What is a doula?
A doula provides invaluable emotional and physical support to guide women and their partners during the important early stages of pregnancy through labor and delivery, and can offer expertise on feeding and caring for the newborn. For families facing a baby in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), a birth defect diagnosis, or the devastation of pregnancy or infant loss, specialized doulas step in to offer compassion and empathy with these difficult experiences.
Benefits of having a doula
Adding a doula to your care team can make a powerful difference. Research shows great benefits of having a doula's support throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum, including:
• Shorter labor duration
• Reduced need for pain medication like epidurals
• Improved overall maternal satisfaction
• Lower risk of medical interventions like Cesarean births (C-sections)
• Assistance with comfort, procedures, confidence, hospital communication
• Increased likelihood that a mom will breastfeed her baby
• Reduced risk of postpartum depression
• Improved communication with hospital staff and care teams
• Greater confidence and assistance with comfort and procedures
• Improved overall satisfaction with the birth experience
When moms are supported, they thrive and so do their babies.
Finding the right doula for you
Doulas work independently, within hospitals, or through community-based agencies, and every family’s needs are different. Here’s how to start your search:
• Explore your options. Talk with other parents or browse online directories to find doulas in your area.
• Understand costs. Fees vary by provider and location, but many doulas offer sliding scale rates or payment plans.
• Check insurance coverage. Some Medicaid programs cover doula services — currently available or under consideration in 17 states.
• Private insurance coverage may vary, so contact your provider to confirm your benefits.
• Schedule an introductory meeting. It’s important to find someone you connect with and trust.
Visit trusted doula resources:
DONA International
Doula Match
Black Doulas.org
Black Doulas Directory
Doulas and equity
Access to doula care is a proven way to improve birth outcomes, especially in communities disproportionately affected by maternal health inequities. At March of Dimes, we believe every mom should have access to respectful, compassionate support before, during, and after birth. By expanding doula programs and advocating for Medicaid coverage across states, we’re working to make this vital care available to all families.
Learn more about our work to increase access to doulas
Join us in supporting moms and babies
Doulas play an essential role in helping families have healthy, more positive birth experiences. Together, we can make sure every mom has access to the care and comfort she deserves.
Hear from a doula
Curious about working with a doula during your pregnancy? Hear from doula and public health professional Brittney Palmer, together with two moms, lifestyle blogger Ayana Lage and HR professional Daniella Flemings, who worked with doulas during their pregnancies. Hear their stories about the support doulas provided for them and find out how you can access the help of a doula. We’ll also talk about the services doulas provide, the difference between a doula and a midwife, the different types of doulas, the costs and benefits of a doula, and so much more!
Ask Me Anything
Watch our Instagram and TikTok “Ask Me Anything” chats with doulas Jessica Dill and Tamara Mason. They answered viewer questions and shared about the care and compassion doulas provide along the pregnancy journey.
It Starts With Mom Live
Having a baby and becoming a mom can be both exciting and overwhelming. There are so many decisions you’ll make during pregnancy and after. Having a doula as part of your care and support team can make a big difference.
Join us for an important conversation moderated by Good Morning America Weekend Co-anchor Janai Norman with Dr. Elizabeth Cherot and doulas Sanyika Williams and Kayla Natalie to learn the Top 5 Things You Need to Know About Doulas.