Frequently Asked Questions About Doulas

A doula is a trained, non-medical professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support to families throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. A doula does NOT deliver your baby, but can help you navigate pregnancy, labor and delivery, abortion and fetal loss, and the postpartum period.

As your doula, I can work with you during prenatal visits to create a birth plan based on your preferences and needs, provide education on the childbirth process, and address whatever concerns you have about your pregnancy. I can also help you plan for the immediate postpartum period, by delegating meals and cleaning tasks to your support network.

Starting two weeks before your estimated due date, I am on call, meaning I am ready to meet you at your birthing location at any time. From active labor until your baby is born, I’m in the room with you, able to provide a variety of comfort and support techniques. Continuous support might include encouragement and affirmation for you and your loved ones, hands-on massage and counter pressure, aromatherapy, suggesting birthing and labor positions, facilitating communication with your care providers, talking through informed decision making, and helping to initiate breastfeeding immediately after the birth. Whatever support you are seeking from me, I am in your corner, honoring your vision for the birthing process. I am happy to support you in the birthing location of your choice, including hospitals, home births, and birthing centers.

If you are seeking care outside the scope of my practice as a doula, I can also refer you to other providers in the Philadelphia area, such as mental health professionals, postpartum support groups, infant feeding specialists, and bodyworkers.

Doulas and midwives are different types of birth workers. While doulas provide non-clinical support, midwives are medical professionals who focus primarily on safely delivering your baby. Midwives perform clinical tasks, such as monitoring and assessing you and your baby, administering medication, and catching your baby when they are born.

Doulas focus solely on providing emotional, physical, and educational support for the birthing parent, providing you with affirmation, nourishment, and hands on care. The work of doulas and midwives is highly complimentary, and both have an important role to play in birth. They make a great team!

Doula costs can vary widely depending on the area you live in and what resources are available. In Philadelphia, doulas typically charge between $1,000-$2,000 for a package that includes prenatal visits, labor and delivery support, and a postpartum visit. Some doulas work as volunteers or with an organization that can provide free or low cost services to clients. Some doulas can also accept insurance or provide superbills for reimbursement. Postpartum doulas typically charge an hourly rate for their services, and a higher rate for overnight care.

For my birth doula package, I charge on a sliding scale between $800-$1,200 for one-two prenatal visits, labor and delivery support, and one postpartum visit. I offer additional postpartum care for $35 an hour. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if these costs are inaccessible to you, as I may be able to support you through the Maternity Care Coalition Doula Network.

Doulas are non-clinical birth workers, so they serve a different function on your support team than your medical providers. While your midwife or OB focuses on protecting the health and safety of both you and your baby throughout the birthing process, your doula can focus solely on you, your needs, and and honoring your vision for the birth. When giving birth in a hospital, nurses and doctors will be in and out of your room, but a doula will stay by your side for the duration of the process. Your doula can also help you communicate more effectively with your providers and talk through decisions about medical interventions with you.

A recent review of studies by Sobczak and colleagues (2023 found that continuous doula support during labor was associated with better delivery outcomes, including a reduction in unwanted caesarean births, epidural use, length of labor, low-birthweight and premature deliveries. These studies also found that birthing parents who worked with a doula reported “increased empowerment and autonomy during birth, high overall satisfaction with the birthing process, and improved breastfeeding success and duration” (Sobczak et al, 2023).

A birth doula typically works with clients during their pregnancy and stays by their side during labor and birth. Often, birth doulas will also offer one or two postpartum visits, focused on supporting their clients through the initial transition to life with their newborn.

Postpartum doulas focus solely on supporting clients after their baby is born. Some postpartum doulas still prefer to meet with clients before the birth to get a sense of their needs, even if they will not be physically present during labor and delivery. Postpartum visits can vary greatly in length and time, taking place both during the day and overnight. During these visits, postpartum doulas can take on tasks including newborn care and education, sibling care, meal prep and shopping, assistance with infant feeding and safe bottle storage, laundry, dishes, and light tidying. They are also a listening ear for parents looking to process their birth experience and the complex feelings that come with parenthood. Postpartum doulas are trained to recognize the signs of postpartum mood disorders, and they can refer you to mental health professionals and support groups if you are struggling.

As a birth and postpartum doula, I am able to support you wherever you are in your pregnancy and parenthood journey. Birth clients receive one postpartum visit in their package, and all clients are able to schedule additional postpartum care for $35/hour. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and discuss your postpartum needs!

Choosing a doula is deeply personal. There are many wonderful, qualified doulas in the Philadelphia area, so it is easy to be overwhelmed by the options. When making your decision, you can consider factors such as their training and certification status, whether their fees are within your price range, and whether they offer the services you are looking for.

It is also perhaps equally important to choose a doula whose personality and values are compatible with your own. Many people seek out a doula who shares their cultural background, religion, or another aspect of their identity. Whoever you choose, go with your gut, and pick a doula you feel safe and comfortable around. Allowing someone to accompany you through your birth experience is vulnerable, so it is crucial that you start with a foundation of trust and mutual respect.

Interested in working together? I am always happy to offer a free consultation over the phone or in person, so that you can ask questions and determine whether we are a good fit for each other. If it turns out that I am not the right doula for you, I am also happy to point you in the direction of trusted colleagues and friends.