Three Timeline Examples for Completing Our Full Spectrum Doula Training
At BADT, we value accessibility, so when you enroll in our Full Spectrum Doula training, you have access to the course materials for one year, plus an optional (free), one-time, 6-month extension.
There is no mandatory live class attendance requirement, so folks can access the recordings anytime during their year of access. We have people join us from across the globe (and across a variety of timezones), so anyone is welcome to join us during our open enrollment periods.
That said, managing coursework on a timeline can be difficult, especially when life starts life-ing, so we wanted to share three example timelines that someone could follow as they move through the training.
Option One: The Full Year
Option Two: The Weekends
Option Three: 6-Month Challenge
These examples are designed for folks who are choosing to certify with us, but if you are not working towards certification, you are always welcome to remove the certification tasks from your to-do list. (And just to be clear, you are not required to follow any of these! These are just one tool that folks are welcome to use for time-management.)
Note: We are using the Spring ‘26 Full Spectrum Doula training curriculum for the purpose of these examples.
Option One: The Full Year
Best for:
Those who have more flexibility or just want to take their time
Those who are busier on weekends
March
Week 1:
3/3: Activism and Birth Work
3/5: Q&A
3/7: Journal #1 - Introduce yourself in Thinkific!
Week 2:
3/8-3/15: Journal #2
Week 3:
3/16-3/22: Black and Indigenous Perinatal and Infant Health Disparities
Week 4:
3/23-3/29: Masterclass Replay with Breath of My Heart
3/26: Virtual Mixer and Coworking Session
April
Week 1:
3/30-4/4: Journal #3
Week 2:
4/5-4/11: Queer and Trans Birth with Mystique
Week 3:
4/12-4/18: Masterclass Replay with Marea Goodman
Week 4:
4/23: Q&A with Sabia
4/19-4/25: Make your plan for outreach to clients to support and send your first emails.
Books: Make a plan for purchasing books/acquiring them from your local library/etc and implement that plan.
May
Week 1:
4/26-5/2: Break
Week 2:
5/7: Q&A with Kaytee
5/3-5/9: Trauma-Informed Care with Mystique
Week 3:
5/10-5/16: Journal #4
Week 4:
5/21: Business Strategy Session with Sabia and Jeffrey
5/17-5/23: Journal #5
Week 5:
5/24-5/30: Break
Books: Read first half of The Labor Progress Handbook (4th Edition).
June
Week 1:
5/31-6/6: Assignment #1
Week 2:
6/7-6/13: Birth (Part 1) with Sabia
Week 3:
6/14-6/20: Birth and the Prenatal Period with Whit
Week 4:
6/21-6/27: Journal #6
Books: Read second half of The Labor Progress Handbook. Write book report.
July
Week 1:
6/28-7/4: Break
Week 2:
7/5-7/11: Assignment #3
Week 3:
7/12-7/18: Research and plan for touring 2 hospitals, birth centers, or clinics (2 visits total).
Week 4:
7/19-7/25: Caring for Partners with Teddy
Books: Read first half of Killing the Black Body.
August
Week 1:
7/26-8/1: Break
Week 2:
8/2-8/8: Sign up for an Infant/Child CPR Training. Research and plan for attending a chestfeeding/infant feeding support group or class for parents (1 class total).
Week 3:
8/9-8/15: Masterclass with Marianne
Week 4:
8/16-8/22: Reach out to community for the non-gestational parent interview assignment participant and birth plan assignment participant.
Week 5:
8/23-8/29: Complete mid-point feedback form. Celebrate all the work you’ve done! Research and plan for parent support group attendance.
Birthing Clients: You’re about halfway through! Make sure you have a plan in place for supporting 3 birthing clients.
Books: Read second half of Killing the Black Body. Write book report.
September
Week 1:
8/30-9/5: Birth (Part 2) with Sabia
Week 2:
9/6-9/12: Break/Continue outreach to potential clients.
