What is a doula?
A doula is a trained, non-medical support person who helps families through pregnancy, birth, loss, and postpartum.
What Doulas can help with
Understanding pregnancy and birth options
Preparing questions for appointments
Creating a birth plan
Emotional support
Physical comfort during labor
Breathing, movement, and positioning
Support for partners and family members
Communication with the care team
Postpartum planning
Infant feeding support, when trained
Connecting families to community resources
What doulas do not do
Doulas do not deliver babies.
Doulas do not replace doctors, midwives, nurses, or medical providers.
Doulas do not diagnose medical conditions.
Doulas do not prescribe medication.
Doulas do not perform clinical tasks.
Doulas do not make decisions for families.
Types of doulas
Birth doulas
Support during pregnancy, labor, birth, and immediate postpartum.
Postpartum doulas
Support after birth with recovery, feeding, newborn care, emotional support, and adjustment.
Full-spectrum doulas
Support across pregnancy, birth, loss, postpartum, and reproductive life transitions.
Loss and bereavement doulas
Support during miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss, or pregnancy complications.
Community-based doulas
Doulas rooted in the communities they serve, often helping families navigate systems, resources, and culturally grounded care.
HOW DO DOULAS WORK WITH MEDICAL TEAMS?
Doulas are part of the support system, not the clinical team. A doula can help a family understand their options, prepare questions, and communicate their needs. Medical providers remain responsible for clinical care.