A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous emotional, physical, and informational support throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Doulas do not provide medical care or deliver babies. Instead, they support your healthcare team to help you feel supported, informed, and confident throughout the process.

Midwife = Medical Provider
A midwife is a licensed healthcare professional who provides clinical care.

What midwives do:

* Provide prenatal care (checkups, labs, monitoring baby’s health)
* Monitor maternal and fetal well-being
* Deliver babies (vaginal births)
* Perform medical assessments and procedures
* Prescribe medications (depending on credentials, e.g., CNM)
* Provide postpartum medical care

Doula = Support Professional
A doula provides non-clinical support focused on your emotional, physical, and educational needs.

Prepare → Prenatal Support

* Personalized birth education and planning
* Evidence-informed guidance for decision-making
* Emotional reassurance and partner support

Protect → Labor & Birth Support

* Continuous presence during labor
* Comfort techniques (breathing, positioning, massage)
* Advocacy and communication support

Propel → Postpartum Support

* Postpartum recovery support and newborn care guidance
* Lactation and infant feeding support
* Emotional support during the transition into parenthood
* Sibling transition support
* Light household support (tidying, laundry, meal prep)

Not at all. Doula support is for every type of birth and every family.

Doulas support:

* Epidural and medicated births
* Cesarean (planned or unplanned) births
* Hospital, home, and birth center deliveries

Non-judgmental care and support centered on your values and personal decisions.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Cochrane Collaboration, continuous labor support is associated with:

* Reduced risk of cesarean birth (25–39%)
* Increased likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth (~15%)
* Lower use of pain medication and epidurals
* Reduced need for forceps or vacuum delivery
* Shorter labor duration (by ~40 minutes on average)
* Lower risk of preterm birth
* Improved breastfeeding initiation and continuation
* Reduced risk of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs)
* Improved newborn outcomes (e.g., higher Apgar scores)
* Greater maternal satisfaction and sense of control

Ideally, as early as possible in your pregnancy, to receive full prenatal support. However, support can be beneficial at any stage—even during late pregnancy or the postpartum period.

Many clients use HSA/FSA funds to cover doula services. Coverage varies, so check with your insurance provider for eligibility.

Yes. Whether you are planning a hospital birth, home birth, birth center delivery, unmedicated labor, epidural, or cesarean, your choices are respected and supported.

Doula care is more than support—it is an evidence-informed approach that improves maternal and infant health outcomes, reduces disparities, and strengthens families and communities.