Day 22: Why Choose to Certify?

This week I received notification that I, once again, passed the Lamaze International certifying exam (making me the only listed LCCE in Bakersfield, one of two in Visalia). In light of that, I was curious to know why as doulas and educators, we choose to extend the extra effort and resources to gain and keep these initials after our names? Sharon Muza offers her thoughts to this topic. Additional quotes follow from not only doulas, but also mothers. And my answer? Grievance policy, as strange as that sounds -- I appreciate DONA offering this, as it protects my clients, and it protects me.

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I am both a certified doula with DONA International, CD(DONA), and a certified childbirth educator with Lamaze International, LCCE. I am very proud of the fact that I hold and maintain these certifications. I worked hard for them and it means a lot for me to have these credentials. Here are my top six reasons for certifying AND maintaining certification with well-known, long-standing, internationally recognized organizations:

1.      Demonstrates my serious commitment to being recognized as a professional doula and childbirth educator.

2.      Assures my clients, students, my colleagues and the health care providers that I work with that I have successfully completed the requirements for certifications as set forth by my certifying organizations.

3.      My clients, students, my colleagues and HCPs are assured that I abide by and practice according to the standards of practice and code of ethics that have been established by well-known and well-respected certifying organizations.

4.      It allows me to support the organizations that I believe in, with my membership and certification dollars, allowing them to work toward improving maternal infant health outcomes as a serious player on the national and international level with my support.

5.      Maintaining recertification shows my commitment to receiving continuing education that is current and applicable, and demonstrates my desire to remain up to date with best practices.

6.      Provides a grievance process for clients, students, colleagues and HCPs who might have concerns about my practice standards, actions or ethical behavior.

I am very proud that I am a certified birth doula with DONA International and a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator.  I look forward to continuing to maintain these certification in the years to come.  I encourage you to seek out reputable and well-respected organizations to align yourself with and pursue certification in a professional manner.

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Meaningfulness: I knew that I would have to go through some sort of process where someone was checking me to make sure I did a certain amount of work to prepare as a doula since so much of this is just about my heart....Accountability: I like the idea of an overseeing body that consumers can contact if they have concerns and I wanted to be held to that level of accountability. Credibility: I know that being certified counts to some people. Portability: The few times I have been asked by hospitals about my certification, the only one they ever acknowledged was DONA and Lamaze and ICEA.

Connie Sultana, BA, CD(DONA), ICCE, LCCE

It shows that I am committed to initial and ongoing education, community, professionalism and oversight.

Julia Irene, CD(DONA), SBD
Do It All Doulas
Facebook

...I always tell my students that that piece of paper (diploma) shows you started something and you finished it. I wanted a doula who started something and finished it.

Juanita H.
Mother

I chose to become certified to join a community of colleagues and peers. I tried being an independent wolf for a few years but ultimately didn't feel satisfied with my business growth or professional relationships. Since earning my certification as a doula I've had a lot more opportunities to collaborate with and learn from other birth professionals. Plus my clients can be confident that I've completed a thorough training program and that I am held accountable for my business practices.

My husband is a Realtor, which is not the same as a real estate agent. Realtors are held to higher standards. When it came to choosing a doula, we wanted to make sure she was certified... and held to a higher standard than just her own beliefs or experience.

Racheal Ulberg, CLD(CBI)
Half Moon Birth Services
Facebook

Olivia N.
Mother

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Sharon Muza, BS, CD(DONA) BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE has been an active childbirth professional since 2004, teaching Lamaze classes and providing doula services to hundreds of couples through her private practice in Seattle, Washington. She is an instructor at the Simkin Center, Bastyr University where she is a birth doula trainer. Sharon is also a trainer with Passion for Birth, a Lamaze-Accredited Childbirth Educator Program. Sharon is a former co-leader of the International Cesarean Awareness Network’s (ICAN) Seattle Chapter, and a former board member of PALS Doulas and Past President of REACHE.  In September 2011, Sharon was admitted as a Fellow to the Academy of Certified Childbirth Educators. Sharon Muza has been the community manager, writer and editor for Science & Sensibility, Lamaze International’s blog for birth professionals, since 2012. Sharon enjoys active online engagement and facilitating discussion around best practice, current research and its practical application to community standards and actions by health care providers, and how that affects families in the childbearing year. Sharon has been a dynamic speaker at international conferences on topics of interest to birth professionals and enjoys collaborating with others to share ideas and information that benefit birth professionals and families. To learn more about Sharon, you are invited to visit her website, SharonMuza.com.

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