Doula
The Doula Partnership of CCM is a collaborative effort of Cayuga Community Health Network, Seven Valleys Health Coalition (Cortland County), and the Madison County Rural Health Council to promote and provide doula services for community members who qualify as low-income and may have challenges accessing prenatal, birth, and postnatal support.
What is a doula?
A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.
Differences between a birth doula and a midwife
Doula
- A certified, non-medical birth coach
- Does not provide medical care, give medical advice, or make medical decisions for the pregnant person
- Provides continuous support and encouragement -- both physically and emotionally
- Teaches techniques for pain management in advance
- Offers suggestions for more comfortable positions during labor, and providing guidance, support, and soothing massage during labor
Both Doula & Midwife
- Are trained to provide support to the pregnant individual prenatally, during the birth, and postnatally
Midwife
- A trained medical professional who will provide medical care such as monitoring vital signs, performing vaginal exams and delivering the child
- Provides medical care, give medical advice, or make medical decisions for the pregnant person
Become a Referring Partner
Through this new partnership and program, we desire to help construct a more robust and supportive network of woman-focused care for low-income community members but we can’t do it alone!
If you would like to become a referring partner, please download our information packet below or contact us using the form linked below.
Want to learn more?
If you would like to learn more about this upcoming program, please click the button below to download our information packet.
What about liability?
Doulas trained and associated with the Doula Partnership of CCM are required to carry their own liability insurance and work as independent birth support attendants with no affiliation to the provider, program, organization, or business in which any doula activities would be taking place.
Why work with a doula?
Benefits of working with a doula
A doula will provide resources and information to support pregnant individuals in understanding their options to make the best decisions about their birth plans. Evidence from the 2017 Report from the Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization shows that birth outcomes – for both the birthing person and the baby – are often improved with the presence of a doula.
- Shorten labor by 41 minutes on average
- Increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth by 15%
- Decrease in the risk of Cesarean birth by 39%
- Decrease the use of any medications for pain relief by 10%
- Decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five-minute Apgar score by 38%
- Decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience (in a hospital setting) by 31%
Become a DONA-approved Birthing Doula
Join us for an engaging birth doula training led by Beautiful Birth Choices by DONA International that will put you on the path to certification. In this 3-day course, you will gain practical skills to assist you in beginning a successful doula career!
What you will learn at the training:
Stages & Phases of Labor
Prenatal Support
Pain and Comfort in Labor
Emotional and Physical Support
Cesarean Birth & VBAC
Postpartum Visits
How to secure your required liability insurance
and more!
Additional Training Details
Breakfast and lunch will be provided each day.
All books and training supplies will be provided.
All class materials and breakfast and lunch for the full course, valued at over $600 made possible by a grant through the Health Foundation for Western Central NY.
All attendees who complete the 3-day training will agree to receive referrals from the Doula Partnership of CCM for at least three births, within a three-year window, but are not limited to working exclusively with the Doula Partnership of CCM.*
Learn more about birth doula certification requirements at DONA International.
What
This three-day comprehensive training is the foundation toward certification as a birth doula. This training will prepare you to support pregnant individuals at all stages: pre-natal, labor and delivery, and post-natal.
When
November 11, 12, & 13, 2022
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Attendance for all three days is required.
Where
The Hampton Inn
15 Lakers Lane, Cazenovia, NY
Light breakfast, lunch, and refreshments are provided each day.
Get Started
*Please note, that all applications are required to go through an interviewing process before being accepted into the training class.
Space is limited, so enroll today for this training offered at no cost to you!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to DONA International, a birth doula is “a trained professional who provides
continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and
shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.”
A doula will provide resources and information to support the pregnant individual in
understanding their options to make the best decisions about their birth plan. *Evidence shows
that birth outcomes – for both the birthing person and the baby – are often improved with the
presence of a doula. Having support from a doula has been reported to:
- Shorten labor by 41 minutes on average
- Increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth by 15%
- Decrease in the risk of Cesarean birth by 39%
- Decrease the use of any medications for pain relief by 10%
- Decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five-minute Apgar score by 38%
- Decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience (in a hospital setting) by
31%
*2017 Report from the Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health
Organization
Both a doula and midwife are trained to provide support to the pregnant individual prenatally,
during the birth, and postnatally. A doula is a certified, non-medical birth coach who does not
provide medical care, give medical advice, or make medical decisions for the pregnant person.
The doula is present to provide continuous support and encouragement — both physically and
emotionally — including teaching techniques for pain management in advance, offering
suggestions for more comfortable positions during labor, and providing guidance, support,
and soothing massage during labor. The midwife is a trained medical professional who will
provide medical care such as monitoring vital signs, performing vaginal exams and delivering
the child.
A birth doula is involved to support the pregnant individual at home (prenatally and
postnatally) and during labor. They do not offer medical advice or interfere with the care from
the provider. During labor and delivery, their focus is wholly on the emotional needs and
physical comfort of the pregnant individual and their role does not conflict with the roles of the
nursing or medical staff at the hospital.
Our trained Birth Doulas will offer three prenatal visits, advocacy and support at the hospital
during labor and delivery, and three postpartum visits.
There is no out-of-pocket cost for low-income pregnant individuals to work with a birth doula
through the Doula Partnership of Cayuga, Cortland, and Madison.
Doula services through the Doula Partnership of Cayuga, Cortland, and Madison are available
to low-income pregnant residents living in one of those counties. Cayuga has an ongoing
program with current openings for pregnant individuals. Cortland and Madison will be
enrolling pregnant individuals for the 2023 term. Please contact us to get connected with a
program representative to enroll a patient or client or to have them enroll themselves
directly.
