Next Birth Doula Training · Rho Cohort · Our 17th Birth Doula Cohort · 18th Training Overall

Birth Doula Training.Rho Cohort · July 28–31, 2026 · Baton Rouge

A four-day ICEA-approved birth doula training. Two online evenings plus two full in-person days at FranU St. Francis Hall. Forty hours of training in total: 24 live contact hours plus 16 hours of independent coursework, with mentorship and ongoing network support throughout your time as a volunteer. Volunteer-track scholarships available.

Scholarship applications close Fri, Jun 26, 2026 11:59 PM CST

Scholarship interviews Jun 29–Jul 1, 2026 9 AM–5 PM CST

Scholarship acceptance notice Fri, Jul 3, 2026 Decisions emailed

Course registration closes Mon, Jul 6, 2026 5:00 PM CST

Class begins Tue, Jul 28, 2026 Online Night 1, 5:30 PM CST

Held at FranU St. Francis Hall, 5414 Brittany Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808.

New here? Start with our Education & Training overview

Graduating MHN doula cohort celebrating certification — A graduating cohort

MHN's most recent cohort celebrating ICEA certification, May 2026 — May 2026 graduation

July 13–31, 2026 · Pre-Work + Four Class Days

Hybrid format: self-paced pre-work + 2 live online evenings + 2 in-person days at FranU St. Francis Hall, Baton Rouge

40 hours of training total (24 live contact hours + 16 independent) · ICEA-approved curriculum · Pass/Fail grading

Hybrid · Pre-Work + 2 + 2 Format

Jul 13–27Pre-Work

Self-PacedOnline Coursework · Canvas

16 hours of independent coursework · Firm deadline: end of day Mon, Jul 27 · ICEA position papers, pre-work modules, quizzes

Jul 28Tuesday

Live VirtualNight 1 · Pregnancy Physiology & Complications

Microsoft Teams · 5:30–8:00 PM CST

Jul 29Wednesday

Live VirtualNight 2 · Labor, Birth & Medications

Microsoft Teams · 5:30–8:00 PM CST

Jul 30Thursday

In-PersonDay 1 · Pain Management & Comfort Measures

FranU St. Francis Hall, Baton Rouge · 9:00 AM–4:30 PM CST · Breakfast & lunch provided

Jul 31Friday

In-PersonDay 2 · Postpartum, Newborn Care & Skills Practice

FranU St. Francis Hall, Baton Rouge · 9:00 AM–4:30 PM CST · Breakfast & lunch provided · Skills check-off

Prerequisites.

No previous birth-work experience required. If you feel called to walk alongside families through pregnancy, birth, and the early weeks of parenthood, you belong here. To enroll you must:

Be at least 18 years of age
Complete all pre-work modules (Canvas, 16 hours of independent coursework) before Night 1
Have reliable internet plus a computer or tablet with camera and microphone
Commit to full attendance at all four live sessions (10% absence cap)

What you'll learn.

Physiology of birth

Stages and phases of labor, hormones, Six P's, ACOG active-labor thresholds.

Comfort measures

Counter-pressure, hip squeezes, rebozo, birth ball work, acupressure, water therapy.

Client interviewing

Active listening, social determinants of health screening, BRAIN framework.

Newborn care

Diapering, paced bottle feeding, burping, rebath method, newborn massage.

Scope of practice

Where the doula's role begins and ends. How to stay in your lane, gracefully.

Postpartum mental health

Perinatal mood disorders, postpartum psychosis, trauma-informed escalation.

Scholarships & Self-Pay Registration

Applying for the cohort.

On the application, you will select your registration type and the form will adjust accordingly. Need-based scholarships are available in two tiers, or you can register as a self-pay participant.

A non-refundable $35 application fee is required.

Your application will not be reviewed until payment is received. You will receive a payment link by email within 24 hours of submitting any application form (scholarship or self-pay).

$0You pay

$950Value

Full Scholarship

2-year volunteer service commitment after graduation

What's required to apply

Cohort application with scholarship section completed (income, household size, dependents)
Personal statement (1–2 pages): why you want to serve as a doula, what community you'd serve, and any lived experience that grounds you
Professional headshot (uploaded with your application — used for your doula profile after certification)
Virtual interview with the scholarship committee (15–20 minutes, scheduled after application)
Signed Service Agreement confirming you understand the 2-year commitment to volunteer with MHN families after certification

What the 2-year commitment looks like

Carry an active doula caseload (typically 3–6 families per year)
Attend monthly continuing-education sessions
Maintain CEUs to keep ICEA certification active
Communicate openly with your Volunteer Coordinator about availability

Materials (textbook, workbook, Field Guide, meals) are included regardless of tuition tier.

