Birth doulas are specially trained professionals who provide emotional, physical, and informational support to guide you through your process.
Find my birth doula
Typically two or three meetings before your due date to get to know you, build rapport together, understand your birth preferences, review any childbirth education you’ve taken, and prepare for the day of birth.
The biggest part of being a birth doula is being on-call 24/7 for whenever labor begins. Your doula is available by phone or text starting around week 38.
During labor your doula provides physical comfort measures, positioning, breathing, and emotional support from active labor through delivery.
Your doula helps you form questions for your medical team to get the info you need, understand your options during labor, and helps you communicate your birth preferences to your medical team.
Your doula also provides support for birth partners. Birth doulas work side by side with partners so they don’t need to memorize all the books or childbirth ed classes. Your birth doula is also there when your partner needs to eat, take a quick nap, or update family so you’re never alone.
Your birth doula will be with you for the first 1-2 hours after birth and can assist with the initial feeding and help your family settle in.
Your birth doula will provide a 1–2 hour postpartum visit after your birth to process the experience, answer any questions you have, and intentionally wrap up your experience together.
Not sure yet? Book a free 20-minute call with our Family Coordinator
Pregnancy comes with a to-do list that never seems to end. Finding a doula shouldn't add stress to it. Our matching process is designed to save you time and give you confidence in hiring your doula.
Get startedFill out our simple inquiry form sharing what you're looking for. Don't have all the answers yet? That's completely okay. You can also book a free call with one of our Family Coordinators to talk through your options.
We search our collective of 90+ vetted birth and postpartum doulas and hand-select two to three who are the right fit for your family based on your due date, location, preferences, and what matters most to you.
We introduce you to your doula matches and you schedule interviews with them. When you find the right fit, you hire your doula directly. Your doula will get you set up with your contract and invoice for services.
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Pregnancy comes with a to-do list that never seems to end. Finding a doula shouldn't add stress to it. Our matching process is designed to save you time and give you confidence in hiring your doula.
You can hire a doula at any point during your pregnancy. Doulas charge a flat rate for their services so if you hire one early on, you’ll be getting more bang for your buck. On average, most people hire their doula during their 2nd trimester, but it’s completely up to you on when you feel you’re ready for some extra support.
Absolutely! A doula can be a very valuable member of your support team at a hospital birth. Your doula can help you determine when is the right time to head to the hospital, advocate for you and your birth preferences once you’ve been admitted, and help you navigate any medical interventions that may be suggested by giving you up-to-date evidence-based information. It’s understandable to assume that the nursing staff will be by your side, giving you continuous physical support, but that is rarely the case because of how busy most nurses are. There might be a lot of staff coming in and out of the room, changing shifts, and it’s very easy for your birth preferences to get lost in the chaos so your doula will be there to make sure everyone is always on the same page.
Not at all! Many doulas believe that a supportive partner is their greatest asset. Partners are highly encouraged to attend all prenatal visits and your doula will work with your partner to show them how best they can support you during your labor. Doulas also provide support to partners both prenatally and during labor whether it’s holding space for their own thoughts and feelings, reminding them to hydrate and nourish during labor, or just to affirm that they’re doing a great job supporting you.
Every doula conducts their prenatal visits a bit differently but typically speaking, prenatal visits are a time for you and your doula to get to know each other better and map out your preferences. Your doula will help you create your birth plan, teach you (and your partner, if applicable) different comfort measures or laboring positions, and provide evidence-based information on different options available to you. Your prenatal visit is your time to ask all the questions you want and express and unpack any fears or anxiety you might have about birth. Most doulas will also help prepare you for immediate postpartum and provide resources ahead of time so you feel secure and prepared beforehand.
Yes. Doulas support all kinds of births, including medicated births. Some people want no pain medication, some want to hold off on medication for as long as possible, and others choose to plan a medicated birth. Your doula can offer you information on the benefits, risks, side effects, and alternatives of various pain relief options so you know what to expect. The choice to use pain medication or not is completely up to you.
A midwife is a healthcare provider who offers medical care during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Midwives work at all kinds of birthing locations including hospitals, birth centers, and in private homes. A doula, on the other hand, is not a medical practitioner. Doulas provide emotional, physical, educational, and sometimes spiritual support during labor. A doula can help foster a positive relationship between you and your healthcare provider and if hired early enough, a doula can help you navigate what kind of healthcare provider is a good fit for you.
There are many ways a doula can support you if you’re having a cesarean. They can guide you through what to expect during the procedure, help you decide on your birth preferences for a cesarean delivery, and even help you find a provider who offers a ‘gentle cesarean.’ Your doula might even be able to accompany you in the operating room. Your doula is also there to facilitate bonding and body/breastfeeding after the procedure.
Your doula is with you regardless of how your birth unfolds. Whether your planned unmedicated birth leads to an epidural, or your hope for a vaginal birth becomes a cesarean, your doula's support doesn't change. They adapt with you, and their presence and advocacy are often most valuable in exactly those unexpected moments.
