Module 1: Foundations of Perinatal Loss & Bereavement Doula Work — 6 Hours
DNT Network · Certification Program
Perinatal Loss & Bereavement Support Doula Certification
Course Syllabus
Program Overview
The DNT Network Perinatal Loss & Bereavement Support Doula Certification prepares compassionate, skilled practitioners to walk alongside families experiencing miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal loss, termination for medical reasons, and other perinatal losses. The program blends contemporary grief theory, trauma-informed care, practical companioning skills, and the medical literacy needed to support families through clinical settings — all delivered in a flexible, self-paced online format.
Across six modules and eighteen lessons, learners build the knowledge, language, and presence required to offer non-clinical, family-centered support before, during, and after a perinatal loss. The program emphasizes ethical practice, cultural humility, and the practitioner's own sustainability.
FormatSelf-paced, fully online
Duration≈ 40 hours of coursework · lifetime access to the learning portal
Structure6 modules · 3 lessons per module · 18 lessons total
AssessmentsKnowledge checks, final exam, practical skills assessment, and interview assignment
CertificationDNT Network Certified Perinatal Loss & Bereavement Support Doula
PrerequisitesNone required · prior doula, healthcare, or counseling experience welcome
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this certification, learners will be able to:
- Define the scope, ethics, and boundaries of perinatal bereavement doula work
- Apply contemporary grief and trauma-informed frameworks to family support
- Navigate medical contexts of perinatal loss and translate them for families
- Demonstrate compassionate communication, presence, and companioning skills
- Facilitate memory-making and ritual across diverse cultural and spiritual frameworks
- Sustain a viable, ethical, trauma-informed practice with sound self-care
How the Course Works
Each lesson is delivered through a combination of video instruction, written material, downloadable resources, and a reflection or applied activity. Learners progress at their own pace, with module knowledge checks unlocking the next stage of the program. A final exam, practical skills assessment, and interview assignment complete the certification pathway.
Modules at a Glance
A high-level view of the six-module pathway. Each module builds on the last.
| Module | Title | Focus | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Foundations of Perinatal Loss & Bereavement Doula Work | Scope, history, and the ethical ground beneath this work | ~6 hrs |
| 02 | Grief, Trauma & the Bereaved Family | How grief actually works, and what families carry | ~7 hrs |
| 03 | Clinical & Medical Context of Perinatal Loss | Understanding the medical landscape without practicing medicine | ~7 hrs |
| 04 | Companioning Skills & Compassionate Communication | The heart of the work: how to be present | ~7 hrs |
| 05 | Ritual, Memory-Making & Continuing Bonds | Tangible ways to honor a baby and a family's story | ~6 hrs |
| 06 | Self-Care, Professional Practice & Certification | Building a sustainable, ethical, certified practice | ~7 hrs |
Module 01
Foundations of Perinatal Loss & Bereavement Doula Work
This opening module situates perinatal loss support within the broader doula and bereavement care landscape. Learners examine the history of pregnancy and infant loss in healthcare, define the unique scope of a bereavement doula, and develop a clear ethical compass for non-clinical, family-centered care. By the end of this module, learners can articulate what a bereavement doula does, what they do not do, and why this role is distinct from clinical or therapeutic providers.
Lesson 1.1 · Understanding Perinatal Loss: Definitions & Landscape
Establishing shared language for the losses families experience and the cultural silence that has often surrounded them.
Topics covered
- Defining miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal loss, TFMR, and SIDS
- Statistics, prevalence, and disparities in perinatal loss outcomes
- Historical context: how perinatal loss has been treated in Western medicine
- The disenfranchised grief of pregnancy and infant loss
- Why specialized support matters
Reflection or activity: Personal reflection journal entry on what drew you to this work.
Lesson 1.2 · The Role of the Bereavement Doula
What this work actually looks like in practice, and the boundaries that protect both families and practitioners.
Topics covered
- Scope of practice: what bereavement doulas do and do not do
- Differences between birth doulas, postpartum doulas, and bereavement doulas
- Working alongside medical teams, midwives, chaplains, and therapists
- The continuum of care: prenatal diagnosis through long-term follow-up
- DNT Network's care philosophy and approach
Reflection or activity: Scope-of-practice self-assessment worksheet.
Lesson 1.3 · Ethics, Boundaries & Cultural Humility
Building the ethical foundation for showing up consistently, safely, and without imposing your own framework.
Topics covered
- Core ethical principles: autonomy, non-judgment, confidentiality
- Cultural humility versus cultural competence
- Navigating personal beliefs about loss, grief, and decision-making
- Recognizing and addressing bias in bereavement care
- Mandatory reporting and legal considerations
Reflection or activity: Ethics case study analysis (3 short scenarios).
Module 02
Grief, Trauma & the Bereaved Family
Effective bereavement support depends on a working understanding of grief and trauma. This module moves beyond the popular myth of linear stages to introduce contemporary grief theory, the neurobiology of traumatic loss, and the distinct grief experiences of partners, siblings, grandparents, and other supporters. Learners build skills for recognizing complicated grief and traumatic stress responses, and for adapting their support accordingly.
