Doula Teacher Training Course

The first of its kind in Ireland, this doula course will provide all of the training and mentoring necessary for you to support pregnant people and their families and from conception, pregnancy labour birth and the early postpartum in the Irish maternity system.

It will cover the theory of anatomy and hormonal activity during pregnancy labour and birth along with hands-on training on how to support early labour at home and in hospital, how to support active labour, how to support birthing a baby both vaginally and via c birth. It will also look at support during an induction process and the support required in the immediate postpartum including a significant discussion of breastfeeding.

This course is unique in that it will focus entirely on what women and doulas face in the Irish maternity system and is entirely focused around our care models, both in hospital in midwifery-led units and at home. The course will look at how to support not just birthing people but also other families by making choices surrounding interventions and we will also assess why interventions may be necessary. With one-third of Ireland giving birth via C-birth, there will be a significant emphasis on C-birth and VBAC support.

Finally, this course will introduce a mentoring program and detail on how to get started and working as a doula in Ireland including listing on an elbowroom recommended doula directory.

Course structure:

– Anatomy
– Maternity Services
– Interventions
– C-Section
– Antenatal Support
– Pain Coping Strategies
– Referrals
– Supporting the doula
– Breastfeeding support
– Supporting the partner
– Support in Early Labour
– Support in Active Labour
– Support during birth
– Postnatal Visit
– Special Circumstances

Teacher – Krysia Byrne

I received my PhD in Science from the University of Durham in the UK. I lectured and researched for 14 years in Trinity College Dublin. I started training as a birth mentor and doula in 2003 and have since supported many families in achieving healthy happy pregnancies. I am a certified Birthing From Within mentor and doula. In 2006 I became a la leche league breastfeeding counsellor and in 2014 I trained as a placenta encapsulator. I have done many CPD course in rebozo work, in spinning babies in aromatherapy and in massage. In 2017 I trained as a Pregnancy Yoga Teacher and enjoy working with women in an active way. In 2014 I started doula training with Midwife Bridget Sheeran and we did our first Birth Know How Training in Cork that October.

I also work in a voluntary capacity as a birth advocate. In my role as the Chair of the Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services (AIMSIreland), I represent the service user experience at various HSE and Department of Health Committees.