Full Spectrum Community Based Doula
Course overview
Full Spectrum Community Based Doula is Learn To Doula Village's core doula training course. Across 14 modules and 157 units, you will study pregnancy, birth, infant feeding, postpartum care, abortion, pregnancy loss, bereavement, and the professional responsibilities that connect this work. You will practice how to support a person's choices, communicate with the care team, recognize when referral is needed, and remain within a nonmedical doula role.
The Maternal Sovereignty Method™ runs through the course: the client remains the decision-maker. You will work with consent and refusal, cultural humility, trauma-aware care, neurodivergent-affirming support, and the ways stress and sensory needs can affect communication and coping. Your job is to offer useful support without taking over, diagnosing, prescribing, or directing clinical care.
What you will study
- Pregnancy and birth foundations: reproductive anatomy, fetal development, all three trimesters, childbirth education, higher-risk circumstances, fetal skull anatomy, positioning, the baby's journey through birth, and newborn transition.
- Placenta and cord: anatomy, circulation, third-stage events, unexpected complications, and respectful discussion of after-birth options, evidence, facility policy, and safety. This course does not teach placenta capsule preparation.
- Practical labor support: comfort measures, movement, consent for touch, partner coaching, birth preferences, induction, epidural, cesarean, VBAC, transfer, and collaboration across home, birth-center, and hospital settings.
- Feeding and postpartum support: breastfeeding and chestfeeding, pumping, bottle feeding, supplementation, formula preparation, recovery, nutrition, family adjustment, mood concerns, warning signs, and referral.
- Full-spectrum outcomes and bereavement: miscarriage, abortion and pregnancy termination, fetal diagnosis, perinatal palliative options, stillbirth, NICU, neonatal and infant death, pregnancy after loss, and other life-altering losses. You will practice client-led language, practical support, privacy, and referral without assuming what an experience means to a family.
- Professional practice: scope, ethics, factual client records, privacy and AI-tool boundaries, care-team communication, community resources, home-visit safety, de-escalation, travel risks, burnout, and a personal professional safety plan.
How you will learn
You will read lessons, keep a course notebook, complete four book-review checkpoints, practice scripts and scenarios, submit written work and files, and take module knowledge checks and exams. Some quizzes are scored automatically; written work, outside training records, skills documentation, and portfolio items require instructor review as directed in each unit. Feedback may ask you to revise or add detail. Write in your own words and keep client information private.
Hands-on practice is required. Plan an LTDV workshop, approved traveling training, or another approved live skills arrangement with your instructor before relying on it for completion. You will practice consent, body mechanics, comfort measures, positioning, partner coaching, communication, and documentation, with observation and feedback.
What completion requires
Passing the final exam is one part of completion. You also need the required lessons, assignments and uploads; outside training documentation; birth and postpartum experience records; approved hands-on skills and mentorship documentation; and final portfolio review. Module 1 explains the health privacy, bloodborne pathogens, CPR or BLS, and cultural humility or respectful-care training checkpoints. Module 14 brings your work together for instructor review, along with your agreement to LTDV's standards of practice and code of ethics. Completing online quizzes alone does not finish the certification requirements.
Your next professional steps
You will build a state-aware credentialing checklist and learn to keep course completion separate from state, payer, employer, and facility requirements. Arkansas appears as an example, not a rulebook for every student. Detailed Arkansas pathway work is in the separate Arkansas Doula Practice & CCBD Readiness course. Detailed superbill, NPI, insurance, and payer-record work is in the separate Professional Doula Practice: Credentialing, Insurance & Reimbursement course. LTDV completion does not itself grant state certification, payer enrollment, reimbursement, or facility approval.
Materials needed
You will need reliable internet access and a computer, tablet, or other device that can open the course, read lessons, complete quizzes, and upload assignments. A phone may work for some lessons, but written assignments and file uploads are usually easier on a computer or tablet.
