Pre Pregnancy Preparation Classes

1.  Why are Earth’s Natural Touch: Birth Care and Beyond Doulas and Perinatal Advocates Important?  

We could go on and on but in short, the use of Doulas as part of a person’s care team has proven medical, mental, physical and emotional benefits. We are a fun group of doulas and perinatal health advocates who love to incorporate the wisdom and cultural healing practices of our ancestors into our care, while providing culturally relevant and evidenced based services. We come to the people as the people because we are the people.    

2.  What does the training look like to become an Earth’s Natural Touch Certified Interdisciplinary Doula (sm)? 

Interdisciplinary Doulas complete 14 months (120+ hours) of rigorous training covering a variety of topics that prepare them to support families through pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum, lactation, grief and loss & more. Some of us have added specialties and focus on preconception preparation, lactation, research, advocacy, etc.  

3.  Why is our Doula Skills: Beyond the Basics Training Program so long compared to the average 2-5 day Doula trainings? 

Because we know that after just 3-4 days of training, it can be challenging to navigate all of the complexities that often come with supporting families in undervalued communities, who are living with the weight of historical and generational traumas, while navigating institutional racism and all of the social & institutional determinants of health, which can all influence their reproductive choices, options, and outcomes. This program encompasses a wide range of knowledge from Conception through to Birth to Postpartum and many things in between such as Nutrition, Grief & Loss, Toxic Relationships, Birth Justice, Trauma Informed Care, Lactation & Much, Much More through several training units. Overall, this training will prepare you to support families in many environments and through a wide range of circumstances encompassing the Full Spectrum standard and beyond; becoming an Earth's Natural Touch: Birth Care & Beyond Interdisciplinary Doula (sm).  

4.  Who should apply to take this training? 

The program is appropriate for Doulas-to-Be and Newly Trained/Certified Doulas who are looking to gain additional knowledge and skill to be able to provide better support to their clients and a supportive collective. Many Doulas have expressed the lack of skill, diversity, cultural responsiveness or humility, and a lack of seeing a reflection of themselves, and their communities in the trainings that they have previously taken. Rest assured, if you are of the global majority, you will see yourself in this program. Our curriculum covers knowledge of a variety of cultural practices, You will graduate with a wealth of knowledge and the ability to handle and navigate tough situations and circumstances. If you need assistance along the way, you have an entire Doula Sisterhood to support you... And we are DEEP and well connected to each other!

5.  Do you offer shorter doula trainings? 

Yes. We do offer shorter trainings through Agencies and Organizations. These trainings are designed to enhance your ability to fulfill the current role/responsibilities that you hold within said institution. Right now, we are only offering the Interdisciplinary Doula training to the public. 

6.  Well… Since the training is so long, do I have to wait until I graduate to support families? 

Nope. You will be well prepared to support clients way before you graduate. Remember, this training is called the Doula Skills: Beyond the Basics Program. You will be learning beyond the basics of a typical doula training program.       

7.  Is this training offered virtually due to the pandemic? 

Yes! Like most Doula Training programs, ours is now being offered virtually. As responsible care givers, our goal is always to keep ourselves and the families we support safe.    

8.  What certification will I obtain when I have completed the program? 

You will be an Earth's Natural Touch: Birth Care & Beyond Interdisciplinary Doula (eCID).   

9.  What do the Earth’s Natural Touch: Birth Care & Beyond Doulas and Perinatal Health Advocates focus on? 

Preconception and Fertility, Antepartum Care, Labor/Birth Doula Support, Postpartum Doula Support, Birth Justice, Lactation Support, Grief and Loss Support & More. We even have teams that you may be selected to join including Research / Writing Team/ Advocacy & Policy Work, Mocha Milkshake Cafe, Fertility Journey Partners, Grief & Loss, Birth Photography & more if you remain part of our sisterhood. We offer our grads an opportunity to continue to build our sisterhood so that we can collectively continue to make systemic change and create sustainable work, and educational opportunities together.   

