study pack component details key points for self-directed learning, ranging from conception through to the first three months of the postnatal period. While some subjects are mandatory, you can choose from other areas the issues that are of most interest to you. Reading and resource lists, plus local childbirth networks, are included. You are encouraged to work through your study pack at your own pace, maintaining contact with your facilitator as required. You need to read at least 4 titles from your essential reading list before attending the workshop. Gentle Birth Companions: doulas serving humanity is one of your required texts - you can buy it here.

2. Core Workshop - 16 hours (Friday evening, Saturday & Sunday - max 8 participants):

You are encouraged to attend the workshop component at any time that you feel ready whilst working through your study pack. Ideally you need to allow around 3 weeks beforehand (less for midwives and antenatal teachers) to give yourself time to undertake the essential reading. The principal aims of the workshop are to:

• consolidate areas of learning from reading and research undertaken in the study pack
• to acquire practical (non-medical) skills for supporting women during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period
• to prepare for setting up your business as a doula.

You will have the opportunity to share and explore some of your own birth and early parenting experiences as part of your journey toward gaining the confidence to effectively support other women. Core workshops in Edinburgh are led by Adela Stockton, and those in York & London are led by Nicola Goodall, we are both Doula UK recognised birth/postnatal doulas.

Core Workshop Dates 2012

• March 2nd-4th, Edinburgh - led by Adela Stockton (FULL)
• March 23rd-25th, London (Putney) - led by Nicola Goodall
• May 4th-6th, York - led by Nicola Goodall
• June 15th-17th, Edinburgh - led by Adela Stockton
  
• Sept 7th-9th, Edinburgh - led by Adela Stockton
• Nov 16th-18th, Edinburgh - led by Adela Stockton

4. Written assignment:

You are required to complete one final piece of written work as a means of self-evaluation and reflection on learning. A range of styles and approaches are accepted, including audio recording if preferred, the work is assessed on an individualised basis supported by the skills and knowledge you have shown through your study and workshop sessions. You are expected to show that you understand the boundaries between giving support versus giving advice, which is not the doula's role. You should be able to illustrate an insight to your strengths as well as your weaknesses, and reaffirm your integrity and commitment to being with-women and to your ongoing learning and development, particularly if you plan to work as a doula on an ongoing basis.

ENROLMENT

Please contact me to request an application form (or telephone 01387-740456). Your study pack will be sent out to you on receipt of your enrolment fee. Cost of full programme including Study Pack: £310.00 [or £335 London workshops only], plus £40 for Breastfeeding Workshop as required.

What others say about the course:

"I found the programme excellent, providing both a strong foundation for my doula training and a support network for the future. Thank you for sharing your doula wisdom!"

"I am so glad to have had such a positive start on my doula journey, everything about the course made me realise how much I want to do this work, and has given me the confidence to begin."

"The course was very good value for money. I was surprised at the amount of reading required, but in a good way, as I have found all the resources to be inspiring and insightful!"

"Gentle, friendly presentation with informal delivery, backed up by a wealth of knowledge. Adela and Nicola complement each other well and are very supportive of the students." 

"It was great working with the different personalities in our workshop group. Adela was calm, positive and easy to raise concerns with. Plenty of time for everyone to share and contribute."

"I really enjoyed the breastfeeding workshop with Katrina. She's inspiring, enthusiastic and very down to earth about it all. It was a lovely day!"

MENTORSHIP SUPPORT/ONGOING LEARNING FOR NEW DOULAS

Doulas are lay people which means there is no government requirement for UK doulas to hold any professional qualification or certification or to be affiliated to any doula organisation. Where a new doula has chosen to undertake a course of preparation however, she may choose to complement this by enlisting formal mentorship support as she starts out working as a doula. Ensuring that her own emotional and practical needs are met, helps her to offer quality support to the birthing families she works with.

Membership of Doula UK (DUK) is open to all doulas working in the UK who have completed a DUK approved doula course. The organisation aims to set a gold standard amongst the doula community through providing independent assessment and mentorship for new doulas. Doulas working in Scotland and cross-border with Northern England have the opportunity to join the local peer support group Scottish Doula Network (SDN) as well (or as an alternative should they choose not to join DUK).

**NEW** FOR FURTHER LEARNING

Wysewomen workshop "Going Deeper" is a one-day session led by Nicola Goodall, especially developed for those who have recently completed their Mindful Doulas or other initial doula preparation course. The session covers 'what happens when things go wrong' followed by a Blessingway ceremony to send our new doulas on their way!  Highly recommended!

"Going Deeper" workshop dates 2012 (all sessions held in Edinburgh)

• Friday 6th April 2012
• Friday 13th July 2012

Please contact Nicola directly on 07743-639508 or by email for further information and booking details. (If you are already working as a birth supporter [doula/educator/student midwife/midwife] or if you are an interested parent, you are also very welcome to attend this sesssion)

PLEASE NOTE: a minimum number of 4 participants is required for any of the above workshops to run, if the bookings amount to less, we reserve the right to cancel the session. We will however, prioritise your booking for the next available workshop.