Lesson 2.1 · Models of Grief: Beyond the Five Stages
Moving past Kübler-Ross to models that better describe how grief actually unfolds.
Topics covered
- The dual process model of bereavement
- Continuing bonds theory and meaning-making
- Tasks of mourning (Worden) and growing-around-grief (Tonkin)
- Anticipatory grief and prenatal diagnosis
- Cultural variation in grief expression and ritual
Reflection or activity: Compare two grief models in a one-page reflection.
Lesson 2.2 · Trauma-Informed Care in Perinatal Loss
Many perinatal losses are experienced as traumatic; supporting families means understanding why.
Topics covered
- The neurobiology of grief and trauma (window of tolerance basics)
- Recognizing acute stress and PTSD symptoms
- Trauma-informed principles applied to doula work
- Triggers, anniversaries, and subsequent pregnancies
- When and how to suggest professional mental health support
Reflection or activity: Trauma-informed care checklist for your practice.
Lesson 2.3 · Family Systems: Partners, Siblings & Extended Family
Loss happens to a family, not just to a birthing parent. Each member grieves differently.
Topics covered
- Partner and non-birthing parent grief, often overlooked
- Talking with surviving siblings by developmental stage
- Grandparent grief: dual loss for child and grandchild
- Friends and community: when support helps and when it harms
- Family conflict and differing grief styles
Reflection or activity: Family systems map for a sample case study.
Module 03
Clinical & Medical Context of Perinatal Loss
While bereavement doulas are not clinical providers, effective support requires fluency in the medical contexts families navigate. This module covers common types of perinatal loss, the procedures and decisions families face, and what to expect in hospital and home settings. Learners develop the medical literacy needed to advocate, explain options in plain language, and prepare families for what comes next — while staying clearly within doula scope.
Lesson 3.1 · Types of Loss & Their Medical Pathways
A grounded overview of the medical realities families encounter, by type of loss.
Topics covered
- Early pregnancy loss: management options and what to expect physically
- Stillbirth: induction, delivery, and immediate postpartum
- Neonatal loss in the NICU: comfort care and transition
- Termination for medical reasons (TFMR) considerations
- Multiple pregnancy loss and selective reduction
Reflection or activity: Plain-language explainer for one type of loss (parent-facing).
Lesson 3.2 · Hospital Navigation & Birth Plans for Loss
How to help families exercise agency in a setting that can feel disempowering.
Topics covered
- Building a bereavement birth plan: choices, comfort, keepsakes
- Understanding hospital roles: OB, midwife, NICU staff, chaplain, social worker
- Advocating without overstepping: language and tactics
- Pain management options and informed consent
- Discharge planning and transition home
Reflection or activity: Sample bereavement birth plan template, customized.
Lesson 3.3 · Postpartum Recovery After Loss
The body continues a postpartum process even when the baby has died, and families need preparation.
Topics covered
- Physical recovery: bleeding, milk production, healing timeline
- Lactation after loss: suppression, donation, pumping for memory
- Mental health screening: PMAD risk after loss
- Subsequent pregnancy considerations and timing conversations
- When to refer to medical providers
Reflection or activity: Postpartum-after-loss resource list for clients.
Module 04
Companioning Skills & Compassionate Communication
This module focuses on the relational craft of bereavement support. Learners practice presence, deep listening, and the language of companioning rather than fixing. Topics include what to say, what not to say, how to hold silence, and how to communicate with families across written, verbal, and non-verbal channels. Skills are developed through guided practice, scripted scenarios, and peer-style exercises.
Lesson 4.1 · The Art of Presence & Active Listening
Learning to sit with grief without rushing to soften it.
Topics covered
- Wolfelt's companioning model: 11 tenets
- Active and reflective listening techniques
- Holding silence as a form of support
- Body language, eye contact, and non-verbal attunement
- Knowing when to speak and when to simply be
Reflection or activity: Audio or written reflection on a guided listening exercise.
Lesson 4.2 · Language That Heals, Language That Harms
Even well-meant words can cause damage. This lesson focuses on what to say and what to avoid.
Topics covered
- Common harmful phrases and why they hurt (e.g., "at least…", "everything happens for a reason")
- Using the baby's name and acknowledging parenthood
- Affirming and witnessing language
- Adapting language to the family's framework, not yours
- Communicating about subsequent pregnancies and "rainbow" language
Reflection or activity: Phrase-rewriting exercise: 10 harmful phrases reworked.
Lesson 4.3 · Communication Across Channels
Modern bereavement support happens in person, on the phone, in messages, and in writing.
Topics covered
- First contact: intake conversations and rapport building
- Text and messaging best practices for grieving families
- Phone support: structuring a check-in call
- Written communication: cards, follow-up notes, anniversary outreach
- Documenting your support sessions appropriately
Reflection or activity: Draft a 30-day follow-up communication plan for a family.
