SoundBirth for Doulas
Help women find and use their voices for birth
A private, practical training for doulas who want to use voice, breathing and a crystal singing bowl when preparing and supporting their clients through labour.
Become a SoundBirth-Trained Doula and offer SoundBirth birth preparation and support within your existing doula services.
Bring Voice and Sound into Your Doula Work
Many women learn breathing techniques for labour, but they may not have explored how naturally their voices can work alongside their breath.
They may also feel inhibited or self-conscious about making sound - particularly in an unfamiliar environment or when labour becomes more intense.
As a doula, you are in a unique position to help a woman explore her voice before labour and gently remind her of these practices during birth.
SoundBirth for Doulas gives you practical tools that you can introduce during prenatal appointments and draw upon while supporting your clients through labour.
You don’t need to be a singer or musician.
Who Is This Training For?
This private training is for:
Qualified or practising doulas
Student doulas preparing to support clients
Birth workers who provide prenatal and labour support
Doulas who want to give partners a more practical role
Doulas interested in bringing voice and a crystal singing bowl into their existing services
The training builds upon your existing doula knowledge. It is not a qualification to become a doula or healthcare professional.
What You Will Learn
During your training, we will explore:
Why women may feel inhibited or self-conscious about using their voices
How to introduce vocal sound gently during pregnancy
Simple breathing and vocal practices for labour
How voice can provide rhythm and focus during contractions
Ways to help a woman find sounds that feel natural to her
How to breathe and vocalise alongside a client without overpowering her
How partners can use their breath, voice and presence supportively
How to introduce and play a crystal singing bowl
Appropriate volume, positioning and practical safety considerations
How to notice and respond to each woman’s cues
When sound may be supportive - and when quiet or another approach may be needed
Ways to incorporate SoundBirth naturally into your existing doula packages
Practical and Experiential Learning
This is not a session where you simply sit and take notes.
You will experience the techniques yourself, practise guiding them and explore how they might be adapted for different women and birth environments.
Your practical training includes:
Guided breathing and vocalisation
Helping a client find a comfortable vocal sound
The SoundBirth ice exercise
Partner breathing and vocal support
Playing a crystal singing bowl
Practising how to guide a pregnant woman
Responding to common concerns and self-consciousness
Discussing how to adapt the approach during labour
A short safety and understanding check
Demonstrating the core practices with Nicole
The intention is for you to leave feeling comfortable and confident enough to begin using SoundBirth with your own doula clients.
Using a Crystal Singing Bowl at Birth
You will learn how to play a crystal singing bowl gently and responsively during pregnancy and labour.
We will explore:
How to position and transport the bowl
How loudly and how frequently to play it
How to play in rhythm with breath or vocal sound
How to follow the mother’s cues and preferences
How to adapt your playing as labour changes
Considerations for home, hospital and birth-centre settings
When to pause or stop using the bowl
A bowl will be provided during your training.
If you would like to use SoundBirth with your clients, Nicole can help you select and purchase a suitable SoundBirth bowl.
Become a SoundBirth-Trained Doula
After successfully completing the training, you may incorporate the SoundBirth practices covered into your existing doula services.
You may:
Prepare your own doula clients to use voice and sound during labour
Include SoundBirth preparation in your prenatal appointments
Bring and use your bowl while supporting a client at birth
Offer a SoundBirth birth-preparation add-on within your doula packages
Describe yourself as a SoundBirth-Trained Doula
Use approved wording when promoting SoundBirth within your services
Apply to be listed in the SoundBirth online directory
Your initial training includes 12 months of limited permission to use the SoundBirth name within your doula services. Continued use of the name, approved promotional material and directory listing will require annual renewal.
Full terms will be provided in a simple SoundBirth for Doulas use agreement.
What You May Advertise
You will receive approved wording that you can adapt for your website and doula packages, such as:
SoundBirth Birth Preparation and Support
As a SoundBirth-trained doula, I can help you explore voice, breathing and the supportive sound of a crystal singing bowl during pregnancy and labour. These practices can be included as part of my prenatal preparation and birth-support packages.
You may also say:
Trained in SoundBirth for Doulas with SoundBirth founder Nicole Lloyd.
What This Training Does Not Include
SoundBirth for Doulas is a focused pathway for incorporating SoundBirth into your existing doula support.
