Birth Doulas
Mothers and parents crave support during childbirth—they need someone to lean on.
The ultimate embrace during Joi's birth.
Photo CreditWE'RE BRINGING THE VILLAGE BACK
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WE'RE BRINGING THE VILLAGE BACK •
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Every family deserves support during life's most sacred moments.
Whether this is their first child or their fourth, childbirth is one of the most challenging, exciting, and emotional times for families. Birth doulas' support is invaluable.
01 Maeve Peterson Miller of Calico Doula Services paints with siblings as their mother does the hard work of labor with her midwife and partner (photo 02).
02 Midwives who have an established relationship with the mother can also provide the much needed social support during birth. Marisol Holman, Certified Professional Midwife of Sol Midwifery Services in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, embraces her client shortly after birth.
Photo credit
Evidence suggests that...
“In addition to regular nursing care, continuous one-to-one emotional support provided by support personnel, such as a doula, is associated with improved outcomes for women in labor.”
— The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
How we support birth doulas & families
We’re dedicated to making birth doulas accessible to all families who desire one.
Our work
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Birth Doula Organization Grants & Funding
We award grants to doula organizations to help provide free or discounted birth doula services. The doula organizations we support are chosen based on sustainability and impact in their communities.
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Aspiring Birth Doula Scholarships
We award full and partial scholarships to aspiring birth doulas to help them complete their doula training courses. Our scholarship recipients demonstrate passion, drive, and a commitment to improving birth experiences for families in their communities.
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Research & Education
We're creating a world where doula care is understood and readily acceptable to all who want it. We invest in new studies and disseminate existing research, advocate for the profession, and educate the public about the importance of collective support.
What is a
birth doula?
These are trained professionals who support parents before and during birth. Birth doulas typically meet with families several times before the birth, in order to understand their unique needs. Whether they decide to labor at home, in a hospital, or a birthing center, doulas' main goal is to offer one-on-one continuous support. While midwives and medical staff focus on health and safety, doulas focus on the mother's comfort. They provide information, advocacy, and most importantly, continued support through labor and birth. They're always there for the birthing person.
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01 Doula Deborah Bellantoni prepares the birth pool for her client in Genoa, Italy.
Photo credit02 Lakesha Quarles of SunFlower Births LLC provides reassurance and comfort to both mother and father during birth.
Photo credit03 Jekisha Elliot of Jendayi Birth Services provides prenatal education to her clients in North Carolina.
Photo creditSocial support for
Birthing people, mothers, and families during labor and birth
Shanille labors surrounded by her first five children in Memphis, TN.
Jennifer Radnay of Parkland, Florida supports her client in the hospital.
Kari Yazejian of Carry You Through Doula Services, Inc, supports this mother together with her partner.
The doulas of Naturally Nurtured Birth Charitable Services provide culturally congruent care for families.
Mandi Arnold of Honeybee Babies and Birth, supports her client at home in South New Jersey, USA.
Provide a birth doula for a family in need.
Be the
village
Share your story
Do you have a birth doula story to share?
Whether you are a birth doula or you’ve experienced the benefits of one, we’d love to hear from you! Please share as much or as little as you like. Our goal is to share more real-life examples to help advocate for doulas, and educate the public on the importance of community support.
Benefits of Birth doula support:
“Shortened labor, decreased need for analgesia, fewer operative deliveries, and fewer reports of dissatisfaction with the experience of labor.”
— American College of Obstetricians
and Gynecologists, 2019Read the ACOG Committee opinion here
