How much does a doula cost?
Our doula services are free for low-income families
Does a doula make decisions during labor?
A doula may advocate for the client but will not make any decisions. Advocacy take many forms and may look like any of the following:
- Encouraging the mother or their partner to ask questions and verbalize their concerns/preferences
- Supporting the mother’s decision
- Amplifying the mother’s voice if she is being dismissed, ignored, or not heard, “Excuse me, she’s trying to tell you something. I wasn’t sure if you heard her or not.”
- Teaching the mother and partner positive communication techniques
- If the mother is not aware that a provider is about to perform an intervention, the doula could point out what it appears the nurse or physician is about to do, and ask the mother if they have any questions about what is about to happen. For example, if it looks like the provider is about to perform episiotomy without the person’s consent: “Dr. Smith has scissors in his hand. Do you have any questions about what he is wanting to do with those scissors?”
What is the difference between a doula and a midwife?
The main difference between doulas and midwives is that midwives have extensive medical training. Doulas do not deliver babies or examine women to assess their stage of labor.
I’m planning on having a c-section; why should I use a doula?
A doula can help you get answers to your questions and help formulate a birth plan for your cesarean section.
Do doulas provide additional postpartum support?
For the most part birth doulas do not provide addtioanal postpartum suport. GPS has a seprate Posptpartum program that prpvide families with up to 20 hours of postpartum support. See "Postpartum Doula Services" page for more information.