Heart Soul Birth Pros

Our postpartum trainer Krista will be in Lansing this fall for a postpartum doula workshop sponsored by Ingham County. Apply for a scholarship if you fit the criteria! ❤️ We especially love the mentorship the Helping Us Grow program offers after the training, in partnership with North Star Birthing Services.

We’re excited to announce that inquiries are now open for our 2026 Postpartum Doula Training!

Are you interested in supporting families and strengthening our community?

We’re seeking dedicated individuals who:

• Identify as Black or Indigenous

• Are 18+ with a high school diploma

• Live in Ingham, Eaton, or Clinton Counties

If this sounds like you, fill out the inquiry form in our bio. Once applications open, we’ll send them straight to you!

The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute runs an amazing doula program, and we were thrilled to train up another incredible cohort to join their efforts. ❤️ This group included two experienced doulas who wanted to go deeper, an Arabic speaking doula, and GRAAHI’s first male doula — a future OBGYN. They are focused on improving Black maternal health and we know they will make an impact. Welcome to DONA International and the Michigan doula community! You are the change makers we need. Special thanks to GRAAHI and Rev. Dr. Denise Kingdom for trusting us in this space. It is sacred. Much love from Jessica, Samirah and Kim

UPDATE: this spot is FILLED. We'll hope to catch you in January!
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If you're a Michigan doula who's been thinking about becoming a Lamaze childbirth educator, we have a last-minute opportunity for you!

ONE SPOT just opened up in the Lamaze childbirth educator seminar that starts Monday. That training spans three days, August 3 (virtual) and August 29 and 30 in Ann Arbor, 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. all three days.

If you are a Michigan Medicaid enrolled doula (or if you become Medicaid enrolled by August 15), your full payment could be reimbursed through the MDHHS Doula RISE program.

We created this Lamaze training package just for you, so you could have so "extras" reimbursed through Doula RISE. It includes:

• the Lamaze seminar, focused on creative, interactive teaching
• the Lamaze Learning Guide, $250 value
• an exam preparation study group, $150 value

Click here to register and claim this spot! The training filled quickly earlier this year, so this is a luck opportunity to join us if you can clear your schedule.

(Anyone in any state can attend! But only those who are Medicaid enrolled Michigan doulas are eligible to have their fees reimbursed.)

Can't make it? I'm planning another Lamaze seminar in January, and we do anticipate the Doula RISE program will be back. Can you host us in your space for two weekend dates? Email me if you'd like to bring the program right to you.

These photos are incredible - well done everyone!

There are so many amazing things to report about the Muskegon Heights doulas! Thanks to MDHHS for sponsoring the DONA International approved workshop and to How You Birth Doulas and Mahali in Muskegon for hosting us. 💜 These doulas received full scholarships for the doula training, where we took a deep dive together on birth work. It was also our first workshop to include a half-day training on Intimate Partner Violence with our partners from the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence. We waded through our own emotions to hone big new skills to support survivors and all families. The doulas were amazing, and we can’t wait to see what’s ahead for them. Welcome to the doula community! May your hands and hearts be blessed as you move ahead to nurture families.

As a doula, you have or you will work with clients who are survivors of intimate partner violence. IPV includes emotional abuse, financial control and coercion, isolation from friends and family, as well as physical abuse — any or all. It shows up in all social and economic strata. Do you know the best practices to support your clients? This free workshop from the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence will take doulas deep on the issue, so we can show up for our clients in all the best ways. And it’s designed for us — there’s no trying to adapt info for medical staff to fit the way we work. This workshop was created for doulas. Thank you to the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute for co-sponsorship! Space is limited, sign up today. 💜

We were so happy to partner with Grand Rapids African American Health Institute to train up these young women as birth doulas! What an amazing opportunity to learn about birth and open a new career path. They can start working as doulas right away, and work toward their DONA International certification. Way to go, young doulas!

Congratulations to our newly minted High School Doula Cohort! 🎉

Students from East Kentwood, UPrep, and Grandville recently completed four days of intensive training, gaining the knowledge and skills needed to support birthing people throughout their journey. From labor and delivery to breastfeeding and postpartum care, these future doulas are helping build healthier families and stronger communities.

We are proud of their dedication and excited to see the impact they will make. 💜

The Grand Rapids doulas were incredible! We learned, we shared, we were challenged, we laughed, a few tears were shed, because birth is all that. And they did it! Congratulations to these incredible new doulas from around Michigan and Ohio on finishing your DONA International approved birth doula workshop. They’ve dispersed back to their home communities and they are ready to nurture, support, and advocate for all the families. Jessica English Shonte’, IBCLC, Birth Doula 🤎

We’ve been busy planning this free event for experienced doulas in Regions 8 and 4. If you are an experienced doula in one of the counties listed, we’d love to see you in September.

Registration is open for doula love 2026! 💖

Earlier this year, the MDHHS Doula Initiative team asked us to create a mentoring event for doulas in Michigan’s Perinatal Quality Regions 8 and 4. We envisioned a free one-day conference and nurture event, and today that vision comes to life.

Doulas in Regions 8 and 4 are welcome to register for the conference. That includes doulas who live in:

Region 8: Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren Counties.

Region 4: Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, and Ottawa Counties.

Doulas who live in other areas of the state can apply for the wait list, which we will open later this summer if spots are still available.

We do expect this conference to fill, so register ASAP if you’d like to join us, doulas. Can’t wait to see you in September! We’re excited about what we’ve put together for you and look forward to spreading the doula love.

https://heartsoulbirthpros.com/doulalove/

An important maternal health issue to keep in awareness. ❤️