Week 3:
9/13-9/19: Prerecorded Roleplay of Comfort Measures in Pregnancy with Sabia
Week 4:
9/20-9/26: Masterclass with Molly Dutton-Kenney
Books: Read Revolutionary Mothering. Write book report.
October
Week 1:
9/26-10/3: Break/Attend the in-person BADT Practicum!
Week 2:
10/4-10/10: Nutrition, Food Insecurity, and Access with Mystique
Week 3:
10/11-10/17: Assignment #4
Week 4:
10/18-10/24: Assignment #5
Week 5:
10/25-10/31: Break
Books: Read Empty Cradle, Broken Heart. Write book report.
November
Week 1:
11/1-11/7: Assignment #6
Week 2:
11/8-11/14: Postpartum and Infant Care with Sabia
Week 3:
11/15-11/21: Masterclass with MaryNissi
Week 4:
11/22-11/28: Break
Books: Read first half of Oppression and the Body.
December
Week 1:
11/29-12/5: Assignment #7
Week 2:
12/6-12/12: Infant Feeding and Lactation with Kaytee
Week 3:
12/13-12/19: Assignment #8
Week 4:
12/20-12/26: Break
Books: Read second half of Oppression and the Body. Write book report.
Clients: Aim to have supported 1-2 clients by this time.
January
Week 1:
12/27-1/2: Break
Week 2:
1/3-1/9: Bereavement and Loss with Sabia
Week 3:
1/10-1/16: Abortion or Loss Storytelling Replay
Week 4:
1/17-1/23: Assignment #9
Week 5:
1/24-1/30: Surrogacy and Adoption with Sabia and Mystique
Books: Read Transformed by Birth. Write book report.
February
Week 1:
1/31-2/6: Assignment #10
Week 2:
2/7-2/13: Medicaid/HIPAA Recording with Davina
Week 3:
2/14-2/20: Assignment #11
Week 4:
2/21-2/27: Certification Exam
Books: Read Feed the Baby. Write book report.
Clients: Aim to have supported all 3 clients by this time.
March
By this point, your course may be expiring depending on the date of purchase. Finalize any last-minute assignments, merge your book reports into one PDF, and finish writing reflections on supporting the births.
Submit your certification review request form. Congratulations, you did it!
Request your one-time, 6-month extension if needed.
Option Two: The Weekends
Best for:
Those who go to school during the week
Those who work during the week
Those with children who have fewer activities to tend to during weekends
March
Week 1:
3/7: Activism and Birth Work
3/8: Q&A; Journal #1
Week 2:
3/14: Journal #2
3/15: Black and Indigenous Perinatal and Infant Health Disparities
Week 3:
3/21: Masterclass Replay with Breath of My Heart
3/22: Break
Week 4:
3/28: Masterclass with Molly Dutton-Kenney
3/29: Break
April
Week 1:
4/4: Journal #3
4/5: Queer and Trans Birth with Mystique
Week 2:
4/11: Books - Make a plan for purchasing books/acquiring them from your local library/etc and implement that plan.
4/12: Masterclass Replay with Marea Goodman
Week 3:
4/18: Break
4/19: Make your plan for outreach to clients to support and send your first emails.
Week 4:
4/25: Break
4/26: Break
May
Week 1:
5/2: Trauma-Informed Care with Mystique
5/3: Read first half of The Labor Progress Handbook (4th Edition).
Week 2:
5/9: Journal #4
5/10: Break
Week 3:
5/16: Journal #5
5/17: Break
Week 4:
5/23: Assignment #1
5/24: Break
Week 5:
5/30: Continue reading.
5/31: Break
June
Week 1:
6/6: Birth (Part 1) with Sabia
6/7: Break
Week 2:
6/13: Birth and the Prenatal Period with Whit
6/14: Break
Week 3:
6/20: Read second half of The Labor Progress Handbook.
