Postpartum Doula Certification Program
Become a certified postpartum doula and learn how to care for the parents, baby and other siblings while offering parents consistent, continuous reassurance, comfort and encouragement.
Montessori Based Postapartum Doula Training
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.
Our next training cohort begins March 23, 2026!
Our Program
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!
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, including supporting diverse families with cultural humility.
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.
Meet Your Doula Program Director and Instructor
Cynthia Jordan Fisher
Doula Program Director and 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
Monica Johnson
Doula Program Co-Director
Monica Johnson brings over 25 years of experience supporting families and at-risk populations through classroom and community-based Montessori initiatives. She holds a Master’s degree in Montessori Leadership from Sarasota University, a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral and Social Science from the University of Maryland, and an AMS Early Childhood Teaching Credential. Monica is also a certified Trainer of Trainers, Triple P Parenting Facilitator, a Fatherhood Practitioner, and Therapeutic Art Coach. She currently runs a High School program for teens experiencing homelessness, is a Primary Level instructor at the Center for Guided Montessori Studies, and an Adjunct Faculty member at Sarasota University.
As a Montessori Postpartum Doula, Monica has worked professionally in home visiting programs and specializes in teen parent support, trauma-informed care, and substance use recovery. Her passion is to help families stay together by building resiliency during the critical postpartum period and to assist with the critical adjustment period after birth. Other areas of postpartum specialization include home safety planning and sibling transitions. Monica is dedicated to sharing her passion with other birth workers who seek to specialize in Montessori based postpartum work. She believes in family-support, plenty of food and humor, connecting to resources, and helping families to create environments that are safe and honoring of who they are.
Monica lives in Maryland and enjoys reading and gardening in her spare time.
What Students Say
“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
See what they’re saying.
Our Postpartum Doula program alumni have a lot to say about their experience.
Postpartum Doula Trainee
Alumni
Postpartum Doula Trainee
Alumni
Postpartum Doula Trainee
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