Here’s a quick guide for your work, as well as two ways to turn your work in below.
Before Class Begins
___ Complete tuition.
___Once your tuition is complete, join our Admissions group. There you will find everything you need to get started in the SBD training, including our welcome letter.
___ Begin to gather the necessary supplies you might need as outlined in the welcome letter.
___ Begin to consider how you will obtain the two books of your choice* . If you’ve registered and are waiting for your session to begin, you can scroll to the end of this page to the “After the Class” information on utilizing this time before class to your best advantage. {*One title of the two books is a preselected requirement for those seeking nursing contact hours.}
___ Please be sure you’re in our SBD Admissions group or have sent an email to Heidi Faith if you choose not to use facebook. Regarding facebook, we start off by gathering together on that platform because it’s so accessibly and widely used by so many. We call our group the classroom and it has files that lead you to our private student database, and while the social aspect of the group is enormously enriching and valuable, it is not a requirement for graduation. In classroom, you’ll be assigned a Lead who will tag you each week in friendly conversation just to offer that sense that you belong and are part of the group.
At the Start of Class
___ You will either be manually transferred from SBD Admissions into your classroom, or, if you are choosing not to use facebook, you’ll receive an email from Heidi Faith at 3-4 days prior to the start of your training session. The classroom will hold files that will ultimately point you to our private student database. The chapter files are your core training content, and are in private use downloadable PDF format, so you can prepare to receive this now by making sure you have the latest edition of Adobe Reader installed. If you’ll be using your iPad or other device, you might install Adobe Reader for Mobile, DropBox or a reading app such as Notability.
___ Introduce yourself in the classroom facebook group.
___ Take a look at the files in the classroom and read Student Resources. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the amount of content, slow down, and focus just on the training content and exams.
___**Aside from the secure classroom environment, we provide you with a confidential page for Student Resources. If you are overwhelmed by the classroom or just want a condensed version of the most essential materials, the Student Resources page will prove extremely valuable to you. If you don’t have or remember the passwords, just send a quick email to Heidi.Faith@stillbirthday.com and I’ll get them to you immediately.
___ About Exams: remember that grades are not returned to you. Rather than responding to every exam for every student, instructor time is spent connecting with the students who are struggling with the questions and their responses indicate a need to slow down. You always have the option as you turn in each exam to let me know if you’re wanting feedback.
___Feel free to check our Student Frequently Asked Questions when you’re wanting to double check on any questions you might have.
Week 1
fertility, pre-conception, conception, diversity in beliefs about pregnancy, birth and loss
Week One always starts on a Monday.
___Student Resources –> Module One has a collection of supplemental links and helpful resources –> Module One holds link to Chapter One PDF content
___ Read the first chapter, as well as the “General Class Information” in the welcome section.
___ If you’ll like, you can take a look in the classroom for the conversations we’ve began.
___ Access Student Resources to find the designated module, complete your open book exam and submit it over the weekend (to stay on a weekly track). Those who turn in exams in any other format than the one provided in the weekly module layout – including email – may not get a response to exams.
Week 2
prenatal bonding, nutrition, partners, physiology of childbirth in every trimester
___ Read chapter two of the training content.
___If you’re struggling with a question, you can find additional guidance in Words on Chapter Two.
___ Access Student Resources to find the designated module, complete your open book exam and submit it over the weekend (to stay on a weekly track).
Week 3
medical support options during childbirth in every trimester
___Read chapter three of the training content.
___ Take a look in the classroom for conversations.
___If you’re struggling with a question, you can find additional guidance in Words on Chapter Three.
___ Access Student Resources to find the designated module, complete your open book exam and submit it over the weekend (to stay on a weekly track).
Week 4
non-medical support options during childbirth in every trimester, birth plans, building a doula bag & networking
___ Read chapter four of the training materials.
___ Access Student Resources to find the designated module, complete your open book exam and submit it over the weekend (to stay on a weekly track).
