If you are looking for extra support during your pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period, doulas and community health workers can be excellent resources! This section explains what these are and how you can find them.
Doulas
What is a doula?
Community-based doulas are trained, nonmedical professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.
Doulas do:
- Provide continuous source of comfort and encouragement
- Support patients during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum
- Facilitate communication between patients and providers
- Reduce a birthing parent 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
Doulas don’t:
- 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
In Virginia, what is a state-certified doula? How do I find one?
In Virginia, a state-certified doula is a community-based doula that has received at least 60 hours of training in specific topics. Doulas are not required to be state-certified in order to practice, but all doulas are welcome to apply for state certification.
The Virginia Certification Board maintains a registry of state-certified doulas. You can search for doulas by name, ethnicity, gender, and location.
Does my health insurance cover doula services?
If you have Medicaid, state-certified doula services may be covered. Visit the Medicaid website for information about Medicaid coverage.
If you have private health insurance, call and ask if they cover doula services.
Virginia is in the process of implementing a law passed in 2024. It requires that most private health insurance companies provide coverage for doula care services. Companies that cover obstetrical services will be impacted. They will be required to cover the doula care services offered by a state-certified doula. This would include covering at least eight visits before and after childbirth. The coverage would also include support during labor and delivery. However, the State Corporation Commission (SCC) has not yet included doula care on its list of mandated benefits and offers. The SCC is the entity that regulates health insurance plans in Virginia.
If your insurance does not cover doula care, you may be able get support with paying out of pocket. Doulas in your area may work with families on a sliding fee scale so the care is affordable, or they may help a certain number of families at no cost as part of their practice. Contacting any doula organizations in the state might be helpful in finding someone that is able to help.
How can I become a doula myself?
A variety of training organizations offer training for aspiring doulas. If you want to become a state-certified doula, The Virginia Certification Board maintains a list of approved trainers for Virginia’s State-Certified Doula program.
Community Health Workers (CHWs)
What is a Community Health Worker? How can they support me?
A Community Health Worker (CHW) is a frontline public health worker. CHWs are trusted members of the community. They link community members to health and social services. CHWs may be known by several other names, including but not limited to:
- outreach worker
- lay health promoter
- family advocate
- peer leader
- promotores de salud
How do I find a CHW?
CHWs work at a variety of organizations across Virginia. To find a CHW, contact your local health department or the Virginia Community Health Workers Association (VACHWA).
How can I become a CHW myself?
A variety of organizations offer training for aspiring CHWs. The Virginia Certification Board maintains a list of approved trainers. The list is for Virginia’s Certified Community Health Worker program.
All CHWs are invited to join the Virginia Community Health Workers Association (VACHWA). VACHWA offers resources, trainings, and networking opportunities for CHWs across the Commonwealth.
What other kinds of supportive people or organizations may be available to me throughout my pregnancy and postpartum (after birth)?
There are some community-based organizations who provide a range of perinatal support services for women throughout pregnancy and postpartum. They are sometimes called “perinatal health hubs.” Hubs seek to ensure that patients and their families are receiving coordinated and comprehensive care. Care is tailored to individuals’ specific needs. Their services could include the following:
- care coordination
- clinical services such as mental health counseling
- education
- lactation support
- referrals to resources
- supplies for mom and baby
VDH will be partnering with existing and new perinatal health hubs to expand the availability of these services in the coming year. VDH will include information on partner organizations here once they have been selected.