Keep a dedicated course notebook, journal, or digital note space. Many lessons include short reflection questions. These notebook exercises are not graded unless a unit specifically says they are part of an assignment. Use them to slow down, process what you are learning, and build the language and judgment you will use in birth and postpartum support.
| Module 1 | Your Training Roadmap and Professional Readiness |
|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Welcome and Your Training Roadmap - Preview |
| Unit 2 | Plan Your Outside Training Requirements |
| Unit 3 | Submission Checkpoint: Health Privacy Training |
| Unit 4 | Submission Checkpoint: Bloodborne Pathogens Training |
| Unit 5 | Submission Checkpoint: CPR or BLS Training |
| Unit 6 | Submission Checkpoint: Cultural Humility or Respectful-Care Training |
| Unit 7 | Understanding Your Credentialing Path |
| Unit 8 | How Your Work Is Reviewed |
| Unit 9 | Choose Your Reading Path |
| Unit 10 | Book Review Checkpoint 1: Labor Support or Childbirth Preparation |
| Unit 11 | Book Review Checkpoint 2: Infant Feeding, Lactation, or Postpartum |
| Unit 12 | Book Review Checkpoint 3: Reproductive Justice, Trauma-Informed Care, Grief, or Birth Systems |
| Unit 13 | Book Review Checkpoint 4: Reader Choice or Instructor-Approved Reading |
| Unit 14 | Module 1 Knowledge Check: Your Training Roadmap |
| Module 2 | Ethical Doula Practice, Client Autonomy, and Care-Team Collaboration |
| Unit 1 | Your Doula Scope: Support, Boundaries, and Referral |
| Unit 2 | Supporting Informed Decisions and Client-Led Advocacy |
| Unit 3 | Client Autonomy When Clinical Recommendations Are Declined |
| Unit 4 | Cultural Humility, Access, and Respectful Care |
| Unit 5 | Centering the Client While Supporting Partners and Family |
| Unit 6 | Your Role on the Care Team |
| Unit 7 | Collaboration, Accountability, and Working in Clinical Settings |
| Unit 8 | Notice, Support, and Refer Without Diagnosing |
| Unit 9 | Practice: What Would You Do Next? |
| Unit 10 | Optional Notebook Practice: Scope and Ethics Case Reflection |
| Unit 11 | Applied Communication Check: Three Scope-Safe Scripts |
| Unit 12 | Module 2 Knowledge Check: Ethical Practice and Collaboration |
| Module 3 | Maternal Sovereignty and Nervous-System-Aware Doula Support |
| Unit 1 | Maternal Sovereignty: Centering the Client’s Body, Voice, and Choices |
| Unit 2 | How Stress and Safety Cues Can Affect Coping and Communication |
| Unit 3 | Hormones, Stress, and Supportive Birth Conditions |
| Unit 4 | Neurodivergent-Affirming Doula Support |
| Unit 5 | Trauma-Informed Support, Consent, and Psychological Safety |
| Unit 6 | Creating a Sensory-Supportive Care Environment |
| Unit 7 | Steady Presence and Communication Under Stress |
| Unit 8 | Supporting the Client’s Voice When Decisions Feel Pressured |
| Unit 9 | Supporting Partners and Family While Centering the Client |
| Unit 10 | Module 3 Scenario Practice: Notice, Support, Ask, and Refer |
| Unit 11 | Module 3 Knowledge Check: Sovereignty and Nervous-System-Aware Support |
| Module 4 | Pregnancy Anatomy, Birth Physiology, and Childbirth Education |
| Unit 1 | Pregnancy Anatomy and Fetal Development Foundations |
| Unit 2 | First Trimester: Early Pregnancy, Safety, and Support |
| Unit 3 | Second Trimester: Movement, Planning, and Growing Confidence |
| Unit 4 | Third Trimester: Readiness, Late Pregnancy, and Birth Setting Planning |
| Unit 5 | Prenatal Care, Screening, and Monitoring Basics |
| Unit 6 | Common High-Risk Pregnancy Issues: The Doula's Bridge Role |
| Unit 7 | Gestational Diabetes: Client Education and Doula Support |
| Unit 8 | Cholestasis of Pregnancy / ICP: Itching, Monitoring, and Support |
| Unit 9 | Pregnancy Nutrition, Food Access, and Doula Scope |
| Unit 10 | Labor Physiology, Stages, and Normal Variation |
