Hi! I'm Victoria!
And I make it easier for you to be a great doula.
I provide pregnancy, birth, and postpartum continuing education for the modern doula!
Build your skills through conversation! Learn from trusted doulas & professionals in the field.
Save your valuable time, money, and energy by using someone else’s learning curve as your starting line.
Gain Skills
Trainings, Certifications, & Mentorship
There are so many opinions about whether or not trainings and certifications are beneficial in a doula's journey. I'm not here to debate the merits of formal preparations, but I am here to tell you what has helped along the way!
My Doula Trainer (Dr. Robin Elise Weiss)
I chose to attend doula training through DONA International. There are many DONA-approved birth doula training workshops, and I chose to go to Dr. Robin Elise Weiss (Louisville, travels) for my training.
I choose Robin's Birth Doula Training Workshop for these reasons:
- My husband gifted me tickets to the training for Mother's Day 2015. (Cue the sobs from me.)
- The training was a close distance from my house.
- She has extensive experience and I wanted to learn *from* her.
- I liked that her curriculum was robust.
- I liked that she offered ongoing mentorship to trainees.
- I also took Robin's Lamaze-approved childbirth educator training; I did not decide to become a certified CBE, but I really enjoyed learning from Robin.
My Doula Certification (DONA International)
Since I took a DONA training and was happy with it, it was pretty easy for me to decide to certify with DONA International.
- Since I didn't have prior birth support experience, I wanted the certification credentials CD(DONA) behind my name to add credibility and trustworthiness.
- I thought the certification process would be a way to enhance and validate my skills as a new doula.
- I knew I would be working as a doula in a community that is still growing in its awareness of doulas and I wanted to be as above board in my preparation and what I could offer as possible.
Here you'll find done-for-you templates, no-nonsense classes, and skilled mentorship. With nearly a decade of birth doula experience, I've got tips, tricks, strategies, and systems for you to apply to your own practice.
I can't wait to help you become the doula you want to be!
The Birth Doula Client Workbook is my own secret sauce for conducting prenatal appointments that are efficient and effective!
Ready to take your doula business to the next level?
Let's get to work.
You don't have to do it alone.
Just like in birth, we support each other. I've been a birth worker for over seven years.
I've supported dozens of families through my doula services, birth education classes in a brick and mortar store, and through an online shop. I've done it all.
I'm here to help you identify your next steps and launch towards a successful and fulfilling business.
Reach out to learn more about how we can support your goals.
“Chatting with Victoria and getting to know her has been an absolute blessing for me as a new doula. From the moment I reached out to ask her for support, she embraced me with open arms—and open ears! I was nervous to seek out help, but I’m so glad I followed that inner voice that encouraged me to do so. When speaking with her, it was quickly apparent how naturally she exudes kindness and pure compassion.
During our consult meeting, I felt so respected, especially during moments of vulnerability. Additionally, her guidance and insights were truly invaluable. Victoria and I were able to connect on a human level, which made our discussion personal, empathetic, and meaningful. I wholeheartedly believe that I’ll reflect on that consultation meeting as a turning point in my career and in my sense of self. The whole experience was refreshingly sincere!!
I felt that Victoria radiated warmth and positivity, even through a computer screen. Her generosity is so apparent, as she even took time to follow up our virtual meeting by sharing resources and links related to our conversation. It’s all been remarkable and a testament to her dedication to nurturing others in the doula community. I am endlessly grateful for her support and friendship.”
- Meghan Harris, Hadoula Matata Doula Services
“I was so blessed doing a one-on-one consultation with Victoria as a new doula!! She provided wonderful insights on ways I could level up my business to become more high-end. As a wife, mom of 5 and doula practice owner, I want to work smarter, not harder.
Victoria helped me set up and figure out my client management software (HoneyBook) and gave me some awesome feedback on ways to improve my website to attract my unique ideal clients. It was a wonderful hour and I learned so much!!
Highly recommend meeting with her. Victoria’s warmth, wisdom and years of experience as a doula are invaluable! I plan to hire her again for consultation as the need arises!”
- Lexi Zuo, CD(DONA), LCCE, & CLC, The Elgin Doula
Business Coaching and Training
For most doulas, an unexpectedly challenging part of being a doula is running your own business. There are some noteworthy exceptions (doulas who join an existing agency or collaborative or hospital-based doulas, for example) but by and large, most doulas are independent business owners. Unless your birth doula training placed a great emphasis on business, you likely will find yourself needing more guidance.
The Doula Darcy has become my business coach as of 2023 and WOW-EE! has that been a valuable pursuit! Check out her offerings, including How To Get Clients for New Doulas*, or grab a few classes at once through The New Doula Business Bundle*.
*Affiliate links.
Katelyn James is an acclaimed photographer and business educator. Her Business Collection Course has been so helpful to me! Though her examples are photographer-centric, this community is open to any business owner. And I have found many parallels between signing wedding photography clients and doula clients.
100 Percent Doula was an amazing help to me as a new doula with regard to starting my own birth business. http://100percentdoula.com/ Early on, I realized on the ongoing community mentorship of this group of students.
The Doula Decision
Becoming a doula
Why don't you send me a quick DM on Instagram (@motherwelldoula) and tell me when you decided to become a doula?
You can read my story below!
During my first pregnancy, I became obsessed with learning all I could about birth. Not only was I genuinely interested in the process, I felt a distinct responsibility to be ready. It seemed right to me that I should prepare for this (what I heard would be) life-altering experience. And it was. In the best of ways.
Once I joined the ‘mommy club’ and started swapping battle stories, I discovered that not all women had the same, empowering, positive impressions of birth that I did. Stories of fellow mamas being treated more like children than women by their care providers. Scary, unexplained complications. Interventions that seemed to do more harm than good. Snap-decisions made in the midst of fear or confusion. Little-to-no breastfeeding support or information. Births that ended up more traumatic than pleasant.'
Even as I was just getting my bearings as a new mom, friends started to come out of the woodwork asking me all kinds of pregnancy and childbirth questions. “I know you had a good, natural birth experience,” their messages would start, “I just found out I’m pregnant and have no idea what to do. Can you help me?” I answered the questions that I could, and researched the others. Gaining knowledge even as I was spreading knowledge. Frequently I would fall asleep telling Ben about a new mom I had just been chatting with and the hurdles she was overcoming. I felt strongly that I needed to do more, but still felt a bit lost. After all, I was new to this motherhood rodeo, too.
Well into my daughter’s first year, that same story-swapping, question-asking, information-seeking pattern continued. I fell in love with this beautiful cycle of new moms encouraging newer moms.
A week or so after Mr. Mother Well graduated seminary, he and I had one of those lovely, dreamy, goal-setting conversations. We were thrilled that Ben had reached this milestone, and to have some of our family’s time and financial resources freed up. It was in was in this conversation we thought Ben should pursue a podcast idea he’d been tossing around.
“What about you?” he asked, “Why don’t you become a doula?”
I had mentioned the idea to him before, but it was always in the future. Maybe when we were done having babies. When the kids were in school. When…
“Why not now?” he prodded. “We can make it happen. You’re so passionate about this. I think you’re going to be a very busy doula one day.” Then he gave me one of his killer I-believe-in-you smiles.
I melted, and became a doula.