Pregnancy & birth doula
Family-Centered Support that Works for you
Steadfast and experienced Birth Doulas are an invaluable addition to your birth team. Whether your plan includes an epidural assisted birth, an unmedicated birth, or a cesarean birth, your DOB Birth Doula creates an environment where you feel comfort as you move into parenthood. Our birth doulas help you create the birth experience you desire.
Well-respected, professional birth doulas offering unbiased support to Baltimore families!
Whether through encouragement, comfort measures techniques, offering insight about labor positions, answering questions about the process, or simply being a calming, grounding presence, your birth doula works collaboratively with your partner and care providers to ensure you have a fulfilling and supported birth experience.
Comprehensive Birth Doula Support starts at $2100.
Due to the nature of this service, we can only contract with a finite number of families for this offering based upon due date and birth location.
Planning a cesarean birth? We offer specialized doula support for your experience.
We’ll help you develop unique planned cesarean birth preferences, provide both pre- and post-cesarean support to you at the hospital, and depending on your hospital/provider policies, are happy to join you in the operating room as well.
Having the reassuring, affirming support of our doulas at your cesarean birth can greatly increase your satisfaction with your birth experience and ease your transition to postpartum as you recover from surgery.
Cesarean birth is birth and you will receive the highest quality, attentive care Doulas of Baltimore is known for. Ask us how our doulas can help make your baby’s birth day a treasured memory.
DOB Birth Doulas are more than just physical suport.
- Evidence-based Answers
We pride ourselves on using reliable, science-based sources for our training. We get to the bottom of your questions utilizing our experience as well as sources like the AAP, WHO, and CDC.
- Unbiased Suggestions
Our goals for your birth are simple: whatever your goals are. We don’t have opinions when it comes to your choices. We believe each birthing family knows exactly what’s right for them.
- Family-Centered Care
Birth Doulas are not just for the birthing individual! We work collaboratively to open communication between partners, family members, and even providers.
- Reliable Referrals
We establish and nurture trusted referrals with professionals in the Greater Baltimore Area for all your family’s prenatal, birth, and postpartum needs. Whether you’re looking for a birth photographer or a speech therapist, we’ve got a friend we can introduce you to!
- Agency Support
DOB Doulas are unique – they have the support of an entire ecosystem of exceptionally trained and experienced Birth Doulas, Postpartum Doulas, Infant Feeding Specialists, and more. You’ll never be without support, even if your doula needs to take the day off.
What can I expect?
Access to your doula for informational resources, local professional services, reassurance and recommendations;
Communication throughout your pregnancy via your preferred method(s) of contact (voice or video calls, text, email, etc)
Prenatal meeting around your 35th week of pregnancy to discuss your birth preferences, hospital procedures and postpartum plans
24/7 on call support from your prenatal visit until your baby’s birth date; tips, resources and reassurance for you and your partner as you navigate early labor.
FAQ
How do you match me with the right doula?
Your journey begins with a complimentary phone consultation with Debbie. She’s our co-owner and family care coordinator. She considers everything from personality type to your due date and birthing location when matching your family with a birth doula. The next step is a zoom call with Debbie for her to introduce you to one of our birth doulas. They will assess your needs, answer your questions, and ensure that you feel the doula is the best fit for your family.
It is our goal to make sure every client receives the highest quality doula care, so we only hire the best. When you’re matched with a doula from Doulas of Baltimore you’ll receive unbiased, compassionate, evidence-based support – no matter who your doula is.
What does your screening process for doulas look like?
Each of our team members completes a thorough application process and undergoes a rigorous screening. Additionally, to ensure continuity of the highest quality professional care, each of our doulas passes a full background check, receives comprehensive training, carries professional liability insurance, and maintains current CPR and First Aid certifications.
When do you go ‘on call’ for my birth? What if I have my baby early?
Our birth doulas are officially “on call” from the time of your prenatal visit. The birth planning home visit is typically held at 34-35 weeks, unless the unique circumstances (i.e. multiples pregnancy, health complications, etc.) indicate the need for an earlier meeting. However, our team is always ready to support you in the event of premature labor.
Do your doulas have experience with different types of birth scenarios?
As doulas who have collectively served the greater Baltimore area for over 3 decades, we can assure you that someone on our team has the experience you’re looking for! One of our strengths as an agency is in information sharing and continuing education. No matter how many births we have attended, we’ve never been to your birth. That’s why we are always working as a team to get your questions answered and ensure you feel confidently supported.
When will my doula join me during labor?
We provide extensive phone, text, and video support during early labor to ensure you get your questions answered and have suggestions for comfort. This is even before you’re ready to have us ‘in the room’ with you continuously. When that moment comes and you’re ready for in-person support, our doulas are happy to meet you at your home or birth location, within 90 minutes of being requested.
How can my doula continue to support me when I get an epidural?
All of our doulas are skilled at supporting clients with and without epidurals. If you decide you’d like an epidural, we can assist with everything from coaching you through the procedure to positional changes throughout the remainder of your birth. Many birthing people find that even with an epidural in place, comfort measures like massage or acupressure are a welcome help.
What happens if my doula gets sick or is at another birth?
One of the primary benefits of working with a doula agency like Doulas of Baltimore is a back-up is built into the system. In the event your doula has an unexpected illness or emergency, it’s no problem. With a team of qualified birth doulas, we always have back-up support ready. We also pride ourselves on our internal communication systems. These enable our entire team to be consistently up to date with your needs and preferences. You can relax knowing there will always be a skilled doula from our team who knows what you desire for your birth before they ever walk in the room.
What hospitals do your doulas attend births at?
Our birth doulas work at all Baltimore area hospitals, including but not limited to:
- Mercy Medical Center, Johns Hopkins, and University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore,
- St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Sinai Hospital, and GBMC in north Baltimore and Towson,
- Howard County General in Columbia and Carroll Hospital Center in Westminster,
- Baltimore-Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie and Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis.