What does a Doula do?

A Doula meets pregnant people’s physical, emotional, spiritual and educational needs, playing an important role in the prenatal and postnatal care team. Performing their prenatal Doula duties allows expectant parents to feel prepared for delivery and more in control of their care.

During labor and delivery, Doulas help clients feel as comfortable as possible. When they execute their postpartum Doula job description duties proficiently, they help parents recover from labor and delivery and reduce the stress associated with newborn care. Overall, a Doula contributes to better outcomes for pregnant people and can improve patient satisfaction rates for hospitals and birth centers.

Doula skills and qualifications

To perform the duties outlined in a Prenatal and Postpartum Doula job description, candidates need key skills. Some qualifications that can help candidates execute Doula duties include:

• Knowledge of child birthing and nursing techniques, non-medicinal pain management strategies and childcare best practices

• Interpersonal skills to inspire trust and build strong relationships with clients

• Active listening skills to fully understand clients’ preferences and needs

• Verbal communication skills to facilitate conversations with clients, their families and medical providers

• Problem-solving skills to manage issues that arise during and after delivery

• Organizational and time management skills to deliver care for multiple clients at one time

• Computer skills for emailing, client relationship management, billing and using word processing software

• Recordkeeping skills to log hours worked and services performed

Doula experience requirements

Generally, a candidate needs previous birthing experience to perform their job duties. They might acquire this experience through a formal training program or volunteering to assist friends and family during birth. Previous experience with infant care, such as working as a babysitter or a daycare teacher, may also be beneficial. When determining how much experience to list as a requirement in your Doula job description, consider the level of supervision available. If your new hire will be working independently, you may wish to list a few years of birthing experience as a mandatory qualification.

Doula education and training requirements

There are generally no formal education requirements for Doulas. However, many Doulas attend workshops or training programs, some of which award certificates or diplomas.

A Doula may need to meet minimum education or training requirements if your organization participates in Medicaid. Often, Doulas can fulfill these requirements by earning a certification through an approved organization like Doulas of North America International (DONA) or the Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA). Even if your organization doesn’t participate in Medicaid, you may prefer to hire candidates who have obtained a birth Doula certification.

Job description samples for similar positions

If this Doula job description isn’t exactly what you’re looking for, consider the descriptions for these related positions:

• Certified Nursing Midwife

• Labor and Delivery Nurse

• Midwife

• OB-GYN

Doula job description FAQs

What is an End-of-Life Doula?

An End-of-Life Doula is a less common type of Doula who provides support for terminally ill people and their families. They undergo different training than Birth Doulas but still perform similar duties, such as creating care and support plans and listening to clients’ fears and concerns.

How is a Doula different from a Nurse-Midwife?

A Nurse-Midwife is a Registered Nurse who receives advanced training in childbirth, allowing them to perform deliveries, prescribe medications and deliver medical care. Since Doulas typically don’t have medical training, they focus on meeting clients’ emotional and comfort-related needs.

How is a Lactation Consultant different from a Postpartum Doula?

A Lactation Consultant assists new parents with breastfeeding. While this task may be a duty listed in a Postpartum Doula job description, Doulas also assist new parents in ways that Lactation Consultants don’t, including providing child care or preparing meals for families.