While there is no easy solution for fixing the complicated state of childbirth in the U. S., a growing number of people are turning to doula care to help them navigate the experience. Most expectant mothers do not have doula-assisted births, but Latham Thomas, founder of doula and maternity lifestyle brand Mama Glow, is hoping to change that.
Last weekend, Thomas hosted the fourth annual Doula Expo in New York City with a focus on changing the conversation around childbirth in America. Doulas were once thought of as a special privilege or birth worker reserved for people looking to have an unmedicated birth. But Thomas says “literally everyone” can benefit from having a doula. “So many people are candidates,” she says.
Here’s what Thomas wants the public to know about doulas, plus why plenty of people can benefit from this birth experience.
What does a doula do, exactly?
A doula is a professional birth worker who focuses on the comfort of the mother during childbirth, according to Harvard Health. “Doulas are non-clinical care providers that offer emotional support and physical support,” Thomas says. “One of my clients calls it a producer for your birth—it’s a lot of hand-holding.”
Doulas do not perform any medical tasks, but they will often suggest comfort measures, along with optimal positions for labor and pushing, per Harvard Health. They can also help serve as a liaison between the birthing parent and the medical care providers. “It’s really important to have someone help you navigate uncharted terrain—how to answer questions and ask the questions to keep you on track for the desired experience that you want to have,” Thomas says.
Doula work can also extend beyond pregnancy and birth. Postpartum doulas can assist with the transition to parenthood, providing lactation and breastfeeding resources or assistance, plus practical advice, hands-on help, and emotional support, according to DONA International. Some doulas, known as full-spectrum doulas, can help moms throughout their entire pregnancy and postpartum journey.
What can a doula do that a midwife or ob/gyn can’t?
Ob/gyns are medical professionals that provide a range of services, including gynecological and reproductive care. “They can perform anything from breast exams to attending your birth and postpartum care, and support you through abortion and loss,” Thomas says. “Midwives are the same.”
But doulas “provide continuity of care that is emotionally based,” Thomas says. While your ob/gyn or midwife looks at diagnostics and testing, as well as monitoring your baby, the doula can “fill the gap that you experience in terms of care support,” Thomas says.
“A doula can fill the gap where there may be some challenges with communication,” Thomas says. “The doula can be the gel that helps your birth experience come together. They’re there to make sure that the birth and surrounding activities are moving smoothly.”
Who can benefit from having a doula?
Thomas recommends that all expectant parents consider doula care. She lists off first-time parents, those who are giving birth via surrogacy, adoptive parents, and people who don’t have family and friends nearby as possible candidates. Thomas also says that families who already have children can also benefit from doula care. “I’ve been with families that they could deliver at home by themselves at this point, but each time we do it together because there’s a rhythm,” she says. “But also, each birth is really different. It's really helpful to have a doula present.”
Thomas also says that people in marginalized communities can also benefit from doula care. “Black women are three to four times more likely to die of childbirth causes [than white women],” she says. “We need doulas for those women.” Thomas stresses the importance of doula care for “people who exist on the margins,” noting that these groups are “the least served by our current medical model.”
A doula can also be helpful for parents who have medicated births or C-sections, Thomas says. “A C-section is major abdominal surgery,” Thomas says. “What’s important is the aftercare. When you get home and settled, your doula makes visits.”
Doula care “is for everyone,” Thomas says. “Every type of birth matters,” she continues. “There’s not a value placed on how you get here. We want babies to get here the safest way possible.”
Doula care is becoming more affordable in some areas.
Thomas says that there is “definitely a scale” when it comes to the cost of having a doula. “It can go anywhere from no cost to up to $7,000,” she says. “It depends on where you’re located, the person, and their experience.”
Doulas who don’t take health insurance may use a sliding scale and may even with you based on what you can afford, Thomas says.
Some states are even working to increase doula access. As of March 2024, all Medicare members in New York state are eligible to receive doula services for free during pregnancy and up to 12 months after. Doula services are also considered a covered benefit in California.
What to look for in a doula
When looking for a doula, Thomas recommends asking around to see what friends and family have found helpful. Once you meet with a doula, she suggests that you “go off of vibes.”
“You really want to make sure that you feel connected,” Thomas says. Aside from that, she suggests asking how a doula did their training, how long they trained for, how many births they attended, what their values are, and how they show up to the birth process.
“A lot of people who do the work are not necessarily mothers,” Thomas says. “But they don’t necessarily have to be a parent to be a great doula.”
If you’re interested in exploring doula care, Thomas recommends doing your research and asking a lot of questions. “This is really a viable option for everyone,” she says.
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