What Does a Doula Actually Do? Before, During & After Birth

A doula is someone trained to support you through pregnancy, birth, and the months after. They don't provide medical care. Instead, they're there to help you understand your options, prepare for birth, support you physically and emotionally during labor, and before and after your baby arrives.

If you've heard the word "doula" and weren't totally sure what one actually does day to day, you're in the right place. Here's what that support can look like at each stage.

What does a doula help with?

Every doula and every pregnancy is different, but doula support can include:

• Preparing for birth
• Understanding your options and preferences
• Physical comfort during labor
• Emotional support before, during, and after birth
• Feeding and lactation support
• Postpartum recovery and adjustment
• Newborn care and education

Your doula gets to know you over time, so the support you receive can reflect what matters most to you.

First, what a doula is not

A doula doesn't deliver your baby, perform exams, or give medical advice. That's the role of your OB, midwife, nurses, and other medical providers.

Your doula works alongside your care team, providing consistent, one-on-one physical, emotional, and informational support. They help you feel more informed and prepared while keeping your preferences and choices at the center of your care.

What a doula does before birth

A lot of a doula's work happens before you ever go into labor.

During pregnancy, your doula gets to know you, what you're hoping for, and what matters most to you. They can help you think through your options, from pain relief to birth settings, so you feel more prepared for what's ahead. They can also help you put together your birth preferences, walk you through what to expect, and practice comfort techniques you may use during labor.

They're also someone to turn to between appointments. Your next appointment can sometimes feel ages away, and a doula gives you someone to talk to in between, whether you have a question about preparing for birth, want help understanding your options, or just need to talk something through.

What a doula does during birth

This is what most people picture when they think about doulas, and it's a big part of the support they provide.

Your doula is there with you through labor and delivery. While members of your medical team may change throughout your labor, your doula can provide a consistent presence. They can help with physical comfort through things like different positions, breathing techniques, counterpressure, and other ways to help you feel more comfortable as labor progresses.

They can also help you stay informed. When decisions come up, your doula can help you understand what's happening and talk through your options so you can decide what feels right for you. They can help you communicate your preferences and keep your voice at the center of conversations with your care team.

And if you have a partner or other support people with you, your doula can help them feel more prepared to support you, too.

Most importantly, your doula supports your choices. They won't tell you what your birth should look like or make decisions for you. Whatever you decide, they're there to support you without judgment.

What a doula does after birth

Support doesn't end when the baby arrives. Some of the most useful help can come in the weeks and months afterward.

A postpartum doula can support you with recovery, feeding and lactation, newborn care, and adjusting to life at home. They check in on how you're doing, not just how the baby is doing. And they're a knowledgeable, nonjudgmental person to ask the questions you might not want to Google at 3 a.m.

And if you haven’t used your doula benefit yet, it may still be available for up to 12 months after birth, so it’s not too late to get support.

Doula support through pregnancy loss and abortion

Doula support can also be there through miscarriage, stillbirth, and abortion.

A doula can provide physical, emotional, and informational support throughout the experience, without judgment or assumptions about what you need. For eligible Californians, this care may also be covered by insurance.

Doula vs. midwife: what's the difference?

People mix these up all the time, so here's the simple version.

A midwife is a medical provider. They monitor your health and your baby's health, provide clinical care, and can deliver your baby. A doula is not a medical provider. They don't deliver babies, perform exams, or run tests. Instead, they provide physical, emotional, and informational support around your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience.

They play different roles, and many people have both a midwife or OB and a doula as part of their care team.

Does a doula actually make a difference?

Research has linked doula support with better maternal health outcomes.

One recent study of doula care among Medicaid enrollees found a 47% lower risk of delivering by C-section and a 29% lower risk of preterm birth among people with doula support.

Beyond the research, a doula also provides something that's harder to put into a statistic: consistent, one-on-one support from someone who gets to know you and what matters to you throughout your care.

Is a doula covered by insurance?

If you're in California, there's a good chance your insurance covers doula care.

Loula works with Medi-Cal and major insurance plans, including Kaiser, Health Net, and Anthem, and most Loula patients pay $0 out of pocket for covered doula care.

The tricky part can be finding a doula who fits what you're looking for and can work with your insurance. That's where Loula comes in.

Loula works with more than 500 trained, vetted doulas across California. We verify your coverage, help you find someone who fits what matters to you, and handle the insurance and billing along the way.

Take a peek at a few of our doulas and see who feels like your kind of person.

Frequently asked questions

What does a doula do?

A doula gives you emotional, physical, and informational support before, during, and after birth. They can help you prepare during pregnancy, support you through labor, and be there as you recover and adjust postpartum. They don't provide medical care.

What does a doula do during labor?

Your doula provides consistent support throughout labor. They can help with physical comfort through positions, breathing, counterpressure, and other techniques, help you understand your options when decisions come up, and support you in communicating with your care team.

What's the difference between a doula and a midwife?

A midwife is a medical provider who provides clinical care and can deliver babies. A doula isn't a medical provider and focuses on physical, emotional, and informational support. Many people have both.

What does a postpartum doula do?

A postpartum doula can support you with recovery, feeding and lactation, newborn care, and adjusting in the weeks and months after birth. If you haven’t used your doula benefit yet, it may still be available for up to 12 months after birth.

Can a doula support you through a miscarriage or abortion?

Yes. Doulas can provide physical, emotional, and informational support through miscarriage, stillbirth, and abortion. For eligible Californians, this care may also be covered by insurance.

Is a doula worth it?

Many people value having consistent, one-on-one support throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, and research has linked doula support with better maternal health outcomes. Whether a doula feels right for you depends on the kind of support you want.

And if cost is part of the decision, most Loula patients pay $0 out of pocket for covered doula care.

Does insurance cover a doula?

Many insurance plans in California cover doula care. Loula works with Medi-Cal and major plans including Kaiser, and Health Net, and most Loula patients pay $0 out of pocket for covered care.