If you’ve found yourself googling “how to become a doula,” you’re not alone. Every week, people reach out to me because they feel deeply called to this work, but they’re still unsure if birth or postpartum support is the right fit for them.

As the founder of Chicago Family Doulas and Birth & Baby University, I’ve trained and mentored hundreds of doulas through both training and hands-on experience in the field.

I’ve been a certified birth and postpartum doula since 2010, and for the past eight years, I’ve trained aspiring doulas and helped them to navigate this important career decision. I know how personal and transformational this decision can be. So let’s explore what each role looks like and how to determine the best path for you.

Birth doulas offer emotional, physical, and informational support to families before and during labor and birth. They meet with families prenatally, provide hands-on comfort measures during labor, and help ensure birthing people feel informed, empowered, and respected every step of the way.

This path may be for you if you:

Feel energized by intense, in-the-moment experiences.

• Are comfortable being on-call and waking up at 3 a.m.
• Are alright being away from home and your family for an undetermined amount of time.
• Want to support families through decision-making during labor.
• Are fascinated by the physiology and psychology of birth.

Postpartum doulas support families in the weeks and months after the baby is born. They support the entire family during the postpartum period, offering both reassurance and guidance. With deep knowledge of newborn care, family adjustment, and recovery, they help ease the transition. They provide infant care, feeding support, and help with emotional and physical recovery. Their support also includes sibling adjustment and overnight care so parents can rest.

This path may be for you if you:

• Are nurturing, calm, and confident in caring for newborns.
• Want consistent daytime or overnight shifts.
• Love helping families feel grounded in early parenthood.
• Are passionate about postpartum recovery, infant feeding, and sleep.
• Are proactive and helpful with household tasks and comfortable with helping a family in all of the needed ways without needing the direct guidance from them.

Absolutely. Many doulas choose to become certified in both and let their interests and availability guide the type of work they take on. Some doulas begin with one focus and later expand to include the other.

Our trainings at Birth & Baby University are fully online, self-paced, and certification-based. You can begin your journey anytime, from anywhere. Whether you start with birth doula training, postpartum doula training, or both, you’ll gain real-world knowledge, business insights, and ongoing mentorship from someone who’s been in your shoes.

I’ve been a doula since 2010 and a trainer for the past eight years. Through Chicago Family Doulas, I’ve mentored hundreds of doulas nationwide. I know what clients are looking for, how to build a thriving business, and what it takes to truly succeed in this work. At Birth & Baby University, I designed our trainings to equip you with practical tools, evidence-based education, and compassionate guidance: whether you’re starting a new career or building on your perinatal expertise.

You don’t have to decide today and you don’t have to decide alone. Sign up for our newsletter to receive helpful tips, training updates, and insights into the world of doula support. We’re here to help you explore, learn, and take that first step with confidence.

Whether you’re drawn to the miracle of birth or the sacred window of postpartum or both your desire to support families matters. We’d be honored to be part of your journey!