World Doula Week 2023: Finding and Funding a Doula
Happy World Doula Week! From March 22nd to March 28th, we celebrate our amazing doulas for their invaluable contributions to the lives of parents and their families during the transition from pregnancy to parenthood.
Doulas play a critical role in the lives of families, providing comprehensive support during the postpartum period that ranges from caring for the newborn to doing light housekeeping, running errands for the parent, and even babysitting the siblings of the newborn. However, their contribution extends beyond these essential tasks. They also connect families with necessary providers to provide support. Doulas provide physical, emotional, and informational support to expectant and new parents, who may experience challenges and benefit from another layer of support. This is invaluable in the United States as the postpartum care landscape is severely lacking in terms of maternal care deserts, insurance coverage, and supportive care.
During pregnancy, doulas help parents navigate the physical and emotional changes they experience by providing guidance and techniques that reduce stress and anxiety. They form deep relationships with expectant parents and help them create birth plans, educate, and supportive resources that meet their unique needs. This relationship continues through the childbirth experience, where doulas provide critical physical and emotional support and advocacy to ensure that parents have the best possible experience.
Research has shown that parents who have a doula experience shorter labors, less use of medication such as oxytocin, fewer requests for epidurals, and a lower rate of cesarean sections. Moreover, parents who have a doula report feeling more calm and in control during labor and delivery.
While finding and funding a doula may seem daunting, there are resources available to help. Below are organizations that provide support and resources to make doulas accessible to more families. Doulas are now accepting insurance as well!
Finding a doula:
Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings Directory (https://www.badt.directory/home)
Doula Match (https://doulamatch.net/)
DONA Directory (https://www.dona.org/what-is-a-doula/find-a-doula/
Funding a doula:
Community of Hope (https://www.communityofhopedc.org/about/who-we-are)
Black Birth Equity Fund Grant
(https://www.dove.com/us/en/baby/black-birth-equity-fund-application.html)
Birth Options Alliance (http://www.birthoptionsalliance.org/free-and-low-cost-birth-doulas-and-postpartum-doulas.html)
The Baltimore Doula Project - Prison Doula Services (https://www.baltimoredoulaproject.org/prison-support)
Alternative Options
Add a cash fund to or in lieu of your registry
Use a flex/health spending account such as FSA or HSA
Budget in your doula and ask about payment plan options
Barter with services/goods (may be applicable for some doulas)
As we celebrate World Doula Week, let us appreciate and acknowledge the amazing contributions of doulas in supporting families during one of the most significant transitions in their lives. Join us for our Doula Meet & Greet that happens each month virtually.