What is a birth Doula?
A birth doula is a trained professional that provides emotional, informational, and physical support to a birthing person during pregnancy, labor and childbirth, and immediately after childbirth. A birth doula is trained to guide you through labor by offering continuous support with relaxation and breathing exercises, massages, words of encouragement, and other comforting measures. Doulas work with your support person to encourage involvement and foster a positive experience.
A doula's service may include:
- Providing emotional, informational, and physical support
- Assisting before, during, and immediately after birth
- Assisting clients to feel empowered to advocate for themselves and their birth preferences
- Working with medical staff to promote healthy delivery and prenatal care
A Community-Based Doula is not a substitute for medical care or mental health support. Doulas do not perform clinical or medical tasks. Any and all resources provided are for the benefit of the client’s autonomous decision-making and as an added support to their network of care.
Community-Based Doula Program
Do I qualify for doula services?
Our referral partners must complete the referral form to inquire about doula services for patients birthing at Cone Health Women's & Children's Center at Moses Cone Hospital and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist - High Point Medical Center. To be eligible for a community-based doula through this program, a professional, home-visiting program coordinator, case manager or community navigator must submit a referral on your behalf in order to apply.
Doula services Include:
- 3 in-person prenatal visits
- continuous in-person labor support
- attending birth in person
- 1 in-person postpartum visit
- 1 virtual postpartum check-in
- 2 postpartum follow ups with the Doula Coordinator
Meet Our Doulas
Resources
Find a Doula in Your Area
Every Baby Guilford is compiling a list of doulas in the Triad. Follow the link below to start your search for a doula that suits your needs.
Want to be included in the Doula Directory? Submit your information here.
The Community-Based Doula Program is managed by Every Baby Guilford, a collective action movement with the mission to ignite and mobilize Guilford County through partnerships and unified strategies to eliminate disparities and prevent infant deaths.
For more information or to get involved, contact our Doula Coordinator: amickel@guilfordcountync.gov