SBD Doulas and Chaplains

Stillbirthday Birth & Bereavement Doulas (SBD) provide support prior to, during and after the birth of your miscarried or stillborn baby. They are qualified to provide support in situations of fatal diagnosis, carrying to term, and NICU care. SBD doulas are equally prepared to provide comprehensive support in live birth outcomes, including subsequent “rainbow” pregnancies, and can serve as a labor support in all birth situations.

Your SBD doula submitted a letter of intent to provide birth and bereavement support, she has studied through a rigorous 8 week training, she has passed with an 80% or higher on each weekly exam, she has read and reviewed books relating to pregnancy, birth and child loss, she has completed an investigative assignment in her community, and she is knowledgeable in these subjects and more:

the physiological process of childbirth
how childbirth is different and similar in trimesters
the importance of birth order and how it is impacted by loss
how to support a mother in labor in any trimester and in any outcome
how to help a mother build a birth plan, particularly in an expected live birth outcome or carrying to term
how to provide immediate support when establishing a relationship prior to the birth isn’t possible (such as unexpected pregnancy loss)
how to preserve the fleeting moments the family has with their miscarried or stillborn baby
how to incorporate personal wishes, extended family and siblings in the birth experience

You are invited to view the complete guidelines and curriculum of our SBD doulas, and to rate your doula who served you.

For a complete listing of all doulas, including those who are trained outside of stillbirthday but who choose to list with stillbirthday and comply with our Principles of Service, please visit our complete birth support professionals listing, or visit our listing of professionally trained SBD Doulas here.

If you’d like to become an SBD doula, visit our registration.

{View our listing of SBD Doulas!}

SBD Chaplains

Requirements:

Successful completion of the SBD doula program
Letter of intent for our records
Successful completion of any of the SBD approved emergency services chaplaincy training: see below
Ecclesiastical letter of recommendation on formal letterhead OR
Professional letter of recommendation on formal letterhead
An extension of your doula community project, to include: a closer look at your regional groups of diversity (culture, religion, etc. and how you can serve these demographics through thanatological midwifery and chaplaincy), and, explain your local laws and the legal steps required, if any, following miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal death as they pertain to transportation and repatriation information, funeral planning and specifically to home or “green” funeral planning. This should be a minimum 3 page report.
Book review of The Invisible Pregnancy specifically as it applies to eco-thanatology
Attending a Professionals or Community workshop
Signed agreement of the SBD principles of service both for doulas and for chaplains
Biannual recertification requires vertification of continued education within the subjects of birth, bereavement, thanatology and chaplaincy within each 2 year period.