$500You pay

$450Value

Partial Scholarship

1-year volunteer service commitment after graduation

What's required to apply

Cohort application with scholarship section completed
Personal statement (1–2 pages): why you want this training, what community you'd serve, and any lived experience that grounds you
Professional headshot (uploaded with your application — used for your doula profile after certification)
Virtual interview with the scholarship committee (15–20 minutes, scheduled after application)
Signed Service Agreement confirming the 1-year commitment to volunteer with MHN families

What the 1-year commitment looks like

Carry an active caseload (typically 2–4 families)
Attend monthly continuing-education sessions
Maintain CEUs through the service year

Tuition balance ($500) is paid after acceptance. Payment plans available; ask on your application.

Not applying for a scholarship?

Self-Pay Registration

Full tuition is $950. Materials, meals, and certificate included. No service commitment. You will receive a payment link by email within 24 hours of submitting the self-pay form.

Self-Pay form

From Our Graduates

In their own words.

Why doulas keep coming back to Mary's Hands.

“
The biggest take away I received from Mary's Hands would have to be learning how important your words can be. Learning that the birthing person's voice should be heard the loudest in the room. I feel like Mary's Hands really put into perspective for me that you are not the mom's voice; you're just there to make sure mom knows she has one. I think that is the most special thing and something I will always remember to keep center in my work as a doula.
An MHN Graduate

“

I enjoyed the role-plays where we played the mom, doula, or nurse. That activity really helped me to realize what kind of doula I'd like to be, and boosted my confidence in my abilities to soothe and support.

On the role-plays

“

The instructors were knowledgeable, approachable, and passionate. They explained concepts clearly and encouraged questions and discussion.

On the instructors

“

I enjoyed the hands-on portion of the class. It helped me automatically step into my role as a doula by imagining my peers as my clients.

On the hands-on practice

“

This training reminded me how important it is to listen, support, and advocate for clients, especially when supporting people who may not always feel heard or supported in healthcare settings.

On what stays with them

After Training: Your Next Steps

From graduation to your first family.

Certification is the start, not the finish. Here's what comes next as an MHN volunteer doula.

Join the volunteer doula network

You're paired with a coordinator who matches you to clients based on your availability, geography, and birth philosophy. You never work alone, every birth runs as a two-doula team.

Get the MHN Field Guide

Your year-round companion through every birth and postpartum visit. Comfort measures, complications, scope-of-practice guidance, charting templates, escalation pathways. Online anytime, updated yearly.

Get connected with clients

Families apply through MHN's For Families page. Coordinators screen, intake, and assign within days. Prenatal visits, on-call labor support, and two postpartum visits per family.

The benefits you'll receive

Free ICEA exam prep + practice quizzes
Hospital privileging at partner institutions
Monthly continuing-education sessions (free CEUs)
Liability coverage on every MHN birth
Two-doula team backup so you're never on call solo
Birth-debrief sessions with trained peer support

Curious what families see?

Visit the For Families page.

See exactly what mothers experience when they apply for an MHN doula. It's the same page you'll point your future clients to.

Visit For Families

For Graduates: Practicing in Louisiana

After certification, here's what comes next.

Once you are a credentialed birth or postpartum doula, here are the two practical questions every graduate asks.

Joining the Louisiana Doula Registry

Louisiana’s Department of Health maintains the official Doula Registry. Practicing as a registered doula in the state requires a few specific steps:

Hold a current credential from an approved training organization (ICEA-credentialed graduates qualify)
Submit your registry application to LDH with documentation
Complete state-required training in trauma-informed care, implicit bias, and child abuse reporting
Maintain CEUs to keep your registration active

The full requirements live on the LA Department of Health doula registry page; we walk our graduates through the application as part of the Workforce Development pillar.

Billing insurance for your services

Louisiana state law now requires both Medicaid and commercial insurers to cover doula services for eligible clients. Once you’re on the state registry, you can:

Bill Louisiana Medicaid for prenatal visits, labor support, and postpartum visits
Bill commercial insurance for the same services under the parity provision
Use HCPCS codes the LDH publishes for reimbursable doula encounters

Reimbursement rates and exact code requirements are set by LDH; we cover the practical side of billing in our post-graduation Volunteer Coordinator support sessions.