While there are no simple solutions to complex birth situations in the United States, more and more people are turning to doula care to help them through it. Most expectant mothers don’t have a doula to assist with their births, but Latham Thomas, a doula and founder of maternity lifestyle brand Mama Glow, wants to change that.
This past weekend, Thomas hosted the fourth annual Doula Expo in New York, focused on changing the conversation about childbirth in America. Doulas were once considered a privilege or midwife reserved for those who wished to have an unmedicated birth. But Thomas said “almost everyone” could benefit from a doula. “A lot of people are candidates,” she said.
Here’s what Thomas wants the public to know about doulas and why so many people can benefit from this birthing experience.
What exactly does a doula do?
According to Harvard Health, a doula is a professional midwife who focuses on the mother’s comfort during childbirth. “Doulas are non-clinical care providers who provide emotional support and physical support,” Thomas said. “One of my clients called him the producer of Your Birth —it needed a lot of guidance.”
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Doulas don’t perform any medical tasks, but they often recommend comfort measures, as well as optimal birthing and pushing positions, according to Harvard Health. They can also help serve as a liaison between the birth parents and health care providers. “It’s important to have someone to help you navigate uncharted territory—how to answer questions and ask questions to keep you on track and get the experience you want,” Thomas says.
Doula work can also extend beyond pregnancy and childbirth. According to DONA International, postpartum doulas can assist with the transition to parenthood, providing lactation and breastfeeding resources or assistance, as well as practical advice, practical assistance and emotional support. Some doulas (called full spectrum doulas) can help moms throughout their pregnancy and postpartum journey.
Is there anything a midwife can do that a midwife or ob-gyn can’t?
Obstetricians and gynecologists are medical professionals who provide a range of services, including gynecological and reproductive care. “They can do everything from breast exams to labor and postpartum care and support you during abortions and miscarriages,” Thomas said. “Midwives are all the same.”
But doulas “provide a continuum of emotionally based care,” Thomas said. While your OB-GYN or midwife is responsible for diagnosing and testing and monitoring your baby, a doula can “fill in the gaps in your care support,” Thomas said.
“A doula can fill in the gaps where there may be some communication challenges,” Thomas said. “A doula can be the gel that helps you blend your birth experience. Their job is to make sure the birth and surrounding activities go smoothly.
Who can benefit from a doula?
Thomas recommends that all expectant parents consider doula care. She listed first-time parents, people giving birth via surrogate, adoptive parents and people without family and friends nearby as possible candidates. Thomas also said families with children can also benefit from doula care. “I’ve been with families who now have home births on their own, but every time we do it together because there’s a rhythm,” she said. “Also, every birth is different. Having the gift of a doula really helps.
Thomas also said people from marginalized communities can also benefit from doula care. “Black women are three to four times more likely to die from childbirth than other women [than white women],” she said. “We need doulas for these women.” Thomas emphasized the importance of doula care for “people on the margins,” noting that these groups “are the least served by our current healthcare model.”
Thomas said doulas can also be helpful for parents who have had a medical birth or a C-section. “A C-section is a major abdominal surgery,” Thomas said. “The important thing is aftercare. Once you’re home and settled, your doula will come visit you.
Doula care “is for everyone,” Thomas said. “Every type of birth is important,” she continued. “It doesn’t matter how you get here. We want the baby to get here in the safest way possible.
Doula care is becoming increasingly affordable in some areas.
Thomas said when it comes to doula fees, “it’s definitely on the scale.” “It can range in price from free to as much as $7,000,” she said. “It depends on where you are, the person and their experience.”
Midwives who don’t have health insurance may use a sliding scale or may even contact you based on what you can afford, Thomas said.
Some states are even working to increase doula services. As of March 2024, all Medicare members in New York State are eligible to receive free doula services during pregnancy and for 12 months after pregnancy. In California, doula services are also considered a covered benefit.
What to look for in a doula
When looking for a doula, Thomas recommends asking around to see what friends and family find helpful. Once you meet your doula, she will advise you to “get rid of your emotions.”
“You really want to make sure you feel connected,” Thomas said. Among other things, she recommends asking doulas how they train, how long they train, how many births they have been involved in, what their values are and how they show up during the birth process.
“A lot of people who are doing this work are not necessarily mothers,” Thomas said. “But they don’t have to be a parent to be a great doula.”
If you’re interested in exploring doula care, Thomas recommends doing your research and asking lots of questions. “It’s really a viable option for everyone,” she said.
