About doulas
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.
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Benefits of having a doula
Adding a doula to your family plan can create the ultimate dream team. 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
Finding a doula
Doulas practice independently or as part of collectives or agencies. So, if you’d like to find a doula, you can contact them directly or search directories to find the right fit. Here's some things you’ll want to know:
- Costs vary by state and provider, insurance coverage is limited
- Many offer sliding scale fees based on income or payment plans
- If insured by Medicaid, coverage depends on your state
- 17 states are considering/implementing Medicaid doula coverage
- Check with your insurance provider before hiring to understand options
Visit doula sites below:
DONA International
Doula Match
Black Doulas.org
Black Doulas Directory
Hear from a doula
Doulas What You Need To Know
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.
But how?
Join us for an important conversation moderated by Good Morning America Weekend Co-anchor Janai Norman with March of Dimes President and CEO Dr. Elizabeth Cherot and doulas Sanyika Williams and Kayla Natalie to learn the Top 5 Things You Need to Know About Doulas.