What is a doula?
Doulas offer non-medical support to expecting families and their partners in Washington, DC. Our doula provides calm, consistent support during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period, working alongside your healthcare team to help you feel prepared, supported, and confident as you welcome your baby.
What to expect from your doula
Emotional Support
Informational Support
A doula provides calm, consistent emotional support throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. This includes listening without judgment, offering reassurance during moments of uncertainty, and helping families feel grounded and supported as they navigate physical and emotional changes. Emotional support does not replace medical care or mental health treatment, but it can help reduce stress and promote confidence during a major life transition.
Informational Support
Informational Support
A doula helps families understand common aspects of pregnancy, labor, birth, and early newborn care by sharing evidence-based, non-medical information. This support focuses on education and clarification—helping clients prepare questions for their provider, understand typical procedures, and explore options so they can make informed decisions in collaboration with their healthcare team. Doulas do not give medical advice or make clinical recommendations.
Physical Support
Physical Support
During labor and the postpartum period, a doula offers hands-on, non-medical physical support aimed at comfort and rest. This may include positioning suggestions, breathing techniques, comfort measures during labor, and practical assistance at home such as helping with baby care while the parent rests. Physical support provided by a doula is non-clinical and complements, but does not replace, care from medical professionals.
Your Journey Begins at American Family Center
Doula vs. Medical Provider
Doulas DO :
Provide emotional support
Offer comfort measures
Support informed decision-making
Help with newborn care education
Help with basic breast feeding
Doulas DO NOT:
Give medical advice
Perform clinical exams
Replace your doctor or midwife
Diagnose or treat conditions
Provide childcare during the birth
- Services must be completed within 6 months postpartum
- Visits may be virtual or in-person depending on availability
- A provider referral is required
- Do I still see my doctor or midwife? (Yes.)
- Will a doula replace my partner? (No — doulas support partners.)
- Is this covered by Medicaid? (If eligible and referred.)
- Can I choose my doula? (If applicable — explain process.)
- What if I don’t need all the visits? (Reassure flexibility.)
Doula Basics
🤍 During Pregnancy
- Intake meeting
- Prenatal education & preparation visits
- Emotional support (virtual or in-person)
🤍 During Birth
- Continuous labor support
- Comfort measures & advocacy support
- Coordination with your care team
🤍 After Baby Arrives
- Postpartum visits (up to 6 months)
- Newborn care & breastfeeding support
- Help while you rest (non-medical, in-home)
- Light household assistance related to recovery
Doula Support
A doula is not required to have a healthy birth — but many families choose one for additional emotional, educational, and practical support alongside their medical care.
What's Included:
- Intake meeting
- 10 Additional Visits
- Can be used over the course of your pregnancy and postpartum (In person or virtual).
- Support during labor/delivery
- Accompany you to your 1st postpartum visit (with your provider)
- Regular postpartum visits which could include an additional 6 hours of postpartum help
- Help with baby while you rest (you must be home)
- Light housework
- Breastfeeding & Newborn Care counseling
- Must be completed in the first 6 months postpartum
If you are interested in doula services, please contact your provider and ask them to submit the below referral form. There is either a fillable .pdf or a standard form that can be downloaded and submitted to your managed care team.
HOW TO GET STARTED
- Review doula services
- Talk with your provider
- Provider submits referral form
- We contact you to schedule intake