10.  Why is there an application process to this training program? 

There is an application process because this is a serious commitment. Our sisterhood is strong, and our trainings can be very intimate. We want to be sure that you are comfortable with us, that you align with our values, and vice versa. This is more than just your typical Doula Training. This is a Sisterhood of Doulas. We are not a "Pay-To-Play" Doula Training Program. If you don't want to be loved on in a circle full of supportive sisters, please don't apply.   

11.  Why is Sisterhood so important to you in this work? 

Being part of our Sisterhood is an amazing experience. This program has been compared to a Rite of Passage into a woman's own growth and development no matter how young or old she is. We have had students aged 16 to 60+. The sisterhood is a safe space to learn and explore ourselves and each other as we build bonds, heal our own traumas, support each other through life’s transitions, and of course work on assignments, presentations, community service, homework, projects & more. If you are selected to join the Information Session, you will get to meet some of the current students & Graduates who can tell you more.    

12.  How long has Earth's Natural Touch: Birth Care & Beyond been training Doulas? 

We are not new to this. We have been training Doulas since 2016. We are the largest Black Owned Doula Training Organization & Sisterhood based in the New England & NY Tri-State area. However, we have Doulas in multiple states across the country. Although we support all families, our program has always been designed to keep Black Families centered.   

13.  When was Earth’s Natural Touch: Birth Care and Beyond Founded and by whom? 

SciHonor Devotion began her studies in the field of Reproductive Health in 1999 She trained and certified as a Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator, Maternal Child Health Specialist, Certified Lactation Counselor, Perinatal Mental Health Support Group Facilitator, Homebirth Midwife Assistant, and is now a Midwifery Student . She established Earth’s Natural Touch: Birth Care & Beyond in 2001. In 2016 the Dada Zuri Sisterhood (#DadaZuri) was born. SciHonor created the Doula Skills: Beyond the Basics Program in response to the need for more racially diverse and competent Doulas to support families from a culturally aligned & responsive lens.  

14.  What kinds of advocacy or policy work is Earth’s Natural Touch involved in?  This is a REALLY important question to ask the training organizations you are considering because it helps you to understand the functions & goals of the organization you choose to train with. We could train Doulas every weekend with a 3-5 day training and make money doing so. However, we are not interested in training hundreds and thousands of Doulas, then sending them out into an unstable or nonexistent workforce. As founding members of the Connecticut Doula Coalition, Doulas 4 CT, we have been working for almost 4 years with legislators, community members, and organizations both in and out of state, to ensure that equitable, culturally responsive doula care is accessible to the families who would benefit from it the most, and also so that doulas can make a living wage doing the work they trained to do. We hope that local change with influence national change for all Doulas. We facilitate workshops on the Black reproductive experience for medical professionals & medical students and enjoy speaking at colleges and universities. We are focused on creating sustainable, long-term systems for doulas and families, and value quality over quantity. We are also working in partnership with local and national organizations to impact birth outcomes in undervalued communities. Our partners include Bridgeport Prospers United Way, March of Dimes, New Haven Healthy Start. The CT State Office of Early Childhood, and others.  

15.  Are payment plans available? 

Yes. We know that paying for trainings can be awfully expensive and can serve as a barrier to doula training access, so we created an affordable payment plan to make the financial responsibility a little easier on our sisters. Please Request Further Details when you submit your introductory essay. 

16.  How to apply for the ENT Interdisciplinary Doula Program 

The first step is to send an INTRODUCTORY ESSAY (1 page is sufficient) as soon as possible. Tell us who you are, what job you currently do, about any hobbies, school, family, birth experience, whatever you want us to know about you, and what inspired you to become an ENT Interdisciplinary Doula. Include your name, email, city/state, phone# and headshot on the document by DECEMBER 26th, 2022. Email your essay of interest to... 

Enrollment@EarthsNaturalTouch.com with subject "Introductory Essay - C7 - Your Name"

From there, your essay will be reviewed by our Enrollment Team and we will contact you to let you know if we would like to learn more about you. If so, you will be invited to our Private Virtual Information Session where you will learn more about our program and meet some of the Graduates and Current Students. After you hear more about us, you can request to apply if you believe your goals align with ours. 

We expect to start the 2023 class by Spring 

In Birth Joy & Love,

SciHonor Devotion of Earth's Natural Touch: Birth Care & Beyond 

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