| Unit 11 | Pelvis, Fetal Positioning, and Labor Progress |
| Unit 12 | Fetal Monitoring and TOCO in Labor: What a Doula Should Know |
| Unit 13 | Birth Settings: Home, Birth Center, Hospital, and Transfer Readiness |
| Unit 14 | Cultural Pathways of Birth and Humility in Childbirth Education |
| Unit 15 | Informed Consent and Decision Support in the Birth Room |
| Unit 16 | Birth Vocabulary Working Glossary Assignment |
| Unit 17 | Module 4 Exam: Pregnancy Anatomy, Birth Physiology, and Childbirth Education |
| Unit 18 | Hypertensive Disorders, Preeclampsia/Toxemia, and HELLP Syndrome |
| Unit 19 | Preterm Labor, PPROM, Placenta Concerns, and Fetal Growth |
| Unit 20 | Multiples: Twins, Triplets, Monitoring, Birth Planning, and NICU Readiness |
| Unit 21 | Breech, Malposition, ECV, and Changing Birth Plans |
| Unit 22 | Chromosomal Conditions, Screening, Diagnosis, and Doula Support |
| Module 5 | The Neonate's Journey Through Birth |
| Unit 1 | The Baby as an Active Participant in Birth |
| Unit 2 | Fetal Skull Anatomy |
| Unit 3 | Sutures, Fontanelles, and Molding |
| Unit 4 | Fetal Lie, Presentation, Attitude, Position, and Station |
| Unit 5 | The Cardinal Movements of Labor |
| Unit 6 | Pelvic Space, Maternal Movement, and Nonmedical Support |
| Unit 7 | Fetal Response During Labor and the Doula's Role |
| Unit 8 | Transition From Fetus to Newborn |
| Unit 9 | Newborn Circumcision and Intact Care: Informed Decision Support |
| Unit 10 | Integrating the Neonate's Journey Into Doula Practice |
| Unit 11 | Module 5 Exam: The Neonate's Journey Through Birth |
| Module 6 | The Placenta, Cord, and the Baby's Lifeline |
| Unit 1 | Formation and Development of the Placenta |
| Unit 2 | What the Placenta Does |
| Unit 3 | Maternal, Placental, and Fetal Circulation |
| Unit 4 | Placental Anatomy and Terminology |
| Unit 5 | Umbilical Cord Anatomy and Variations |
| Unit 6 | Placental Location and Implantation |
| Unit 7 | Placental Variations and Conditions |
| Unit 8 | The Placenta During Labor |
| Unit 9 | Placental Separation, Birth, and the Third Stage |
| Unit 10 | Retained Placenta, Hemorrhage, and Unexpected Events |
| Unit 11 | The Placenta After Birth |
| Unit 12 | Placental Knowledge in Doula Practice |
| Unit 13 | Module 6 Exam: The Placenta, Cord, and the Baby's Lifeline |
| Module 7 | Labor Support, Comfort Measures, Birth Planning, and Interventions |
| Unit 1 | Nonmedical Comfort Measures and Labor Support Techniques |
| Unit 2 | Early Labor Support Across Settings |
| Unit 3 | Active Labor and Transition Support |
| Unit 4 | Pushing, Birth, and Immediate Post-Birth Support |
| Unit 5 | Birth Infection Prevention for Community-Based Doulas |
| Unit 6 | Positioning, Movement, and Hands-On Practice Preparation |
| Unit 7 | Birth Preferences, Interventions, and Hospital Navigation |
| Unit 8 | Medication, Epidural, Induction, and Augmentation Support |
| Unit 9 | Transfer and Change-of-Plan Support |
| Unit 10 | Cesarean, VBAC, and Belly Birth Support |
| Unit 11 | Supporting Family, Culture, and Communication in the Birth Room |
| Unit 12 | Special Circumstances: Multiples, Higher-Risk Birth, and Unexpected Needs |
| Unit 13 | Facility Research and Professional Preparation |
| Unit 14 | Module 7 Exam: Labor Support, Comfort Measures, Birth Planning, and Interventions |
| Module 8 | Lactation, Infant Feeding, and Referral |
| Unit 1 | Infant Feeding Foundations and Doula Scope |
| Unit 2 | Bottle Feeding, Pumping, Supplementation, and Safe Formula Preparation |
| Unit 3 | Early Breastfeeding, Chestfeeding, and Referral Red Flags |
| Unit 4 | Feeding Equity, Shame-Free Support, and Family Goals |
| Unit 5 | Module 8 Exam: Lactation, Infant Feeding, and Referral |
| Module 9 | Postpartum Care, Family Adjustment, and Warning Signs |
| Unit 1 | Postpartum Recovery and Practical Home Support |
