Montessori Based Postpartum Doula Certification Program

Next Start Date: October 6th, 2025

In postpartum doula care, we nurture and gently guide parents in all non-medical aspects of care. In the weeks and months following the birth, we care for the parents, baby and other siblings while offering parents consistent, continuous reassurance, comfort and encouragement, enabling them to gain confidence in their parenting and to trust their intuition.

Whether you’re a birth worker, home visitor, Montessori or Doula trained, or simply interested in a better understanding of how to support newborns and parents after birth, our Montessori Based Postpartum Doula certification program will provide valuable insights into the unique and transformative approach to newborn and family care!

Our community-based training approach provides valuable preparation for working as a postpartum doula with Latine, Black, immigrant, and teen families, among others. This training emphasizes cultural humility and equity, ensuring doulas are equipped to support under-resourced families facing barriers to maternal and child healthcare.

Together we will explore Montessori principles like symbiosis, points of reference, the prepared environment, and ways understanding them can enrich support in the newborn days. We’ll also touch on the critical role of doulas in empowering parents and respectfully caring for newborns, along with insightful practices and philosophies tailored to newborn care.

Postpartum Services Can Include:

• Education About Baby’s Needs, Cues And Development In The Early Months
• Care For Postpartum Physical Needs And Emotional Support
• Hands-On Instruction In Basic Newborn Care, Infant Massage And Soothing Techniques
• Lactation And Bottle Feeding Support And Instruction
• Screening For Problems And Helping Find Solutions And Referrals Within Their Community
• Laundry, Meal Preparation, Tidying, Running Errands And Grocery Shopping
• Help With Older Sibling Adjustment And Baby Care While Parents Rest, Bathe, Etc.
• Support For A Partner Who Is Learning To Care For Baby
• Instructions On The Safe Use Of Baby Equipment
• Overnight Support

Program Details

• Duration: 10 weeks (fully online)
• Weekly Commitment: ~Approximately 10 hours, including a weekly 90-minute live Zoom class. Live Class will be on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 7:30 EDT 
• Certification Cost: $795
• Advanced/Practicum Phase: $400 if enrolled before completing Level One; $500 if enrolled afterward.
• The Advanced/Practicum Phase includes 4 hours of Practicum Support. This support gives you dedicated time for hands-on practice and personalized help. If you’d like more hands-on support, you can upgrade your course for $270 and receive an additional 4 hours of Practicum support.
• You can also upgrade on an hourly basis at $75 an hour and receive additional support from a Practicum Advisor; however, this option must be purchased and paid for before use.

What Students Are Saying…

“This course was amazing. Learning about PMADS and how to look for signs and support families in that instance was so beneficial for me.” 
— Doula Alumni, April 2025 Cohort

“I really loved the diversity, empowerment, humility and empathy unit in the course. It was really helpful to be reminded but also to hear from other folks surrounding those topics.”
— Doula Alumni, April 2025 Cohort

“I liked being able to interact with both the cohort and instructors. It was a good balance of both and an amazing discussion.” 
— Doula Alumni, April 2025 Cohort

About the Instructor

Cynthia Jordan Fisher brings over 40 years of experience supporting newborns and their families. She holds a BA in Human Ecology and is an AMI-certified Montessori Assistant to Infancy, with specialized training in prenatal to three-year-old development. Cynthia’s journey began in the early 1980s, with hands-on experience observing births and working in a newborn nursery in Rome, Italy. As a DONA-certified postpartum doula and NCAST-trained professional, Cynthia blends Montessori principles with compassionate care. She has worked with families worldwide, founded the nonprofit Nearby Baby, and continues to mentor and train postpartum doulas.

What Families Say

“Cynthia’s overall calm, supportive, positive manner with me, baby, our 27-month-old, and my husband was so appreciated. She has an ability to be present and soft in her manner that, during such a vulnerable, precious, and magical time, cannot be taught and is beyond words in appreciation.”
— Mother of two