Program Overview

Doulas seek to foster a healthy parent-child attachment, which encourages healthy protective factors leading to increased health outcomes, emotionally and physically, strengthen familial relationships, stronger sense of self causing success in academia and professionally.

Services and Programs:

Support for pregnant Somali women:

Pre-natal support with doulas and mothers/families will have a supportive educational component. Education around choices over ones’ body, birthing choices and parenting choices will be discussed. Different models will be presented to cover a broad spectrum of life that is culturally specific and appropriate for each family. Doulas will assist with creating a birth plan, so these choices will be present throughout the birth increasing outcomes of the birth the mother has chosen. We will also accompany Somali women and their partners to pre-natal check-ups; attending these pre-natal visits are often a time of stress and anxiety due to cultural barriers such as language and religious beliefs. One Birth doulas will help navigate and advocate for Somali families, if this is a service they request. Doulas will also talk with mothers/parents around what to expect in the final trimester of pregnancy and post-partum.

Birthing support will begin when a woman’s contractions begin and when she feels the need for support. Some women may remain with mild contractions for a period of time before contacting their doula. The doula will then remain with the womenn/partner/family until two hours post-birth. During this time, the doula will be present throughout contractions to support women in ways that are appropriate to them. She will also help facilitate communication between the laboring women, her partner and clinical care providers. The doula will also advocate to ensure that every woman’s birth plan is followed accordingly. The doula will not make medical decisions or provide clinical care.

Postpartum support involve education, companionship and nonjudgmental support during the postpartum fourth trimester. The doula will assist with newborn care, family adjustments, meal preparation and light household tidying. Doulas will also support infant feeding/breastfeeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, infant soothing and coping skills for new parents and make appropriate referrals when necessary.