Professional Doula Training & Certification

Doula Educational Institute (DEI) strives to increase the quality of prenatal, birth and postpartum support by promoting excellent Doula Training and continuing education and mutual support to our students, which cultivates the growth of individual doulas, as well as the collective profession.

 

Our TrainingsAbout Us

What is a Doula?

A Doula is a trained professional who provides emotional, physical and informational support to expectant families during pregnancy, childbirth and a few weeks after delivery.

Come and learn from the industry experts and receive your certification immediately after the training. We also offer continuous resources and continuous support by joining our Facebook community where you can connect with other like minded professionals.

What is a Doula?

Our Professional Trainings

DEI offers an integrative approach with evidence-based education that is inclusive of all beliefs, cultures, lifestyles, and philosophies.

Birth Doula Course

Birth Doula Training

A Birth Doula is a trained companion who is not a healthcare professional and who supports an expectant family through a significant life experience, such as childbirth. The doula’s goal & role is to help a family feel safe and comfortable, complementing the role of the healthcare professionals who provide the family’s medical care.A birth doula is present and involved before, during & shortly after giving birth. At the completion of training you will receive a certificate and become a Certified Birth Doula.

Postpartum Doula Training

Postpartum Doula Training

A Postpartum Doula is a trained professional who helps families adjust to their new lives immediately following the birth or adoption of their baby. A postpartum doula works with the parents to ensure they get necessary non-medical physical, emotional and educational support during the period following the birth or adoption of their baby. At the completion of the training you will receive a certificate and become a Certified Postpartum Doula.

Proudly Supporting Local Families Since 2009.

Come and learn from the industry experts and receive your certification immediately after the training.

Shakila Marando

Shakila M.

Birth, Postpartum Doula Training & Infant Sleep Consultant Training Educator

My journey into this work began as a nanny, where I first discovered my deep love for caring for families and supporting them through the ups and downs of raising their children. I have always believed this work is “God’s work”—a true calling to walk alongside parents during one of the most special and vulnerable times of their lives.

When I became a doula, I began to see parenting in a whole new light. Drawing from my own experience as a mother, I asked myself, How can I show up for families in an even better way? The answer was simple: by putting myself in their shoes—feeling their joys, their worries, and their struggles—and finding ways to make their journey just a little bit easier.

This calling eventually grew into a vision, and that vision became Doulas by the Bay, a company I founded to build a community of doulas who truly show up for families with love, care, and understanding. For over 16 years, I’ve been honored to lead this work, creating not only a place where families feel supported but also a pathway for new doulas to be trained, mentored, and given meaningful opportunities to work in this field.

Through the Doula Educational Institute, I now teach and mentor aspiring doulas, sharing both the practical tools of the profession and the heart behind the work. My classes are about more than just learning a role—they are about building a meaningful, impactful, and sustainable career. I share my journey, my challenges, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way to empower others to step into this calling with confidence and purpose.

My mission is clear: to equip doulas with the skills, compassion, and vision to make a lasting difference—not only supporting families one birth at a time, but also shaping communities and creating change in society through compassionate care. Teaching this work is my greatest joy, because I know that together we are building a future where every parent feels truly seen, supported, and empowered.

 

 

Interested in being the best doula you can be?

DEI strives to increase the quality of prenatal, birth and postpartum support by promoting excellent doula training and continuing education and mutual support to our students.

Doula Educational Institute

About DEI

Doula Educational Institute (DEI) offers an integrative approach with evidence-based doula education that is inclusive of all beliefs, cultures, lifestyles, and philosophies.