The Irish Trade and Professional Association for Doulas CLG

The Irish Trade and Professional Association for Doulas CLG (ITPAD) is a legally registered, not for profit, membership, trade and professional association that promotes, develops and supports doulas and the doula profession in Ireland. The Irish Trade and Professional Association for Doulas CLG is an inclusive organisation, welcoming Doulas providing range of supports, including, but not limited to: Antenatal, Birth, Postpartum, Fertility, Abortion, Pregnancy and Infant Loss, Menopause, End of Life.

The primary mission of the doula profession is to positively impact the childbearing experience and other life stages for individuals and their families. Fundamental to doula care is the understanding that continuous emotional support and reassurance during labour, birth, postpartum and along journeys improves and enhances satisfaction.

The purpose of the Association is to promote the professional development, advancement and recognition of Doulas in Ireland for the benefit of mothers, babies, parents, families and the wider community.

Our Vision

The aims of the Association are to:

Provide for education, research, communication, networking and mutual support among Doulas in Ireland and other health care workers concerned with the prenatal, birth and postpartum period. The term health care worker is used to describe any person working in any capacity within the health system, whether in private or public services, education including students, research, employed, self-employed or volunteer.
Foster Universal Awareness of the Irish Trade and Professional Association for Doulas CLG Membership as the necessary requirement for Doulas in Ireland, practicing in the Irish Health Care Services, either in Hospital settings, Community settings, or in Private Practice in Ireland.
Act as the advisory authority on issues relating to Doula support services.
Raise awareness of Doula support services as complementary components for health and well-being.
Support other initiatives and organisations whose aims are consistent with the purpose and mission of the Association.
Ensure that the necessary structure and supports are in place to facilitate the development and activities of the Association.

Why join ITPAD?

What are the benefits of joining the Irish Trade and Professional Association for Doulas CLG?

You will be part of the official trade and professional doula organisation representing and advocating on behalf of doulas providing support services to individuals and families in Ireland.
You can create a professional ITPAD profile page on our website where you can list your experience, ambitions and training, and can be found using a search of doulas in our Find a Doula directory.
Our Find a Doula directory is used by our partners that have signed up to offer Doula support for their employees as part of their Employee Wellness Packages, be hired by a family in your locality and be paid by their employer.
Option to be paid using ITPAD Gift Vouchers
Option to allow your prospective clients to send out request to their friends and family to purchase an ITPAD gift voucher in order to pay for your services as part of their Baby Gift Registry
Automatically included in list of ITPAD members that is sent to hospitals, health centres for PHNs, and other complementary providers
Access to ITPAD materials for marketing.
Option to attend marketing events such as Pregnancy and Baby Fairs to meet the public and help to promote doula services
Attend local networking events with complementary providers such as physios, PHNs, breastfeeding support group representatives, IBCLCs.
The Association offers a Doula Community Fund, which is funded from the Associations income. The Doula Community Fund allows a member Doula to book services from other members of ITPAD, for example for Birth, Postpartum support, or other Doula support services. The Doula Community Fund is capped to €800 per request, and is available to Doulas that have been members for minimum of 12 months when choosing to book with member(s) of ITPAD. The member Doula availing of the Community Fund will pay what they can towards Doula support services, though there is no minimum contribution required, and then ITPAD, after validating the request, will top up so the doula(s) providing the support services gets minimum €800.
The Association offers a Hardship Fund, which is funded from the Associations income. The hardship fund is capped to €800 per request, in true financial hardship cases. Clients will pay what they can, with a minimum of €100 contribution. This fund is intended for individuals and families on low income with limited disposable income, to help them avail of doula support services.
The Association offers an Assistance Fund, which is funded from the Associations income. The Assistance Fund shall be made available for individuals that may be in Direct Provision, Women’s Shelter, or Refuge, seeking Doula support services. A fund of €800 per request, will be made available, with no sum required from the client. The ITPAD doula gets €800 in total from the Association.
Join a thriving community of doulas at local, regional and national social gatherings
Join doulas at events and conferences often with discounts for ITPAD members.
Access to members pages, resources, sample contracts and guidelines.
An invitation to our private facebook group and local whatsapp groups.
Receive a regular newsletter.
The opportunity to volunteer for a variety of roles within ITPAD.
Exclusive ITPAD membership discounts for CPD training courses, conferences and events
Exclusive ITPAD membership discounts for complementary services and products, for use by you and your clients
Receive branded merchandise such as name badge, cooler bag and annual diary book.
Find individual support from a mentor who will guide you through your first experiences as a doula.
You can volunteer to give doula support to those most in need through the Doula Hardship Fund or Assistance Fund.

If you would like to find out more about becoming a doula you can book a place on our ITPAD CLG Introductory Workshop, or download our Membership Application Form, or contact us info@doulas.ie.

Membership cost

ITPAD CLG membership is free.