Articles on doula training, certification, recognition and building a practice from Birth & Baby University.
A hospital's policies decide whether you can enter triage, whether your client may eat in labor, how monitoring is done and who may stay in an operating room. They differ by hospital and change…
Read the article: Understanding Hospital Policies: What Birth Doulas Should Know Before Attending a BirthClients ask doulas why labor starts, why it stalls, and what their body is doing. A clear answer builds trust. An overconfident one can slide into promises that physiology cannot keep. This article summarizes…
Read the article: The Physiology of Labor: What Every Birth Doula Should UnderstandDoulas often describe the same feeling with different words: tired, flat, numb, on edge, done. Some of those words come from the research literature and some come from the culture of caregiving, and they…
Read the article: Compassion Fatigue Versus Burnout: Understanding the Differences for Birth WorkersAfter birth the uterus contracts and sheds its lining, and the discharge, called lochia, can last for weeks. Families are often told "it will stop at six weeks," then find the real picture is…
Read the article: Understanding Uterine Involution and Normal Postpartum BleedingFew topics generate more worry in the newborn weeks than milk supply. Parents compare feeding times, pump output and the weight of a baby against numbers from friends or the internet. A postpartum doula…
Read the article: Understanding Milk Production: The Hormonal and Physiological Science of LactationDoula certification cost in 2026 ranges widely because there’s no standardized licensure. The advertised tuition is rarely the full story—most programs add membership dues, exam fees, textbooks, and recurring recertification costs. To find your…
Read the article: Doula Certification Cost: What You’ll Actually Pay in 2026Postpartum depression gets most of the attention in classes and handouts, but anxiety is at least as common, and it can look like being a careful new parent. Doulas often see a client's worry…
Read the article: Postpartum Anxiety: Why It Deserves as Much Attention as Postpartum DepressionNew parents often ask when the baby will "know day from night." The question sounds simple, and the answer involves several different things that develop on different timelines: the internal body clock, the hormones…
Read the article: The Science of Circadian Rhythm Development in InfantsA gestational diabetes diagnosis can bring fear, guilt and a sudden schedule of finger-sticks and appointments. Doulas are well placed to offer emotional and practical support, but this is a medical condition managed by…
Read the article: Supporting Families Experiencing Gestational Diabetes: What Doulas Need to KnowWarm water is a familiar part of comfort support, and many clients ask about it. Evidence for water immersion in the first stage is reasonably consistent. Evidence and professional opinion about giving birth in…
Read the article: Hydrotherapy During Labor: What Research Says About Pain Relief and Birth OutcomesPage 20 of 23
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