doula \DOO-luh\, noun: an experienced woman who helps a new mother through birth

CHC's largest program, The Harris Doula Institute, replicates our community-based doula model across the country. We use a unique framework for replication of this innovative and effective parent-infant support model. We will help you recruit, train, develop, and support community-based doulas to impact your community's needs.

What is a community-based doula?

• A trained indigenous community leader who mentors pregnant women during the months of pregnancy, birth and the immediate post-partum period. 
• Community-based doula programs succeed because the doulas are of and from the same community as their clients and are able to bridge language and cultural barriers in order to meet health needs.
• Doulas spend up to 100 hours with each family they serve, providing pregnancy and childbirth education, early linkage to health care and social services, labor coaching, breastfeeding education & counseling, and parenting skills while fostering parental attachment.

What are some positive outcomes of using a community-based doula?
Community-based doula programs improve infant health, strengthen families, and establish supports to ensure ongoing family success, including:

• Improved prenatal care
• Fewer pre-term births
• Increased breastfeeding rates
• Increased birth weight
• Fewer medical interventions
• Fewer c-section deliveries
• More positive birth experiences
• Increased mother-child interaction
• Improved parenting skills
• Delay in subsequent pregnancy for teenager

What are the immediate cost-savings of the community-based doula program?

• Each averted c-section and epidural saves thousands of Medicaid dollars
• Additional cost-savings possible due to reduced length of stay in hospital
• Increased breastfeeding saves public health anywhere from $300 to $1,400 per child
• Increased breastfeeding saves families $500