Module 05
Ritual, Memory-Making & Continuing Bonds
Memory-making and ritual are central to perinatal bereavement care. This module explores the why and how of creating tangible memories, supporting families across diverse spiritual and cultural traditions, and walking with them through the months and years that follow. Learners build a practical toolkit of memory-making practices and develop the skills to offer them sensitively, without prescription.
Lesson 5.1 · Memory-Making in the Hospital & at Home
Practical, hands-on practices for creating keepsakes and meaningful moments.
Topics covered
- Photography (including NILMDTS), molds, prints, and locks of hair
- Holding, bathing, and dressing the baby: offering options without pressure
- Keepsake boxes and items families often treasure
- Including siblings and extended family in memory-making
- Digital memory practices and online tributes
Reflection or activity: Build your own memory-making kit checklist.
Lesson 5.2 · Ritual, Spirituality & Cultural Practice
Honoring the family's framework, whether religious, secular, or somewhere in between.
Topics covered
- Common practices across major religious and spiritual traditions
- Secular and personalized rituals for families without religious framework
- Funerals, memorials, naming ceremonies, and burial choices
- Cultural practices around perinatal loss across communities
- Holding space for couples with different belief systems
Reflection or activity: Annotated resource guide for three traditions of your choice.
Lesson 5.3 · Long-Term Continuing Bonds & Milestones
Support does not end at discharge. Grief reshapes itself across years.
Topics covered
- Anniversary and milestone support (due dates, birthdays, holidays)
- Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month and community memorials
- Subsequent pregnancy: emotional terrain and doula support
- Parenting living children alongside grief
- Long-term continuing-bonds rituals and traditions
Reflection or activity: Anniversary outreach template and 12-month touchpoint plan.
Module 06
Self-Care, Professional Practice & Certification
This work asks a great deal of those who do it. The final module addresses the practitioner: sustaining your own wellbeing, building a viable practice, and meeting the requirements of DNT Network certification. Learners develop a self-care plan, learn the foundations of running a small bereavement support practice, and complete the assessments and case work required for certification.
Lesson 6.1 · Sustaining Yourself: Vicarious Trauma & Self-Care
You cannot pour from an empty vessel, and bereavement work has unique occupational risks.
Topics covered
- Vicarious trauma, secondary trauma, and compassion fatigue
- Recognizing your own warning signs
- Building a sustainability plan: supervision, peer support, therapy
- Practical self-care across body, mind, and community
- Knowing when to step back from a case
Reflection or activity: Personal sustainability plan (template provided).
Lesson 6.2 · Building Your Practice
Turning training into a viable, ethical practice that can serve families consistently.
Topics covered
- Business basics: structure, insurance, contracts, fee structures
- Sliding scales, pro bono work, and equity in access
- Marketing with care: language, imagery, and online presence
- Building referral relationships with hospitals, midwives, and therapists
- Documentation, record-keeping, and confidentiality in practice
Reflection or activity: Draft client agreement and intake form.
Lesson 6.3 · Certification Requirements & Final Assessment
The structured pathway to becoming a DNT Network Certified Perinatal Loss & Bereavement Support Doula.
Topics covered
- Final exam overview and study guidance
- Practical skills assessment requirements
- Interview assignment: purpose, options, and submission guidelines
- Recommendation letters, feedback form, and completion form
- What happens after certification: renewal, continuing education, and ongoing support
Reflection or activity: Complete the certification pathway checklist and begin your final assessments.
Certification Requirements
To earn the DNT Network Certified Perinatal Loss & Bereavement Support Doula credential, learners must complete each of the following:
- Complete all lessons Work through all 18 lessons across the six modules of the program.
- Pass each knowledge check Complete the end-of-module knowledge checks to unlock each stage of the program.
- Pass the final exam A comprehensive written exam covering all six modules.
- Complete the practical skills assessment Demonstrate applied companioning, communication, and support skills.
- Complete one required interview Conduct an interview with either a doula who has supported families through perinatal loss or someone who has experienced perinatal loss.
- Submit two recommendation letters Letters speaking to your readiness, character, and capacity for this work.
- Submit the feedback form and completion form Share your course feedback and formally confirm completion of all requirements.
Certification Renewal & Continuing Education
Certification is valid for three years. Renewal requires continuing education — offered free of charge and available directly in your learning portal. All learners receive lifetime access to the learning portal, so your renewal pathway and course materials are always within reach.
Valid for 3 years
Free CE for renewal
Available in the learning portal
Lifetime access
Perinatal loss support asks a great deal of those who choose it. It also offers something rare: the chance to walk with families through one of the most defining moments of their lives, and to do so with skill, presence, and care. We are honored that you are considering this path with us.
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1. Nutrition plays an important role across the full perinatal journey.
This course explores how nutrition supports fertility, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, and infant well-being.2. Perinatal nutrition support should be practical and evidence-based.
You will learn how to share realistic, research-informed guidance that families can actually use in everyday life.3. This training prepares you to support families with confidence.
You will build a strong foundation in prenatal and postpartum nutrition so you can offer informed, compassionate, and scope-appropriate support.