A doula is a trained support person who provides emotional, physical, and informational support during pregnancy, birth, and/or the postpartum period.
They don’t replace medical providers—instead, they help you feel informed, calm, and supported through the experience.

Hiring a doula can help you feel more supported, informed, and confident throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

Some key benefits include:

• Continuous emotional support and reassurance

• Physical comfort measures during labor and recovery

• Help understanding options so you can make informed decisions

• Advocacy and support for your preferences

• A calmer, more supported birth and postpartum experience

The best time to hire a doula is early in pregnancy, ideally in the first or second trimester, so you have time to build a relationship and receive ongoing support.

That said, many doulas can still be hired later in pregnancy—and some postpartum doulas can be hired after baby arrives. The earlier you reach out, the more support and availability you’ll have.

Having your own private doula means the support is completely personalized and consistent—focused only on you and your family.

Benefits include:

• One-on-one, continuous support from someone who knows your preferences

• Personalized care before, during, and after birth

• A trusted, familiar presence throughout labor and postpartum

• Support tailored to your emotional, physical, and informational needs

• Care that centers you, not a shift schedule or rotating staff

A private doula offers dedicated support so you feel truly seen, heard, and supported every step of the way.

No—a doula does not take the place of your partner.

A doula supports both you and your partner by:

• Guiding your partner on how to help and stay involved

• Offering reassurance and suggestions when things feel overwhelming

• Allowing your partner to rest while ensuring you’re continuously supported

Think of a doula as a teammate who helps your partner show up with more confidence—not a replacement.

A doula’s scope of practice focuses on non-medical support.

Doulas do provide:

• Emotional support and reassurance

• Physical comfort measures (positioning, breathing, relaxation)

• Evidence-based information and education

• Advocacy support to help you communicate your preferences

Doulas do not:

• Perform medical exams or procedures

• Give medical advice or diagnose conditions

• Replace doctors, midwives, or nurses

A doula’s role is to support—not provide medical care—so you feel informed, empowered, and supported throughout your experience.

Before baby is born, a doula provides education, preparation, and personalized support to help you feel confident and ready.

This often includes:

• Prenatal visits to discuss birth preferences and expectations

• Education on labor, comfort techniques, and coping strategies

• Help creating or reviewing your birth plan

• Emotional support and reassurance during pregnancy

• Answers to questions as they come up

• Guidance for partners on how to support labor and birth

The goal is to help you feel informed, prepared, and supported before labor begins.

Yes—many families choose to have both a midwife and a doula because their roles are different and complementary.

A midwife provides medical care and monitors the health of you and your baby.
A doula provides continuous emotional, physical, and informational support.

A doula:

• Stays with you continuously, while midwives may move between clients

• Focuses on comfort, reassurance, and advocacy

• Supports your partner and helps everyone feel more confident

Together, they create a well-rounded support team—medical care from your midwife and personalized, continuous support from your doula.

Yes—absolutely. A doula can be helpful regardless of your pain management choices.

A doula can:

• Support you before and after receiving pain medication

• Help with positioning and comfort even with an epidural

• Provide reassurance, encouragement, and emotional support

• Help you understand your options as labor progresses

• Support your partner throughout the process

Doulas support your birth preferences—whether you plan to use pain medication or not.

Yes—you can absolutely benefit from a doula even if you’re having a cesarean birth.

A doula can:

• Help you prepare emotionally and mentally before surgery

• Explain what to expect so you feel calm and informed

• Support your partner during the procedure

• Advocate for your preferences when possible (like skin-to-skin or gentle cesarean options)

• Provide reassurance and support during recovery

A doula helps make a cesarean birth feel more supported, personal, and empowering.

A professional doula plans for this in advance.

Most doulas:

• Take on a limited number of clients per due date window

• Are on call 24/7 around your due date

• Have a backup doula arranged in case of illness or emergency

• Clearly explain their availability and backup plan in the contract

Before hiring, you can always ask how on-call coverage and backup support work so you feel confident you’ll be supported when labor begins.

Yes—taking a childbirth class is still very helpful, even if you’re hiring a doula.

A childbirth class:

• Gives you a strong foundation of knowledge before labor

• Helps you understand what’s normal and what to expect

• Prepares you and your partner to make informed decisions

• Allows your doula to build on what you already know rather than starting from scratch

Think of it this way: a childbirth class provides the education, and your doula provides the personalized support. Together, they help you feel confident and prepared.

Short answer: Maybe — but it depends on your plan and where you live.

Here’s how it typically works:

• Most commercial (private) health insurance plans do not automatically cover doula services yet, though coverage is gradually increasing and varies by insurer. You’d need to check your specific plan to see if it’s included.

• In some cases, you can pay your doula upfront and ask your insurer to reimburse you (often using a “super bill” your doula provides) — but reimbursement is not guaranteed unless your plan has this benefit.

• Employer benefits or maternity support programs (like Carrot Fertility, Maven, or specific employer plans) may include doula reimbursement as a benefit, so it’s worth checking with HR.

• In Oregon, new state law (effective January 1, 2026) requires most commercial health plans to cover perinatal and doula services up to a set amount, though the details and how coverage is administered may vary by insurer.

• If you’re on Medicaid (like Oregon Health Plan) and the doula is certified and enrolled with the plan, doula services can be reimbursed directly by Medicaid without out-of-pocket cost for you.

What you should do:

1. Call your insurance company and ask if doula services are covered and what documentation they need.

2. Ask your doula if they can provide a super bill for insurance reimbursement.

3. Check if your employer benefits include doula support or if you can use HSA/FSA funds for reimbursement.

If you want, I can help you draft the exact questions to ask your insurer!

My doula support style is calm, grounded, and deeply personalized.

I offer:

• A steady, reassuring presence that helps families feel safe and supported

• Evidence-based guidance without pressure or agendas

• Emotional attunement—meeting families exactly where they are

• Practical, hands-on support paired with gentle education

• A warm, “birth bestie” energy that feels professional, not clinical

My approach centers on trust, compassion, and confidence, helping families feel informed, empowered, and truly cared for—before, during, and after birth.