What Is a Birth Doula? The Truth About the Career

What is it really like to work as a birth doula?

In this episode of Time We Discuss, I’m talking with Dr. Roxanne Green, a certified perinatal doula, to find out what it actually takes to build a career supporting families before, during, and after childbirth.

Roxanne explains what a birth doula actually does, what it is like working with clients during pregnancy, and what happens when labor begins. We also talk about something I initially misunderstood: doulas do not only work with home births. Many doulas work in hospitals, and some hospitals are even beginning to employ doulas directly.

We also get into the realities of making a living as a doula, including how doulas structure their services, how many births they may handle each month, Medicaid reimbursement, private pay clients, and the unpredictable schedule that comes with being on call for childbirth.

Roxanne also explains how certification works, whether you actually need to be certified, and why certification can be important when working with certain hospitals.

And there are some things about this career that might surprise you. You do not have to be a woman to become a doula, and you do not have to have personally given birth. We also talk about postpartum support and some of the unusual services a doula might provide, from overnight care to helping a family attend a special event.

If you have ever wondered how to become a birth doula, what a doula does, how much a doula can make, or whether working as a doula could be the right career for you, this conversation offers a firsthand look at the profession.

ABOUT ROXANNE GREEN

Dr. Roxanne Green is a certified perinatal doula and the founder and CEO of Epiphany Parents and Village, LLC. She provides coaching, advocacy, resources, education, and support to families before, during, and after childbirth.

Her experience working with pregnant and parenting youth helped inspire her path into doula work, and she now supports families throughout the Philadelphia area.

WHAT WE DISCUSS

• What a birth doula actually does
• Working with families during pregnancy
• Supporting clients during labor
• Working in hospitals
• The difference between a doula and a midwife
• How unpredictable a doula's schedule can be
• How doulas structure their services and pricing
• Medicaid and insurance reimbursement
• Private pay doula services
• How many births a doula may handle each month
• Doula certification and training
• Whether you need to have given birth to become a doula
• Male doulas and doulos
• Postpartum support
• Building a career as a professional doula

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Timestamp:
0:00 - Intro
0:42 - What is a birth doula?
1:13 - When in the pregnancy do you usually get clients?
2:36 - How often does a doula meet with the expecting mother?
3:02 - Role at the doctor's appointment
4:02 - Birth doulas vs. Midwives
5:52 - Managing long labor
7:38 - Doula pricing structure
8:06 - Doulas, Medicaid, and Health Insurance
10:29 - Additional roles during postpartum
11:53 - Why become a doula?
15:23 - Typical caseload for a professional doula
17:06 - Death doulas
18:14 - How to become a certified perinatal doula
21:44 - Can anyone be a doula including men, non-parents?
24:31 - Roxanne Green, Certified Perinatal Doula
26:03 - Highlights
28:09 - Salary: How Much Do Doulas Make?
28:57 - Outro

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Guest Information:

Dr. Roxanne Green

Also Mentioned Directly or Indirectly in This Episode:

• What It's Really Like to Be a Midwife (Amanda Snyder)
• How to Become a Board Certified Health Coach
• Holistic Health Practitioner

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