What does a doula do?
All doulas work within a different scope of practice! For me, the most important aspects of my practice are around access to evidence based information and informed consent. A doula acts as a liaison between the care team and client to ensure you know all the information about the choices being offered to you. This includes benefits, risks, and options surrounding interventions and different approaches to pregnancy birth, and postpartum. Leading up to the birth and postpartum, doulas help prepare you for what to expect and different strategies to use. During birth and postpartum, a doula assists with decisions and advocacy in the moment. A doula also offers physical comfort measures and emotional support for birth, postpartum, and other reproductive transitions including abortion. Some doulas offer similar services for end of life care. I do not offer end of life care at this time.
What is the difference between a doula and a midwife?
A midwife is a healthcare clinician who provides primary care throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. A midwife possesses skills to give you and your baby medical attention. A doula is not a clinician. Rather, a doula is a trained support person who provides comfort measures, emotional support, informational support, and advocacy for you throughout the period you choose to work with them.
Can my doula attend hospital births, or only home births?
While all doulas possess different scopes of practice, many birth doulas work both in the hospital and at home! Through advocacy and comfort measures, doulas can offer a lot of help in the hospital to support a birth that you feel satisfied with. I support births in all environments, including home, hospital, and birth centres.
Are doulas covered by OHIP?
OHIP does not cover doula care, however many insurance companies provide some reimbursement for doulas who are certified with reputable regulating bodies, such as DONA, CAPPA, or Doula Canada. Since I am certified with DONA, I offer receipts for birth contracts. Ask your doula when you interview whether they are able to provide a receipt to claim for insurance. Please note that while I am able to provide birth receipts, I do not currently offer receipts for postpartum, sibling, and abortion care.
Is doula care regulated in Ontario?
Doula care is not regulated in Ontario. Doulas in Ontario may choose to be certified or uncertified. Certifying means that doulas have completed certifying front line work, coursework, and written requirements. However, uncertified doulas also possess a wealth of experience and skill. Doulas may choose to certify or not certify for a variety of reasons, including accessibility, values, and the populations they wish to serve. I am certified as a birth doula with DONA, meaning my work is regulated through Doulas of North America.
Would I still benefit from a doula if I have a partner who wants to be involved in my labour?
Absolutely! I am trained to work with and support everyone on your care team, including partners and family. Doulas can offer comfort, advice, and emotional support to members of the birthing parents’ family. Pressure on the partner is decreased so they can participate in the birth at the level they feel comfortable with and we work together to support labour. If the partner wishes, the doula can offer suggestions for support. We work as a team!
When do you call your backup doula?
I call my backup doula in any case that I am unable to attend part or all of your birth, or in the case that the need for labour support runs longer than I have capacity for on my own. This usually falls around the 18 hour mark, though it changes depending on the time of day or night that I arrive at a birth.
All doulas work within a different scope of practice! For me, the most important aspects of my practice are around access to evidence based information and informed consent. A doula acts as a liaison between the care team and client to ensure you know all the information about the choices being offered to you. This includes benefits, risks, and options surrounding interventions and different approaches to pregnancy birth, and postpartum. Leading up to the birth and postpartum, doulas help prepare you for what to expect and different strategies to use. During birth and postpartum, a doula assists with decisions and advocacy in the moment. A doula also offers physical comfort measures and emotional support for birth, postpartum, and other reproductive transitions including abortion. Some doulas offer similar services for end of life care. I do not offer end of life care at this time.
What is the difference between a doula and a midwife?
A midwife is a healthcare clinician who provides primary care throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. A midwife possesses skills to give you and your baby medical attention. A doula is not a clinician. Rather, a doula is a trained support person who provides comfort measures, emotional support, informational support, and advocacy for you throughout the period you choose to work with them.
Can my doula attend hospital births, or only home births?
While all doulas possess different scopes of practice, many birth doulas work both in the hospital and at home! Through advocacy and comfort measures, doulas can offer a lot of help in the hospital to support a birth that you feel satisfied with. I support births in all environments, including home, hospital, and birth centres.
Are doulas covered by OHIP?
OHIP does not cover doula care, however many insurance companies provide some reimbursement for doulas who are certified with reputable regulating bodies, such as DONA, CAPPA, or Doula Canada. Since I am certified with DONA, I offer receipts for birth contracts. Ask your doula when you interview whether they are able to provide a receipt to claim for insurance. Please note that while I am able to provide birth receipts, I do not currently offer receipts for postpartum, sibling, and abortion care.
Is doula care regulated in Ontario?
Doula care is not regulated in Ontario. Doulas in Ontario may choose to be certified or uncertified. Certifying means that doulas have completed certifying front line work, coursework, and written requirements. However, uncertified doulas also possess a wealth of experience and skill. Doulas may choose to certify or not certify for a variety of reasons, including accessibility, values, and the populations they wish to serve. I am certified as a birth doula with DONA, meaning my work is regulated through Doulas of North America.
Would I still benefit from a doula if I have a partner who wants to be involved in my labour?
Absolutely! I am trained to work with and support everyone on your care team, including partners and family. Doulas can offer comfort, advice, and emotional support to members of the birthing parents’ family. Pressure on the partner is decreased so they can participate in the birth at the level they feel comfortable with and we work together to support labour. If the partner wishes, the doula can offer suggestions for support. We work as a team!
When do you call your backup doula?
I call my backup doula in any case that I am unable to attend part or all of your birth, or in the case that the need for labour support runs longer than I have capacity for on my own. This usually falls around the 18 hour mark, though it changes depending on the time of day or night that I arrive at a birth.
