Birthworker
TRAINING FAQs
How is the course formatted?
The course is housed in Teachable, and you’ll make a personal account there. The course material is delivered through various ways: powerpoints, audio clips, pre-recorded lectures, live lectures of me at prev in-person trainings, interviews of me and others (incl clients and colleagues), video demonstrations, excerpts from my doula manual, written format, pop-quizzes reflection questions, documentaries to watch and reflect on. In addition, there will be Zoom meetings that are held weekly and in the evening. These meetings are your study groups, where the TA will lead a two-hour coworking space. You go deeper into the work, ask questions, and connect with others. Every other week you’ll have a two-hour Zoom lecture on the weekend.
What does "self-paced" mean?
“Self-paced” means that within the 12-week course you can go as fast or as slow as you need. This course tries to accommodate for other things that may be going on in your life, and we want to support you in the process. We ensure that no one is left behind as we move together collectively.
Can I see the outline and/or syllabus before registering? Or after?
Yes, you can see the syllabus by clicking here. After registration it will be included in your follow-up email.
When is the last day I can sign up to register?
You can register until 1 week after the start date.
How often do you offer online trainings?
We offer online trainings about 2-3 times a year. You can check out the schedule here.
Do I have to take part 1?
I rather learn from you in person… I promise you that if you are just beginning your journey you definitely want to take part 1 first. However, it’s not a requirement. The only requirement to join us for part 2 is that you are able to keep up with the curriculum. Please keep in mind that part 2 is intended for those who are already birth workers or have taken a training.
What does the training consist of?
The training consist of 24 weeks of hybrid learning and community building. There are weekly modules that each student will complete via a platform called teachable. You can review an overview of the curriculum here. All material in the modules are pre-recorded. We meet a live a few times a week via zoom. Ok Sundays we have integration sessions with Sumi or a guest lecturer at 9am PST. On Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings one of our amazing TAs facilitates study group.
Who is this training for?
This training is for anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous person of color. I believ that everyone should learn about the process and other adjacent process that has created each and everyone of us. You do not have to desire to serve others in order to welcomed to the fam. People who identify as and socially navigate as a white person can support by donating to our community scholarship fund, sharing amongst their networks, or sponsoring a seat!
Is the online mandatory to take before registering for the in-person intensive?
No, it is not mandatory to take before registering for the Part 2 In-Person Immersion. However, if you do not have the doula experience equivalency, you will need to take the online course.
What’s the difference between the online and in-person course(s)?
The difference is that the online course provides introductory doula training and the in-person course is for those with doula experience (i.e. you’ve taken the online course or have doula experience equivalency). The in-person course is an intensive course where we focus on perfecting the art of touch through hands-on techniques and go deeper in the self-healing aspects of the curriculum.
Is there a cap on seats for the online course? If so, what is it?
Yes, the cap is 50 people
Do you offer a certificate? Will I be able to serve as a doula after? will I be licensed or certified?
Doulas and traditional birth workers work independently. There isn’t a governing body that regulates Doulas and traditional birth workers. Therefore, there isn’t a license associated with this sector of work. There isn’t a requirement for you to take a training or be certified to support your community and loved ones. Your ability to serve as a doula is contingent on your individual confidence and clarity. The curriculum will provide you will more than enough information and skills to equip you to serve as a doula. We do not provide certification as it is arbitrary considering there’s isn’t a governing body. We provide a certificate of completion and community to support you before, during, and after your training.
How much of a time commitment is the online course?
##It depends on your pace. On average, it’s about 7-10 hours per week.
Do you offer payment plans?
We offer several options for payment plans. You can pay in monthly installments for various lengths of time. The longer the payment plan the less you’ll pay each month. We also accept affirm, Afterpay, and PayPal payment plan options.
Why POC ?
I am dedicated to creating spaces where we can truly heal and transform. Since the inaugural training I have only trained people of color (aka no white people) because they have plenty of spaces that center them. We need spaces where we feel liberated, connected, seen, and safe to be vulnerable. The POC only cohort is a space that is extremely diverse calling in many cultures, languages, stories, and practices from people of the global majority. If you are a POC and you are seeking a space that is radically inclusive, culturally diverse, and a refuge so that you can heal from the harms of colonization and enslavement then this is the perfect space for you!
Who/ What is a POC
A Person of Color (POC) is a term that was coined by Loretta Ross, an African American activist and educator . She intended to find a term that unified all non-white people in a coalition minded framework to fight against racism. Although I critique the ways in which this term can conflate the individual struggles that we each experience and give a false pretense that we are experiencing the same impact of racism, I use this term with the same intention that Ross did: in solidarity. POC is an attempt to see how we are much more similar than we are different without erasing the intersections that for sure impact us differently.
Who isn't a POC
Over the years I have had many students who have self-identified as POC but benefit from being white-passing. I would like to extend my definition of who isn’t POC to those who live in this world as a white-passing person. For example, if you are from let's say Mexico and benefit from the racial dynamics there as a white person but in the US you have experienced some levels of othering due to your immigration status, that does not absolve your whiteness. This course is for those who do not get to choose when they are white or when they are non-white.