| Unit 2 | Postpartum Nutrition, Recovery, and Food Support |
| Unit 3 | Postpartum Mood, Anxiety, Trauma, and Psychosis: Beyond the 8-Week Visit |
| Unit 4 | Postpartum Healing Modalities and Referral Boundaries |
| Unit 5 | Maternal and Newborn Warning Signs and Referral |
| Unit 6 | Supporting the Postpartum Family System |
| Unit 7 | Fourth Trimester Support and Referral Plan Assignment |
| Unit 8 | Module 9 Exam: Postpartum Care, Family Adjustment, and Warning Signs |
| Module 10 | Bereavement, Complicated Outcomes, and Referral |
| Unit 1 | Entering the Work: Scope, Readiness, and the Full Spectrum of Outcomes |
| Unit 2 | Foundations of Grief, Mourning, Trauma, and Companioning |
| Unit 3 | Language, Presence, and Client-Led Support |
| Unit 4 | Early Pregnancy Loss and Complex Early Outcomes |
| Unit 5 | Abortion and Pregnancy Termination Support |
| Unit 6 | Fetal Diagnosis, Uncertainty, and Perinatal Palliative Options |
| Unit 7 | Stillbirth, Labor, Birth, and Immediate Postpartum Care |
| Unit 8 | NICU, Neonatal Death, and Infant Death |
| Unit 9 | Pregnancy After Loss and Ongoing Reproductive Grief |
| Unit 10 | Concurrent Bereavement and Life-Altering Loss During Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum |
| Unit 11 | Supporting Partners, Siblings, Grandparents, and Chosen Family |
| Unit 12 | Referral, Crisis Recognition, Documentation, and Resources |
| Unit 13 | Documentation Following Difficult Outcomes |
| Unit 14 | Community Resources |
| Unit 15 | Cultural, Religious, and Personal Beliefs |
| Unit 16 | Understanding the Full Spectrum of Pregnancy Outcomes |
| Unit 17 | Reflection and Professional Growth |
| Unit 18 | Module 10 Exam: Bereavement, Complicated Outcomes, and Referral |
| Module 11 | Documentation, Privacy, and Professional Client Records |
| Unit 1 | Documentation Is Care |
| Unit 2 | AI Scribe Tools, Privacy, and Client Reporting |
| Unit 3 | Client Intake, Prenatal Notes, and Birth Logs |
| Unit 4 | Documenting Hospital Collaboration and Debriefing |
| Unit 5 | Client Documentation Scenario Assignment |
| Unit 6 | Module 11 Knowledge Check: Documentation, Privacy and Professional Client Records |
| Module 12 | Hands-On Skills, Mentorship, and Traveling Training |
| Unit 1 | Hands-On Training Requirement and Options |
| Unit 2 | Hospital Orientation and Team Communication Readiness |
| Unit 3 | Mentorship |
| Unit 4 | Hands-On Skills Workshop Structure |
| Unit 5 | Skills Signoff and State-Aware Practicum |
| Unit 6 | Module 12 Exam: Hands-On Skills, Mentorship, and Traveling Training |
| Module 13 | Professional Safety, Risk Management, and Sustainable Community Practice |
| Unit 1 | Situational Awareness and Professional Judgment |
| Unit 2 | Home Visit Safety |
| Unit 3 | Domestic Violence and High-Risk Environments |
| Unit 4 | Animals, Livestock, and Environmental Hazards |
| Unit 5 | Weather, Travel, and Disaster Preparedness |
| Unit 6 | Hospital, Birth Center, and Community Safety |
| Unit 7 | Professional Boundaries and De-escalation |
| Unit 8 | Documentation Following Safety Incidents |
| Unit 9 | Burnout, Secondary Trauma, Compassion Fatigue, and Recovery |
| Unit 10 | Developing a Personal Professional Safety Plan |
| Unit 11 | Module 13 Exam: Professional Safety, Risk Management, and Sustainable Community Practice |
| Module 14 | Birth Experience, Portfolio, Final Assessment, and Certification Completion |
| Unit 1 | Birth and Postpartum Experience Documentation |
| Unit 2 | Professional and Community Resource List Assignment |
| Unit 3 | Hospital Integration Reflection Assignment |
| Unit 4 | Final Exam Review and Course Completion |
| Unit 5 | Module 14 Exam: Birth Experience, Portfolio, Final Assessment, and Certification Completion |
| Unit 6 | Final Portfolio and Completion Review |