Between Semesters
___You’ll find template medical and funeral organization interview questions for your own benefit.
___Between week 4 and week 5 is a Midterm Module with a little message of encouragement for you.
___You might begin to think about your community project. Your community project is at its simplest, a collection of birth and/or bereavement resources you’ll be able to provide to the families you serve. There is information in the promotional materials at the registration page, as well as a sample in the Student Resources link. Your list might include conception/fertility assistance, prenatal/pregnancy resources such as OBs, midwives and doulas you might recommend, birth resources including hospitals or birthing centers you recommend, The Welcoming resources including local NICUs, baby boutiques, new motherhood resources, and farewell resources including chaplains, crematoriums, and infant loss support groups. You can construct your community project in any way that best fits you and the families you serve. Ideas might include a word document general listing, a brochure or two, or pages on your website.
Second Semester
___Begin to keep notes of the resources you are uncovering in your exam questions. These will prove helpful for your community project.
Week 5
physical postpartum in all experiences, NICU
___ Read chapter five.
___Take a look in the classroom for conversations.
___ Access Student Resources to find the designated module, complete your open book exam and submit it over the weekend (to stay on a weekly track).
Week 6
emotional postpartum in all experiences, hormones, grief
___ Read chapter six.
___Take a look in the classroom for conversations.
___ Access Student Resources to find the designated module, complete your open book exam and submit it over the weekend (to stay on a weekly track).
Week 7
the emotional experience of the doula
___ Read chapter seven.
___Take a look in the classroom for conversations.
___ Access Student Resources to find the designated module, complete your open book exam and submit it over the weekend (to stay on a weekly track).
Week 8
the practical, professional and business aspects of the doula
___Read chapter eight.
___Take a look in the classroom for conversations and conference announcement.
___ Access Student Resources to find the designated module, complete your open book exam and submit it over the weekend (to stay on a weekly track).
If you are turning in your exam 8 and would like a letter of completion prior to receiving your certificate, please email Heidi.Faith@stillbirthday.com. Grades are not returned to you but communications are made for counsel and to respond to your request for feedback.
___If you are turning in any of your final 3 papers, please use our Final Tasks form.
After the Training
You still have four more months to complete the following:
___ Read and sign our Principles of Service.
___ Complete your book review of your first chosen book from our list.* ________________________________
___Complete your book review of your second chosen book from our list. _______________________________.
___Complete your community project, which has different styles and ways of being completed.
Your book review reports are very informal – just a 1-2 page report to reflect what you read, if you learned from the book, if families might learn from the book, if there were things that could have been added or omitted from the book, and overall your experience with it. {*One of the two book titles is a preselected requirement for those seeking nursing contact hours.}
___If you are turning in any of your final 3 papers, please use our Final Tasks form.
You can return to the What You Will Learn portion of the SBD Doula Registration information if you would like more guidance on these final projects.
___Check your inbox and spam for your graduate materials. After one week of your published URL, there is a $25 duplicate fee if you need your portfolio reissued to you. It is your responsibility to take ownership of your graduate materials.
___If you are in need of nursing contact hours, you are not charged extra for needing them. To obtain them, you must successfully complete the entire training and earn the SBD credentials. When you complete your final tasks, you are asked to complete a training evaluation. It is your responsibility to ensure that your training evaluation is completed on time. You can find the link via the Final Tasks form.
Please submit your two book reviews and community project together. If you are turning in any of your final 3 papers, please use our Final Tasks form. If you turn in your 3 reports with an interval of weeks between them, I might not respond to each one individually in a timely manner. You can visit our doula registration page for the most updated PDF with examples and any extra information you might need.
After You’ve Earned the SBD Credentials
___ Keep an eye on our revised training materials. You can have these for free and are for your benefit.
___ Keep an eye on our discounts and exclusive resources just for SBD doulas.
___Visit the Final Tasks page for a link to our SBD U Updates page, SBD News and more.
___You can use the following media attachment if you’d like, or email me, with changes you’d like to make to your stillbirthday listing.
___ Stay connected, through any of the various ways we mention. We want to stay connected!
