Answers to Common Inquiries
Below you find a brief overview of some of the most common inquiries we receive about Doula Nathalie & Associates. We also have resources regarding pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. Take a look at the Childbirth and Newborn Care Resources page and our Empowered Birthing Blog. We would be more than happy to discuss any other questions you have, just drop us a note at [email protected].
What Does a Birth Doula Do?
Before Birth
Your doula provides ongoing emotional, informational, and practical support throughout pregnancy. This includes monthly check-ins (by text or email) to discuss how you’re feeling, prepare for your birth, and explore evidence-based information.
Ahead of your due date, you’ll review what to expect during labor, how to decide when to go to your birthing location, build a birth preference plan, and prepare for the postpartum period. Your doula is officially “on call” from two weeks before to two weeks after your due date—but you can always reach out by call or email!
During Birth
Your birth doula is there to provide continuous labor support, offer both emotional and physical support, and advocate for you. On the physical side, she can offer help with positioning, breathing guidance, massage, and tools like a TENS unit to help you stay comfortable. From an emotional side, she can help you understand your options. She can create space and help you feel confident making choices that are right for you, which may come up during your labor. She is also a meaningful support pillar for your partner, guiding them to feel involved, informed, and supported—so both of you can stay grounded during the experience.
What if there’s a cesarean birth?
Every hospital has its own policies regarding doulas in the operating room. For Planned Cesareans: If permitted, your doula can support you before and after surgery, helping with initial breastfeeding and recovery. In the event of an unplanned cesarean, hospitals do not generally allow doulas to be present in the OR, but some hospitals allow the doula to help with initial breastfeeding.
Your doula provides ongoing emotional, informational, and practical support throughout pregnancy. This includes monthly check-ins (by text or email) to discuss how you’re feeling, prepare for your birth, and explore evidence-based information.
Ahead of your due date, you’ll review what to expect during labor, how to decide when to go to your birthing location, build a birth preference plan, and prepare for the postpartum period. Your doula is officially “on call” from two weeks before to two weeks after your due date—but you can always reach out by call or email!
During Birth
Your birth doula is there to provide continuous labor support, offer both emotional and physical support, and advocate for you. On the physical side, she can offer help with positioning, breathing guidance, massage, and tools like a TENS unit to help you stay comfortable. From an emotional side, she can help you understand your options. She can create space and help you feel confident making choices that are right for you, which may come up during your labor. She is also a meaningful support pillar for your partner, guiding them to feel involved, informed, and supported—so both of you can stay grounded during the experience.
What if there’s a cesarean birth?
Every hospital has its own policies regarding doulas in the operating room. For Planned Cesareans: If permitted, your doula can support you before and after surgery, helping with initial breastfeeding and recovery. In the event of an unplanned cesarean, hospitals do not generally allow doulas to be present in the OR, but some hospitals allow the doula to help with initial breastfeeding.
What Are the Benefits of Working With a Doula?
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Research consistently shows that having a doula leads to more positive birth outcomes. With doula support, people are:
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(Source: Klaus, M.H., Kennell, J.H., & Klaus, P.H. (1993). Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier, and Healthier Birth)
Other benefits include:
For Expat Families:
Our team has extensive experience supporting international and expat families in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia region. Learn more about why doulas are especially valuable for expat families on our Empowered Birthing Blog. We’re also happy to arrange a phone call to explain the role of birth and postpartum doulas.
Other benefits include:
- Having someone continuously present with the birthing parent
- Allowing the partner to relax and feel supported
Having an experienced advocate who understands what’s normal and what’s not
Increased confidence during breastfeeding and early postpartum care
A calmer, more connected birth experience for the whole family
For Expat Families:
Our team has extensive experience supporting international and expat families in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia region. Learn more about why doulas are especially valuable for expat families on our Empowered Birthing Blog. We’re also happy to arrange a phone call to explain the role of birth and postpartum doulas.
What's the Difference Between a Birth Doula and a Midwife?
The word doula comes from Greek and means “a woman who serves.” In modern terms, a doula provides emotional, physical, and informational support during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period—but does not perform medical tasks or administer medication. A midwife or OB, on the other hand, is responsible for the medical care and safety of both parent and baby. Doulas work alongside these medical professionals to provide comprehensive, compassionate support throughout the process.
What Does a Postpartum Doula Do?
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A postpartum doula provides nurturing support for families after the birth, helping everyone adjust to life with a newborn. They assist with newborn care, feeding (including lactation and bottle support), emotional recovery, rest, and household organization. If your baby needs extra support and spends time in the NICU, our doulas can help you navigate that experience and connect with helpful resources.