It does not qualify or license you to:
Advertise yourself as a Licensed SoundBirth Practitioner
Offer standalone SoundBirth classes or public workshops
Teach the complete SoundBirth program
Train doulas, practitioners or other professionals
Certify anyone else in SoundBirth
Reproduce or distribute SoundBirth training materials
Alter or create your own version of the SoundBirth method
Use the primary SoundBirth logo outside the approved guidelines
If you want to teach complete SoundBirth sessions or workshops to expectant couples as a standalone service, SoundBirth Practitioner Training is the appropriate pathway.
Which SoundBirth Pathway Is Right for Me?
SoundBirth for Doulas
For doulas and birth workers
Add SoundBirth to existing doula packages
Prepare your own doula clients
Use voice and a bowl while attending labour
Become a SoundBirth-Trained Doula
Does not include teaching public workshops
SoundBirth Practitioner Training
For yoga teachers, sound practitioners, musicians and childbirth educators
Offer SoundBirth as a standalone service
Teach expectant couples privately or in groups
Run SoundBirth preparation sessions and workshops
Become a Licensed SoundBirth Practitioner
Does not qualify you to attend births as a doula
SoundBirth training does not qualify someone as a doula, midwife or healthcare professional. Everyone offering SoundBirth remains within the scope of their existing qualifications, experience and insurance.
Your Private Training
Your SoundBirth for Doulas training includes:
A private three-hour practical training session
Guided experience with voice, breath and a crystal singing bowl
The SoundBirth ice and partner-support exercises
Supporting notes and client-practice guidance
A practical demonstration and safety check
A certificate of completion
Approved wording for your website and packages
An initial 12-month limited-use agreement
Eligibility for inclusion in the SoundBirth directory
A short follow-up email or call
Guidance about choosing a suitable crystal singing bowl
Duration: Three hours
Investment: $350 per person
Location: In person with Nicole in Leeming, Perth
Online training may be available if you have access to a suitable crystal singing bowl.
Crystal singing bowls are sold separately. Please ask about current availability and package pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do I need to own a crystal singing bowl?
No. You can use one of Nicole’s bowls during your training.
To offer bowl-based SoundBirth support to your own clients, you will need access to a suitable bowl. Nicole can help you select and purchase one.
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Do I need any singing or musical experience?
No. SoundBirth is not about singing well or performing.
You will explore natural vocal sounds and simple practices that can be adapted to each woman. Everything is introduced gradually in a supportive environment.
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Can I advertise SoundBirth as part of my doula packages?
Yes. After completing the training and agreeing to the limited-use terms, you may advertise SoundBirth birth preparation and support as part of your existing doula services.
You will receive approved wording to help you describe your offering clearly.
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Can I offer a separate SoundBirth package?
You may offer a SoundBirth preparation add-on or package to your own doula clients as part of your broader doula relationship.
The shorter doula pathway does not permit standalone public SoundBirth classes or workshops for people who are not your doula clients.
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Can I call myself a SoundBirth Practitioner?
No. Your designation will be “SoundBirth-Trained Doula”.
The title “Licensed SoundBirth Practitioner” is reserved for people who complete the comprehensive Practitioner Training pathway.
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Can the practices be used in a hospital?
Yes. Voice and breathing practices are adaptable to different birth environments.
Using a crystal singing bowl will also depend on the mother’s wishes, the setting and any requirements of the birthplace or care team.
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Will I be listed on the SoundBirth website?
Doulas with a current SoundBirth limited-use agreement may apply for inclusion in the SoundBirth directory.
Your listing can include your name, photograph, location, service area, website and the type of SoundBirth support you provide.
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Is this a recognised doula qualification?
No. This is specialised professional training for people who are already working or training as doulas or birth workers.
SoundBirth for Doulas does not qualify you as a doula, midwife, therapist or healthcare professional.
Cathy Britton Photography
About Nicole
Nicole Lloyd created SoundBirth in 2011 following her experience of using vocal sound and a crystal singing bowl during the home birth of her third baby.
Drawing on her background in music, birth, teaching and sound work, Nicole has since shared SoundBirth with expectant parents, doulas, birth workers and sound practitioners.
Her approach is gentle, practical and centred on helping women feel comfortable trusting their bodies, instincts and voices.
Bring SoundBirth into Your Doula Support
If you would like to help your clients feel more comfortable using their voices and explore the supportive role of sound during pregnancy and birth, you are warmly invited to enquire.