If you are a Virginia Medicaid member and are pregnant or have given birth within the last six months ….

  • You are eligible for community doula care to provide you physical, emotional, and informational support before, during and after you give birth.

  • Your doula must get a licensed practitioner’s recommendation to provide this care under the VA Medicaid program.

  • You can request a recommendation from a doctor, midwife or nurse and give it to your doula.

  • You can ask for a recommendation even if you don’t know who your doula will be yet.

What Doulas DO

Provide a continuous source of comfort & encouragement

Support patients during antepartum, labor, and postpartum

Facilitate communication between patients and providers

Reduce a birthing person’s and/or partner’s? anxiety

Improve parent-baby bonding post birth

Improve the odds of breastfeeding success

Reduce the risk of cesarean birth and amount of pain medication used in labor

What Doulas DON’T DO

Provide medical care or advice

Diagnose medical conditions

Perform tasks such as blood pressure monitoring, fetal heart rate checks, or vaginal exams

Make decisions for the patient

Pressure a patient’s decision

Certified Doulas provide support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum including physical support. emotional comfort, information, instruction, and advocacy.