You’ve Finished Doula Training, Now What?

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You’ve completed your training, absorbed all the knowledge, and you're full of excitement. But now, the real question comes. You may be asking yourself, "What do I do after finishing doula training?"

That stage between learning and doing can feel intimidating. As a student in training, you had structure, guidance, and community. Then training ends, and you’re left with excitement, pressure, and questions about what comes next.

When I finished, I didn’t wait. My trainer gave me great advice, "hit the ground running." The problem I ran into was, I had no strategy, no systems, and no real plan. I said yes to everything, every event, and everyone because I thought that’s what I was supposed to do.

And for a while, it worked. I was busy, visible, and felt productive. But behind the scenes, I was running on empty. I had no boundaries, no rhythm, and no time to breathe and clarify what I truly wanted to offer. I confused busyness with progress, until my body (and life) made me stop. It took burning out to realize that what I had built wasn’t sustainable. I had created a business that looked successful but didn’t feel good.

Wondering what to do next? Here’s what I wish I had done instead:

1. Pause before you plan.

You don’t have to take the first opportunity that comes your way. Give yourself space to process what you’ve learned and decide what kind of doula you actually want to be. Taking time to gain clarity after training isn’t wasted time, it’s how you build a sustainable foundation.

2. Choose direction over hustle.

Instead of asking, “How do I get clients?” start with, “Who do I feel called to serve?” "How do I feel called to serve them?" "Do my services consists of birth, postpartum, education, advocacy, or something else?There’s no right or wrong answer, but having direction keeps you from spreading yourself too thin.

3. Build roots before reach.

Before worrying about marketing, and "getting yourself out there", get your structure in place.

Decide how you’ll communicate, what your packages include, and how you’ll manage your time. These are the quiet pieces that support longevity. Hustle culture encourages doing more faster. Instant gratification causes many new doulas to delay doing the heavy lifting and chasing quick wins. But, when your roots are strong, your growth will be natural and success a byproduct of intentional actions.

4. Practice clarity, not discounting.

I once believed the advice to take free or discounted births for “experience.” And truthfully, those experiences did make me feel more confident. They did however leave me drained.I remember missing birthdays and waking up at 2 a.m. for births with nothing to show for it but exhaustion. Confidence came, yes, but it was built on overextension and resentment.

I realized confidence doesn’t have to cost your peace. You don’t have to earn your worth through sacrifice.

Experience comes from preparation and practice, not from running yourself ragged. You don’t need to lower your value to learn; you need to lead with clarity. Instead of lowering your price, focus on raising your clarity. Learn to explain what you offer and why it matters. Confidence grows when you communicate your value clearly.

5. Keep learning through experience, not overload.

After training, it’s easy to feel like you need another certification to feel legitimate. But more classes won’t prepare you for what only practice can teach.

Show up for real families, debrief your experiences, and take notes after every birth. That’s how you grow your wisdom, not by collecting credentials, but by embodying what you already know.

If you’re asking yourself what to do after doula training, my answer is this:

Start with preparation, reflection, and intentional action, not reaction. Your path will unfold with time.

The best doulas aren’t built through hustle or overwhelm. They’re shaped by lessons, reflection, and heart.

If you enjoyed reading this post and want to go deeper, explore the eBook From Training to Clients to help you build confidence and start serving.

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Written by Kendra of Heart-Centered Birthwork™

Each reflection is a note from my own experience. I share these lessons to help doulas and birthworkers create sustainable practices that honor both families and themselves.

Explore more tools and reflections at Heart-Centered Birthwork™