What a doula does
A doula is non-medical support: someone who knows birth and the weeks after it, and stays with you through both. Birth doulas are with you in labor. Postpartum doulas come to the house afterward and help with the baby, feeding, meals, and letting you sleep. Many are certified through DONA, CAPPA, or ProDoula, and since 2023 Medi-Cal covers doula care in California, which is why so many doulas now hold an NPI number.
Worth asking before you decide
- How many births (or postpartum families) have you supported, and when was the last one?