What do Doulas do? | A birth doula is a woman with special training in the art of labor and birth support. She attends births at home, birth center, or hospital. She is part of a the birth “team” working alongside midwives and doctors to provide the necessary components of a safe and satisfying birth day. She is a consistent presence who accompanies you and offers calm, non-judgmental encouragement and education as you move through one of the most powerful and miraculous experiences of your life.

She knows you and you trust her. | Women report a greater sense of preparedness, satisfaction and confidence when a doula is part of the birth team. Studies have shown that her presence and knowledge lead to a decrease in cesarean and epidural rates, and overall length of labor. The doula has no other responsibilities except as support for you and your partner. She may be the only consistent care provider with you throughout your labor and birth as your medical providers will come and go as the hours pass and shifts change.

At this time I am only accepting repeat clients for birth doula services. I have been a certified birth doula for over twenty years, having attended over 450 births to date. My services include at least two prenatal visits in your home. These visits provide time for getting to know each other, ideas on creating a calm and comfortable environment where you can picture yourself in early labor, brush-up childbirth reminders, formulation of “birth desires” ideas that you may wish to take with you to your practitioner, and practical suggestions regarding labor/birth preparations. I offer unlimited phone/email contact while you are pregnant and after your baby is born. As your labor begins, I will remind you by phone of breathing, labor massage, and positions for maximum comfort. I will join you in your home or at the hospital when you feel you’d like me to be there. I will continue support in your home during active labor and will make suggestions on timing for transfer to hospital/birth center. Once there I provide continuous support (aside from short breaks as necessary) education and reminders of birth options throughout your labor and delivery. I will remain with you for 1-2 hours after your baby is born, assist with breastfeeding if you wish, follow-up with you in your home within three days, and again after the first week.

“You reinforced my sense of inner strength and power and grace. You guided me when I felt lost.” — Devi

“Whenever we think of an angel, your name comes to mind! You have our greatest admiration…Thank you.” — Clive

“I sing your praises to all of my friends!” — Michael

“You were 100% present, focused and calm in the long hours of labor. I could not have done it without you.” — Sarah

Fee: $1,200.00
Fee schedule may be adjusted to accommodate ease of payment.

Birth Doula Training | Near beautiful Lake Merritt in Oakland
July 20-22: Friday, 6-10pm, Saturday/Sunday, 9a-6p followed by a potluck with visiting doulas

Nurturing teaches nurturing! Help women explore their choices, prepare their minds and bodies and dance towards the miraculous day of birth, and the beginning of life as a parent. Learn how to use the tools of the trade that will allow you to provide the best support possible as you begin your practice as a doula.

Join other women during this comprehensive weekend birth doula training. You will leave the training with a binder of pertinent information, lists of online resources, community contacts, a guide to setting up your practice, opportunities for further education and community connection, confidence and readiness to begin!

Course topics include:
Gifts, roles and responsibilities of the doula
Basic anatomy of the pregnant woman
Detailed understanding and exploration of the stages/progression of labor
Physical labor support techniques, including role plays and practice using comfort measures, optimal labor positions, massage, sound, breathing, etc.
Support techniques regarding the various shifting emotions of labor
Helping families choose their path when the road divides
Encouraging partner confidence, understanding and participation
Information regarding options for the most efficient use of medical pain management
Massage techniques for labor
Complications, variations, technology and your role as the doula
Connecting to your clients during Interview, Prenatal, Postpartum home visits
Effective communication with medical care providers – the “dance” in the room
Initial Breastfeeding support
Understanding the newborn’s needs
When the unexpected happens – birth support in times of crisis
Setting up your practice – Getting your name out in the world, finding back-ups, doula self-care, fee structure, marketing, communication and more…

Woven throughout the training will be films, time for discussion, dance moves for labor, philosophy explored, and ideas offered and received. Our Sunday closing will include a potluck and chance to meet and talk with other community doulas, both new and “veteran” who will offer an insight into the life of a doula!

In the months following the training, classes will be offered by area practitioners on topics such as bellycasting, placenta encapsulation, herbal remedies, henna body art, advantages of chiropractic care, benefits of acupuncture for pregnancy and birth, “blessingways” and other ideas you may wish to incorporate in your practice. You will also benefit from the monthly “New Doula Gatherings” to reconnect, offer and seek advice and learn from each other’s experiences.

Training requires five participants minimum, twelve maximum.
Fee: $350.00. First three participants to enroll, $325.00.
Contact me regarding the possibility of work study/decreased fee option (limited number per training).

“I wanted our training to last forever!” — Rosanne

“Anna’s decades of experience and the birth stories she shared made the class so real.” — Michelle

“The binder is great. I can’t wait to read the rest.” — Sarah

“I am ready to begin!” — Meg

“Thanks for graciously taking my “SOS” call in the middle of the night during my first birth.” — Liesl

For a list of certification requirements, or for more information, contact Anna at 510.842.6283 or email to anna@hurty.com.

Anna Hurty (lead trainer) is a certified childbirth educator, certified birth doula, certified Dancing for Birth™ teacher, and PBi placenta encapsulation specialist who has been a birth professional for over twenty years. Formerly a DONA-approved doula trainer, she created and continues to teach and nurture doulas beginning with the initial training, and continuing her support for as long as she is needed. This training, although not DONA-approved, follows rigorous standards and prepares women to work as a doula as soon as she completes the training requirements, some of which can be finished before the training begins (reading/reports, CPR, doula research, etc.)

She began her work in Berkeley where she helped start the volunteer doula program at Alta Bates Hospital where she worked as a doula, lecturer and teacher, and served on several birth-related committees. After moving to Palo Alto, she founded and served as Executive Director of the non-profit Blossom Birth Services while continuing to teach prenatal classes and attend births. At Stanford she created and taught the first Natural Birth prenatal series and taught half-day trainings entitled Non-Medical Pain Management to third-year resident physicians. While at Blossom, she created the DONA-Approved birth doula training, attended Elizabeth Davis’ midwifery training and was an invited guest at Midwifery Today’s “Charting the Future” conference in Seattle. While living in the midwest Anna became nationally certified as an EMT and worked for seven years in the trauma center while teaching private prenatal classes and offering doula support for friends and co-workers. Anna’s past and current certifications include a DONA Doula training with Penny Simkin and Dana Blue, Doula and Childbirth Educator certification through Full Circle Midwifery in Piedmont, Elizabeth Davis’ Midwifery Training, Adult/Child/Infant CPR, Placenta Encapsulation Specialist training with Placenta Benefits.info, and Nationally Registered EMT from Trinity College of Nursing.

Now back home in Oakland, Anna is teaching private classes, working as a doula, preparing placenta capsules and teaching Dancing for Birth classes. She teaches occasionally offering group classes at Birthways in Berkeley, Blossom in Palo Alto and Natural Resources in San Francisco. All the while, she continues her exploration with fiber and watercolor works. She is the wife of Mark and mother of two grown sons and their lovely sweethearts whose amazing company she enjoys whenever possible.

Come explore your dreams of becoming a doula and learn to make a difference in the lives of women during the most extraordinary experiences of birth!