Our in-person and online CEUs Courses are for Birth Professionals looking to improve their skills and expand their knowledge.
We offer several continuing education learning opportunities at SDA– both in-person and online classes. Many of these classes provide CEUs (Continuing Education Units) through DONA International and other organizations. CEUs are essential for Certified Doulas when it’s time to recertify, but many of these classes also provide CEUs that Labor & Delivery Nurses, NICU Nurses, Midwives, etc. can use for re-certification or licensing.
Our online CEU courses for Birth Professionals include:
Class options: Online and In-person in Sacramento, CA
Time: 1pm to 4:30pm Pacific Time
Tuition: $145.00
As a birth worker, you play a crucial role in facilitating a successful breastfeeding relationship between mother and baby. This class provides a solid foundation in the basics of breastfeeding and will enhance your knowledge and skills to better support nursing dyads. Tailored for doulas, midwives, and anyone seeking to increase their expertise in lactation support. The course will cover these essential topics:
Instructor: Tonya Bridges, CLC
Tonya is a seasoned birth and postpartum doula and Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) who is passionate about helping families feel informed, supported, and confident in their breastfeeding journey. She brings years of experience guiding parents through pregnancy, birth, postpartum recovery, and infant feeding with compassion and evidence-based care.
Tonya has been part of the Sierra Doula Academy teaching team since 2019, where she also teaches postpartum care and newborn support.
Attendance fulfills the Lactation Support Education Component for Birth and Postpartum Doula certification with DONA International.
In-person and online classes offered throughout the year.
Hours: 10am to 12:30pm PST Daily
Early Bird $95.00
Regular Tuition $105.00
Location: Online – 2 day course
Doula Business Essentials (Oct 8-9, 2026) 10am to 12:30pm PT Each day | ONLINE CLASS
This live online workshop is designed to bridge the gap between doula training and real-world business development for birth and postpartum doulas. You’ll receive practical guidance on marketing, pricing, contracts, business structure, client communication, and creating systems that support both your clients and your own well-being.
Whether you’re launching your practice as a birth or postpartum doula, or looking to strengthen an existing practice, you’ll leave with greater clarity, confidence, and a realistic plan for building a business that reflects your values and supports the life you want to create.
Class sizes are intentionally kept small to encourage discussion, personalized guidance, and meaningful connection with other doulas navigating similar questions. Upon completion, participants receive 5 DONA International CEUs.
This workshop is designed for birth doulas, postpartum doulas, and newly trained doulas who want practical guidance on building a sustainable doula business.
A successful doula practice isn’t built on marketing alone.
It’s built on trust, professionalism, compassionate presence, and relationships that grow over time.
This workshop is designed to help you build a business that reflects your values, supports your well-being, and allows you to continue doing this meaningful work for years to come.
Janine Maitri, DONA-Approved Birth Doula Trainer
For more than 40 years, Janine Maitri has supported families through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period while mentoring and educating the next generation of birth professionals. As a DONA-approved birth doula trainer for over 30 years and an Advanced Continuing Education Provider with DONA International, she has trained thousands of doulas and helped birth professionals build the knowledge, confidence, and professional foundation needed to thrive in birth work.
Drawing from decades of experience as both a birth professional and small business owner, Janine brings practical guidance, thoughtful mentorship, and an honest perspective on what it takes to build a successful, sustainable doula practice. Her goal isn’t simply to help doulas start a business—it’s to help them build meaningful, sustainable careers rooted in compassionate care, professional excellence, and lifelong learning.
Time: 1:00 – 4:00 pm PST
Early Bird $65.00 (30 days early)
Regular Tuition $72.00
Location: Sacramento, CA
NEW DATES WILL BE ADDED SOON!
NEW DATES WILL BE ADDED SOON!
Location: Sacramento, CA
Duration: 3 hours
Location: In-person at SDA
Instructor: Experienced L&D and Mother-Baby RN from Kaiser Hospital
Step into the hospital birth environment with confidence and clarity. This immersive, 3-hour class is designed specifically for doulas to deepen their understanding of hospital-based care—from admission through postpartum discharge.