Does the curriculum differ from the All Black curriculum?
A vast majority of the curriculum is the same, but the All-Black curriculum involves topics and discussions that center around serving Black people as a Black person.
Is the course refundable?
No payments made by Registrant for any Sumi's Touch (ST) Program are refundable whether or not Registrant attends, participates in, or completes the applicable ST Program. If a Registrant is unable to complete a payment plan or participate in the enrolled cohort, the Registrants payments will roll over to a future training, workshop or service.
Sumi's Touch FAQs
What is a doula? How are a doula and midwife different from one another?
A doula is someone who offers non-medical informational, emotional, and physical support to people during the conceiving process, throughout pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period. A doula does not replace your primary care provider. Doula's are also advocates for their clients to ensure their wishes are being met when medically possible. A midwife is an expert of normal physiological pregnancy, birth, and well person care. They provide comprehensive well person, prenatal, labor, and postpartum care. They also offer family planning services that may include insemination. A midwife is a skilled primary care provider and other primary care providers are not necessary unless desired. Although many midwives offer similar support as a doula, they are focused on the physiological aspects of your experience- albeit a holistic approach. A doula and midwife make a wonderful team to ensure that all of your needs are being met!
Why do people eat their placenta? What are the benefits? Any contraindications?
For those who choose to eat their placenta the reasons usually are pertaining to the physical benefits, cultural tradition, or for spiritual significance. However, each person is different. There is not scientific research to acclaim benefits but many people report that by digesting their placenta they experienced:
- an increase in their energy level
- an increase in their milk production
- hormonal regulation support
- mood stability
- an absence of significant decrease in postpartum depression, anxiety, and OCD symptoms
- stemming of postpartum bleeding To the current community standard knowledge base there are few contraindications to digesting your placenta. Some are but not limited to:
- if your placenta has to go to pathology (we can suggest that they only test a small portion if possible)
- if any chemicals are to come in contact with the placenta
- if you are not sure it is your placenta (mix up or no labeling)
- if you experienced an infection (some exceptions)
Is home birth safe?
According to the most recent studies, home birth is the safest place for low risked people to give birth. Since midwives are experts in normal they are trained to know when one is deviating from normal in an ample amount of time to get them to the hospital for additional support and care. Like most things health related, our bodies shows us pink flags, then orange flags, then red flags. A skilled midwife will know the ideal time to transfer to ensure the safety of both you and your little one(s).
I am having a planned cesarean birth. Would it still be necessary for me to have a doula?
It can be extremely helpful to have a doula to support you in preparing for your cesarean and to advocate for you regarding consents and options. A doula can be a wonderful person to support you in knowing what to expect and also good questions to ask your care provider. A cesarean is major abdominal surgery so it will difficult to move about and this may impact your ability to take care of yourself and baby without support. A doula is a wonderful addition to the postpartum team to support you so that you can heal and also support you in navigating caring for baby.
How do you know if you need a doula?
From my point of view everyone should be provided a doula! A doula is like having the Best friend with no drama. Having someone to cheer you on, help you when needed, and advocate for you is always needed. Studies show that when people have Doula's their satisfaction is greater, their is less need for medical intervention, less administration of pharmaceutical pain management, and a decreased rate of postpartum depression.
Do you offer sliding scale or payment plans?
I offer sliding scale for all of my services in order to make them as accessible as possible. However, I have a limit to how many sliding scale services I can provide each month. If I am not able to offer sliding scale I can recommend colleague you may have capacity. Payment plans can be arrange case by case. For both sliding scale and payment plans I suggest that each client or prospective client figure out the maximum amount they can pay after considering all of their resources. Payments can me made weekly, bi monthly, or monthly. For bi-monthly payments I suggest the 1st and the 15th and for monthly payments the 15th.
All Black
COHORT FAQs
If I am mixed with Black, or I do not read as Black or light skinned, am I welcomed to join?
Race is a social construct, so how society defines Blackness can change. This course is for people who self-identify as Black and go about the world (in all settings) as a Black person. More than likely, if you have to ask if you’re Black, you probably aren’t.
What distinguishes the All-Black cohort from the POC-Only cohort?
Our curriculum always centers the most marginalized people. However, this course is a space that’s curated for Black people, meaning the topics, imagery, and conversation will be focused on serving a Black population. Being such, all participants and teachers will be Black. The curriculum will focus on Black history and the Black birthing experience.
Does the curriculum differ from the POC-Only curriculum?
A vast majority of the curriculum is the same, but the All-Black curriculum involves topics and discussions that center around serving Black people as a Black person.
As a Black person, how will taking this course benefit me and inform my skill set as a doula?
To my knowledge there isn’t any other doula training for Black people, taught by Black people, and provides a full-spectrum, radically-inclusive training. As a Black person, it is my hope that this course would benefit you in ways that are seen and unseen. You will gain historical knowledge that informs the current Black birthing experience. You will also be able to connect with other Black birthworkers. We will be able to discuss and challenge the Black birth experience beyond the white gaze. We will have time to reclaim our traditions in a safe environment, to create new ones, and to imagine a collective future.