There are many doulas who choose not to re-certify, or to certify in the first place, for that matter. Certification is the effort to professionalize and legitimize the doula profession, to have it be recognized by health care providers and consumers as a trained role backed by a regulating body and a code of ethics.
There are some who say that doula work does not need to be professionalized or legitimized. Many doulas say they have no issues finding clients or doing their work as non-certified doulas, so it is not worth the cumbersome paperwork and cost of staying affiliated with the organization. I completely understand this perspective.
Others say that DONA's code of ethics and scope of practice are too narrow - they do not allow you to speak for the client, do not allow you to contradict the medical advice given by the provider, do not allow you to say that you are providing aromatherapy/other therapeutic techniques as a doula (you can do so as a trained aromatherapy practitioner, though). I personally think it is right that there be some boundaries that you do not cross in the role of a doula. The doula training is not medical training (if you have medical training, that's a different situation) and it does not make a professional with essential oils. I strongly believe that in order for doulas to remain allowed to come into the delivery room, we do have to play nice with the doctors and nurses (its common courtesy, anyway - just be friendly not combative)! Also, we shouldn't ever presume to put words in someone's mouth, especially someone who is about to become a mother (one who we hope will be a strong and confident mother, which often starts with birth).
DONA is ensuring that no doula ever oversteps her bounds, for the safety of the woman and her family.I respect any doulas choice for certifying or not certifying. I will not judge you for doing so or not, as I hope whether or not you spend the time and money for the credentials that you still follow a scope of practice and a code of ethics that only helps women and other doulas, and does not hurt them. Doulas need to make sure that we build a positive reputation and never make any bad press for one another.
I chose to re-certify, and it really was not too rigorous. I started very soon after I became certified initially - I brought some papers to clients for them to sign to prove that I was at their birth, or had them fill out evaluations on me. I took my CLC training, and that knocked all of my continuing education credits out in one fell swoop. As my re-certification date neared, I did realize that I was missing a signature from one more mom, and asked a recent client to sign a form for me. Piece of cake! Submission wasn't too hard, and a couple of months later I received my new certificate.
I have clients ask me if myself and my back-up doulas are certified. I've had clients say they don't want a back-up doula that isn't yet certified. I've had clients specifically ask me about DONA. Being certified proves that you are trained (not just calling yourself a doula), and therefore can associate yourself with all of the research-proven benefits of having a doula!
I am thankful for DONA International because the organization has:
- Legitimized the profession of the doula, leading many childbirth educators to refer parents to DONA's website to find a doula, and hospitals to allow doulas in the labor room,
- Worked hard to get doulas the ability to have an NPI number so we can help clients submit for insurance reimbursement,
- Spoken and written (Penny Simkin and colleagues) on numerous topics that are now growing in evidence-base and popularity for the good of the mother and baby (e.g. the positive impact of the doula on labor experiences, delayed cord clamping, etc),
- Celebrated doulas and provides resources for both parents and doulas all over the world.
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