Led by a seasoned labor & delivery nurse, you’ll explore each stage of the hospital experience with guided instruction and real-world insights. Visual aids and facility overviews (triage, PACU, OR, nursery, NICU) will bring the environment to life, helping you help your clients navigate common hospital procedures with clarity.
Understand the “why” behind hospital protocols so you can better explain them to clients.
Learn how to advocate effectively while maintaining positive relationships with medical staff.
Build confidence communicating within the hospital system.
Participate in interactive Q&A and real-time case discussions.
Whether you’re a new doula or a birthworker looking to refine your skills, this class offers a practical, insider’s look at supporting births in a medical setting—so you can show up informed, calm, and empowered.
It’s also a great introduction for anyone who’s curious about becoming a doula before committing to a full training.
Whether you’re supporting your daughter, partner, sister, best friend, or another loved one, you’ll learn practical comfort techniques, effective communication skills, and the mindset to be a calm, reassuring presence throughout labor and birth.
You’ll receive personalized, one-on-one guidance from Janine Maitri, founder of Sierra Doula Academy and a seasoned doula trainer and childbirth educator with more than 35 years of experience supporting families and mentoring doulas.
Rather than attending a full doula training, you’ll receive exactly the guidance you need to feel prepared, capable, and confident for this unique experience.
Through personalized guidance, you’ll gain the practical skills, knowledge, and confidence to be a calm, reassuring presence for someone you love during labor and birth.
What You’ll Learn
Comfort Measures for Labor
Discover practical ways to provide physical and emotional support, including positioning, massage, relaxation techniques, and other comfort measures that can make a meaningful difference.
Creating a Calm Birth Environment
Learn simple ways to help foster a sense of safety, reassurance, and calm for the birthing mother throughout labor.
Communication & Advocacy
Build confidence communicating with your loved one and interacting respectfully and effectively with nurses, midwives, and physicians.
Staying Calm Under Pressure
Develop simple tools to manage your own emotions so you can remain present, grounded, and supportive when you’re needed most.
Understanding the Doula Role
Curious about doulas? You’ll learn what they do and, if you’re interested, explore whether professional doula training might be right for you.
As your loved one’s due date approaches, you’ll have direct access to me by phone or text for last-minute questions, reassurance, or a boost of confidence—so you can walk into the birth feeling prepared and supported too.
Dates:
2-Day Online Course
March 8-9, 2025 | 1 PM -5 PM
3-Day Evening Course
April 30, May 7 & 14, 2025 | 6 PM – 8:45 PM
Investment $275.00
Location: Online
NEW DATES WILL BE ADDED SOON!
Want to offer meaningful, informed support during labor and birth without committing to full doula training? Enroll in our Birth Support Basics class today and learn how to be the calm, confident presence every birthing parent deserves. This is the perfect “layperson’s” doula training!
Our Birth Support Basics class is perfect for:
🌟 Family & Friends who want to offer emotional and physical support to a loved one during childbirth
🌟 Partners who want to play an active and informed role in the birthing process
🌟 Aspiring Doulas looking to start their journey with foundational skills before investing in a full doula training
Here’s what you’ll learn:
Whether you’re preparing to help a loved one, or embarking on a career as a doula, Birth Support Basics will give you the skills, knowledge, and confidence to make a difference.
Our 8-hour course is offered in either two 4-hour sessions or 3-evening sessions for only $275, a fraction of the cost of full doula training. You’ll learn from Janine Maitri, founding director of Sierra Childbirth Institute and seasoned birth doula trainer with over 30 years of experience.
Mentoring and support to birth and postpartum doulas at any stage of their journey.
Varying options to meet the needs of busy schedules! 3 days, 5 days or 10 week online programs.
Our in-person and online doula workshops meet all the requirements to become a DONA certified Doula.
We combine modern sciences with ancient wisdom to offer a uniquely holistic experience.
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We are now Sierra Doula Academy (formerly Sierra Childbirth Institute)
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