Midwives are licensed healthcare providers who can provide medical treatment and give medical advice. Doulas aren’t medical providers; we’re trained to provide emotional, physical, educational, and practical support in order to help women achieve a positive and healthy pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience.

Our role is to encourage and coach you through physical and emotional challenges, answer questions, and offer a calming presence and objective perspective for decision-making (although we’ll never make decisions for you). We meet you exactly where you are and help you listen to what your body needs. We remind you of questions to ask your medical providers so you can make informed decisions and protect your bodily autonomy. We help create the space you need to feel in charge of your birth experience.

The comforting presence and support of your partner is an essential part of your birth journey, and we can’t replace that shared connection and intimacy. As your doula, our role is to support both you and your partner. We know pregnancy, labor, and birth, and we use that knowledge and experience to coach you and your partner throughout the process. We also help your partner better understand how to support you, especially in the moments where they may be unsure what to do. Our presence also allows your partner to take breaks if needed, knowing you’ll be cared for in the meantime.

If you’ve never had a doula before, you may be wondering if it’s worth it to pay for doula support, especially if your insurance doesn’t cover it. Maybe you’re considering just toughing it out, or asking an untrained friend to help. Is hiring a certified doula really worth it?

Doula care has been shown to reduce the likelihood of medical intervention and the risk of birth trauma. Because of this, paying for a doula’s care during this profoundly life-changing season is an investment into your family’s health and well-being—physically, mentally, and emotionally. 

A friend or family member can be a wonderful presence on your big day, but they won’t have the knowledge and training to support you in the specific ways you may need. Bringing a child into the world is a beautiful, messy, spiritual, and all-consuming process. So many things can change at a moment’s notice, and it can feel scary or overwhelming to go through it alone without experienced support. Having valuable information, guidance, and care during these challenging moments is priceless. 

For more information on the proven benefits of doula care, visit DONA International.

The benefit of Arise Doula Collective is that you gain the support of a team, not just one person. During your pregnancy, you’ll get to know both of us. When you go into labor, whichever one of us is on call that day will serve as your birth doula. This ensures that you never have to worry whether your doula will be available when you need them. With Arise Doula Collective, our built-in backup ensures you’re fully supported when your big day arrives.

We’ll arrive at whichever point in your labor you’d like us to! Early labor can be long, and we often find we’re most effective supporting you during this time via phone or text. We usually suggest calling your doula to come once early labor has passed and active labor has begun. Many of our clients find that they gradually realize when they’re ready for in-person support—and that’s the perfect time to let us know you’re ready for us.

We don’t have a time limit on our labor support—we are there for you until your baby is born. If your labor is extremely extended, and your doula is no longer able to fully support you due to fatigue, another one of us may need to step in so you continue to receive the best care. However, we will always discuss this with you first. There is no extra fee for extended labor or for switching doulas.

Our doula service includes up to 2 hours postpartum doula care if you would like us to stay after your delivery. However, we’ll always respect your decision if you prefer to enjoy alone time with your family once your baby arrives.

Yes! No matter where you plan to give birth—at home, at a birthing center, or in the hospital—we’re there to support you in any context.