Learn more about postpartum support with Doula Nathalie & associates here. |
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Questions About the Contract
I see my birth contract covers 18 hours. What happens if I use more or less?
Think of your birth doula like an insurance policy: you may need all 18 hours, and you might need less. The birth contract is up to 18 hours. The Doula wants to be there when it matters most for you, and so it’s a conversation about when they’ll arrive at your home or the birthing location. In the unlikely event that the Doula has been with you for 18 hours and your birth is still ongoing, you may decide to hire her for more hours, if she is available, or call in a backup. You deserve a fresh doula. If you use fewer than 18 hours, those hours are not transferable. We will be happy for you that the labor wasn’t too long.
What happens if the Doula is unavailable during the birth?
Most of the time, your birth doula will be available for your birth. However, life happens, and rarely does a birth occur more quickly or later than anticipated, or an unexpected conflict arise. The benefit of working with DNA is knowing we have several competent doulas on call. In thousands of births, we’ve always provided backup in the case of an unavailable Doula.
Think of your birth doula like an insurance policy: you may need all 18 hours, and you might need less. The birth contract is up to 18 hours. The Doula wants to be there when it matters most for you, and so it’s a conversation about when they’ll arrive at your home or the birthing location. In the unlikely event that the Doula has been with you for 18 hours and your birth is still ongoing, you may decide to hire her for more hours, if she is available, or call in a backup. You deserve a fresh doula. If you use fewer than 18 hours, those hours are not transferable. We will be happy for you that the labor wasn’t too long.
What happens if the Doula is unavailable during the birth?
Most of the time, your birth doula will be available for your birth. However, life happens, and rarely does a birth occur more quickly or later than anticipated, or an unexpected conflict arise. The benefit of working with DNA is knowing we have several competent doulas on call. In thousands of births, we’ve always provided backup in the case of an unavailable Doula.
Insurance and Benefits
Do you take insurance?
Many insurance companies do provide doula coverage. It’s good to check with your own provider to see what they cover. We can provide a superbill for you to use when filing with them for reimbursement, but we do not file on our own.
Medicaid
Some of our doulas are eligible to work with Medicaid clients. If this is a priority for you, just let us know in your inquiry, so we can determine if one is available for your needs.
Many insurance companies do provide doula coverage. It’s good to check with your own provider to see what they cover. We can provide a superbill for you to use when filing with them for reimbursement, but we do not file on our own.
Medicaid
Some of our doulas are eligible to work with Medicaid clients. If this is a priority for you, just let us know in your inquiry, so we can determine if one is available for your needs.
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Carrot Benefits
Carrot is a fertility, birth, and postpartum benefit provided to employees via their employers. Employers may offer different amounts to cover birth and postpartum doula care. Learn more about Carrot here. We have many eligible and registered carrot doulas for both postpartum and birth. Carrot makes it easy for parents to submit for the care provided, and we can provide any necessary documentation. |
Other FAQs
What’s the process to find a doula with DNA?
After you submit an inquiry, we will follow up to ensure we have all the details of your needs. Then, we work with our doulas to see who might be available. Usually, more than one is available, and we’ll suggest a few for you to meet with via Zoom. After you’ve had a chance to meet your potential doulas, let us know who you’d like to move forward with, and we’ll be back in touch with contracting.
My partner is unsure whether a birth/postpartum doula would be good for us. What can I tell them?
While it’s easy to think a doula is only for the birthing parent, it’s good to think about how a doula can positively impact the whole family unit. Labor can be long, and having multiple support people available takes pressure off the non-birthing partner. A doula can help provide tips and ideas for how a partner can support the birthing parent in the moment. A supported birthing parent means a less-stressed family unit as you embark on your first moments as a new family.
After you submit an inquiry, we will follow up to ensure we have all the details of your needs. Then, we work with our doulas to see who might be available. Usually, more than one is available, and we’ll suggest a few for you to meet with via Zoom. After you’ve had a chance to meet your potential doulas, let us know who you’d like to move forward with, and we’ll be back in touch with contracting.
My partner is unsure whether a birth/postpartum doula would be good for us. What can I tell them?
While it’s easy to think a doula is only for the birthing parent, it’s good to think about how a doula can positively impact the whole family unit. Labor can be long, and having multiple support people available takes pressure off the non-birthing partner. A doula can help provide tips and ideas for how a partner can support the birthing parent in the moment. A supported birthing parent means a less-stressed family unit as you embark on your first moments as a new family.