A doula is someone who's trained to provide emotional, physical, and informational support before, during, and after labor and birth. They can help you make informed decisions about your birth options and communicate your wishes to the rest of your birthing team. Having a doula who understands your concerns can help you have a better birth experience.
This is especially true for Black women, who, amid a maternal health crisis, are three times more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth-related complications than white women. Studies have shown that Black women who had a doula who looked like them or came from a similar cultural background were more likely to have a positive birth experience. The support of a Black doula allows Black women to feel seen, heard, and advocated for during labor and delivery.
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As you start your search, here are some resources and tips for finding a Black doula near you.
Ask your network if they know any Black doulas
Your own community is a good place to start looking for a Black doula. Family and friends can recommend a Black doula if they used one for their own delivery. Local Black community organizations are likely to know of doulas, especially if they provide services for pregnant or breastfeeding moms. You can also reach out to a nearby doula or midwife, even if they're not Black, as they may know someone they can connect you with.
Your OB or midwife may be able to refer you to a doula, too. And lastly, don’t be afraid to ask a fellow soon-to-be mom in the doctor’s office if she knows of any Black doulas.
Tap into one of these Black doula resources
Several organizations connect pregnant moms with Black doulas, including:
Black Women Birthing Justice. BWBJOpens a new window is an Oakland, California-based grassroots collective committed to transforming birthing experiences for Black women and birthing people. They believe that every pregnant person should have an empowering birth and postpartum experience, free of unnecessary medical interventions and forced separation from their child, and one that honors their autonomy and maintains dignity. They aim to educate and inform, to document and share Black women's birth stories in their own words, to raise awareness, influence healthcare policy, and keep birth sacred. They challenge human rights violations, including maternal mortality and near misses, and rebuild confidence in the Black and Brown community’s ability to birth.
Sista Midwife Productions. Sista Midwife's websiteOpens a new window features a search tool that lets you look for a doula, midwife, or lactation consultant near where you live. The birth advocacy organization, based in New Orleans, provides education, training, and consultations for communities, birth workers, and organizations that work with childbearing families. Their mission is to improve pregnancy and birth experiences and to eliminate perinatal disparities by increasing the number of Black birth workers, teaching families about their rights and options, and creating transparency and accountability within childbirth education and the medical obstetrical system.
National Black Doulas Association. On the National Black Doulas AssociationOpens a new window's website, you can use an interactive map to find Black childbirth, postpartum, and full spectrum doulas near you. (Full spectrum doulas are a growing group of doulas and justice rights advocates who are working to bring the Doula care model to people across the full spectrum of pregnancy issues, including abortion, stillbirth, miscarriage, fertility, and sex.) The overall mission at NBDA is to help reduce the Black maternal mortality rate through educational development and empowerment.
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Bebo Mia. A Canadian doula association, Bebo MiaOpens a new window provides a directory of Canadian doulas who are fiercely committed to ensuring all bodies feel represented, seen, and cared for. Use the directory to find a doula, breastfeeding support, and sleep and fitness experts.
DONA International. DONA InternationalOpens a new window is one of the largest professional doula organizations, and they have a robust doula locatorOpens a new window on their website.
What if I'm not sure I can afford a doula?
Doula costs vary widely depending on where you live, but typically range from several hundred to a couple thousand dollars, which can be a steep commitment for some moms-to-be.
If you have health insurance, ask your insurance company for a list of doulas in their directory. Some insurance companies will reimburse you for doula services. If your insurance company doesn't, make a formal request so they know it’s in demand.
If you can't afford a doula, try looking for a community-based doula. These doulas offer culturally appropriate care to people in communities at risk of poor outcomes. They're generally paid through community programs, federal or state governments, or private funding. Ask at a government or community agency that serves underserved populations.
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You can also search for doula assistance programs near you: The Black Doula ProjectOpens a new window, for example, provides financial assistance to families in need of pre-birth, birth, and postpartum doulas in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. New York City’s Citywide Doula ProjectOpens a new window provides free doula care to income-eligible families, while Swedish Medical Center in Seattle offers subsidized doula services for people with Medicare through its Black Birth Empowerment InitiativeOpens a new window.
One more idea: Look on social media for local doula groups that may have new doulas who are willing to work for free or on a sliding scale.
Read more:
How a postpartum doula can help
How to navigate a medical system that isn’t looking out for you
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Financial help for pregnant women and families