6/21: Continue reading.
Week 4:
6/27: Write book report.
6/28: Break
July
Week 1:
7/4: Break
7/5: Break
Week 2:
7/11: Assignment #3
7/12: Break
Week 3:
7/18: Research and plan for touring 2 hospitals, birth centers, or clinics (2 visits total).
7/19: Caring for Partners with Teddy
Week 4:
7/25: Read first half of Killing the Black Body.
7/26: Continue reading.
August
Week 1:
8/1: Sign up for an Infant/Child CPR Training. Research and plan for attending a chestfeeding/infant feeding support group or class for parents (1 class total).
8/2: Break
Week 2:
8/8: Masterclass with Marianne
8/9: Break
Week 3:
8/15: Reach out to community for the non-gestational parent interview assignment participant and birth plan assignment participant.
8/16: Complete mid-point feedback form. Celebrate all the work you’ve done!
Week 4:
8/22: You’re about halfway through! Make sure you have a plan in place for supporting 3 birthing clients.
8/23: Read second half of Killing the Black Body.
Week 5:
8/29: Research and plan for parent support group attendance.
8/30: Write book report for Killing the Black Body.
September
Week 1:
9/5: Birth (Part 2) with Sabia
9/6: Read Revolutionary Mothering.
Week 2:
9/12: Continue outreach to potential clients.
9/13: Break
Week 3:
9/19: Prerecorded Roleplay of Comfort Measures in Pregnancy with Sabia
9/20: Masterclass with Molly Dutton-Kenney
Week 4:
9/26: Continue reading.
9/27: Write book report.
October
Week 1:
10/3: Break/Attend the in-person BADT Practicum!
10/4: Break/Attend the in-person BADT Practicum!
Week 2:
10/10: Nutrition, Food Insecurity, and Access with Mystique
10/11: Begin reading Empty Cradle, Broken Heart.
Week 3:
10/17: Assignment #4
10/18: Continue reading.
Week 4:
10/24: Assignment #5
10/25: Write book report on Empty Cradle, Broken Heart.
November
Week 1:
10/31: Assignment #6
11/1: Break
Week 2:
11/7: Postpartum and Infant Care with Sabia
11/8: Break
Week 3:
11/14: Masterclass with MaryNissi
11/15: Break
Week 4:
11/21: Read first half of Oppression and the Body.
11/22: Continue reading.
Week 5:
11/28: Break
11/29: Continue reading.
December
Week 1:
12/5: Assignment #7
12/6: Begin reading second half of Oppression and the Body.
Week 2:
12/12: Infant Feeding and Lactation with Kaytee
12/13: Q&A with Kaytee
Week 3:
12/19: Assignment #8
12/20: Write book report.
Week 4:
12/26: Break
12/27: Clients: Aim to have supported 1-2 clients by this time.
January
Week 1:
1/2: Break
1/3: Break
Week 2:
1/9: Bereavement and Loss with Sabia
1/10: Read Transformed by Birth.
Week 3:
1/16: Abortion or Loss Storytelling Replay
1/17: Assignment #9
Week 4:
1/23: Surrogacy and Adoption with Sabia and Mystique
1/24: Continue reading Transformed by Birth.
Week 5:
1/30: Write book report on Transformed by Birth.
1/31: Break
February
Week 1:
2/6: Assignment #10
2/7: Read Feed the Baby.
Week 2:
2/13: Medicaid/HIPAA Recording
2/14: Assignment #11
Week 3:
2/20: Continue reading Feed the Baby.
2/21: Certification Exam
Week 4:
2/27: Aim to have supported all 3 clients by this time.
2/28: Write book report on Feed the Baby.
March
By this point, your course may be expiring depending on the date of purchase. Finalize any last-minute assignments, merge your book reports into one PDF, and finish writing reflections on supporting the births.
Submit your certification review request form. Congratulations, you did it!
Request your one-time, 6-month extension if needed.
Option Three: 6-Month Challenge
Best for:
Those who signed up for the course, but life started “lifeing”
Those who simply want to get the course done in a shorter amount of time
Those who only have the extension time period to complete the training
March
Week 1:
2/28-3/6:
Activism and Birth Work
Q&A
Journal #1
Journal #2
Week 2:
3/7-3/13:
Black and Indigenous Perinatal and Infant Health Disparities
Masterclass Replay with Breath of My Heart
Masterclass with Molly Dutton-Kenney
Books - Make a plan for purchasing books/acquiring them from your local library/etc and implement that plan.
Week 3:
3/14-3/20:
Journal #3
Masterclass with Molly Dutton-Kenney
Queer and Trans Birth with Mystique
Week 4:
3/21-3/27:
Masterclass Replay with Marea Goodman
Make your plan for outreach to clients to support and send your first emails.
Make sure you have a plan in place for supporting 3 birthing clients.
April
Week 1:
3/28-4/3:
Trauma-Informed Care with Mystique
Journal #4
Week 2:
4/4-4/10:
Journal #5
Assignment #1
Read first half of The Labor Progress Handbook.
Week 3:
4/11-4/17:
Birth (Part 1) with Sabia
Birth and the Prenatal Period with Whit
Week 4:
4/18-4/24:
Read the second half of The Labor Progress Handbook.
Write book report.
May
Week 1:
4/25-5/1:
Assignment #3
Week 2:
5/2-5/8:
Research and plan for touring 2 hospitals, birth centers, or clinics (2 visits total).
Caring for Partners with Teddy
Week 3:
5/9-5/15:
Read first half of Killing the Black Body.
Sign up for an Infant/Child CPR Training. Research and plan for attending a chestfeeding/infant feeding support group or class for parents (1 class total).
Week 4:
5/16-5/22:
Masterclass with Marianne
Reach out to community for the non-gestational parent interview assignment participant and birth plan assignment participant.
Complete mid-point feedback form. Celebrate all the work you’ve done!
Week 5:
5/23-5/29:
You’re about halfway through! Aim to have supported 1-2 clients by this point.
Read second half of Killing the Black Body.
Write book report on Killing the Black Body..
June
Week 1:
5/30-6/5:
Birth (Part 2) with Sabia
Read Revolutionary Mothering.
Week 2:
6/6-6/12:
Prerecorded Roleplay of Comfort Measures in Pregnancy with Sabia
Masterclass with Molly Dutton-Kenney
Write book report on Revolutionary Mothering..
Week 3:
6/13-6/19:
Nutrition, Food Insecurity, and Access with Mystique
Assignment #4
Read Empty Cradle, Broken Heart.
Week 4:
6/20-6/26:
Assignment #5
Finish reading Empty Cradle, Broken Heart.
Write book report on Empty Cradle, Broken Heart.
July
Week 1:
6/27-7/3:
Assignment #6
Postpartum and Infant Care with Sabia
Week 2:
7/4-7/10:
Masterclass with MaryNissi
Read first half of Oppression and the Body.
Week 3:
7/11-7/17:
Assignment #7
Infant Feeding and Lactation with Kaytee
Week 4:
7/18-7/24:
Q&A with Kaytee
Assignment #8
Week 5:
7/25-7/31:
Read second half of Oppression and the Body.
Write book report.
August
Week 1:
8/1-8/7:
Bereavement and Loss with Sabia
Abortion or Loss Storytelling Replay
Read Transformed by Birth.
Week 2:
8/8-8/14:
Assignment #9
Surrogacy and Adoption with Sabia and Mystique
Write book report on Transformed by Birth.
Week 3:
8/15-8/21:
Assignment #10
Medicaid/HIPAA Recording
Read Feed the Baby.
Week 4:
8/22-8/28:
Assignment #11
Certification Exam
Write book report.
Submit all materials - whew, you did it!