Remember, a Doula is non-medical support! We are not meant to catch your baby or perform clinical tasks. We do not replace your Doctor or Midwife.

Doula [Doo-la] is a Greek word for a woman that serves. 

In regards to birth, a Birth Doula is a person (usually a woman) that attends the birth of their client. The client hires the Doula to provide Emotional, Physical, and Informational support to themselves and their partner during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and immediately after the birth. According to research* it’s been proven that when people in labor receive continuous support from a Doula, they have a: 

• 50% reduction in cesarean rates 

• 60% reduction in epidural requests 

• 40% reduction in the use of Pitocin 

• 25% shorter labor 

• 30% reduction in the use of analgesics 

• 40% reduction in the use of forceps 

• Reported increased maternal satisfaction with their overall birth experience 

*Mothering the Mother, Klaus, Kennell, & Klaus 1993

In regards to postpartum, A Postpartum Doula offers support to someone after they have a baby. The Doula can help with breastfeeding, teaching baby care skills, mental health support, or light housework (as agreed upon) while you're healing and adjusting to life with a new baby! Postpartum looks different for everyone, so your Doula will help you figure out the right level of care that you'll need. 

Want a deeper dive? https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/ 

Did you know that in 2023 Medi-Cal began covering Doula services for their beneficiaries?!  Beginning in 2025, some commercial insurance plans also began covering Doula services. This means that getting a Doula might not cost you anything out of pocket, depending on your insurance coverage and benefits plan. Make sure you ask your insurance company if Doula services are covered and connect with a Doula who takes your plan!

While the coverage of commercial plans can vary, if you are covered my Medi-Cal you'll qualify for the following visits with a Contracted Doula:

• 1 90-minute initial visit

• 8 standard visits that can be used either before or after you have your baby

• Birth support (this includes vaginal births, cesarean births, miscarriage, stillbirth, and abortion)

• 2 3-hour postpartum visits

If more visits are needed, there's a simple form that your Doctor or Midwife can fill out that will give you 9 additional postpartum Doula visits by filling out this form: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Medi-Cal-Doula-Recommendation-postpartum.pdf 

Under the state standing order, all of these visits are available to you from the moment you are confirmed to be pregnant, until 1 year postpartum. If you've already had your baby, and they are still less than 1 year old, you still qualify for Doula services!

In Stanislaus County, the Medi-Cal plans are:

• Health Plan of San Joaquin

• Healthnet* (Medi-Cal)

• Kaiser* (Medi-Cal)

*Healthnet  & Kaiser also have commercial plans that offer similar coverage to their commercial members, but they do not include the 9 additional postpartum sessions for commercial clients.

There is a state standing order in California for Doula services for Medi-Cal members under DHCS. If your patient lets you know they intend to use Doula services, please make a note in their chart. The picture here is representative of the form for you to fill out so your patient can continue getting Doula care if they have used all of the visits covered under the state standing order; this page is commonly referred to as the "9 additional form".  

Here is the link to the form: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Medi-Cal-Doula-Recommendation-postpartum.pdf 

If you are a licensed provider*:

By providing this recommendation of doula services, you acknowledge that the member would benefit from non-clinical Doula services during the postpartum period in addition to appropriate clinical care. A recommendation is not the same as a referral, prescription, or medical order**.

Please use the form pictured here, or another document with the same information. You may provide a recommendation without identifying the Doula who will serve the member. This recommendation authorizes nine postpartum visits up to one year after pregnancy.

*For the Doula benefit, Medi-Cal defines a “licensed provider” as a physician or other licensed practitioner of the healing arts, including nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, licensed midwives, and behavioral health providers, acting within their scope of practice under state law. The recommending licensed provider does not need to be enrolled in Medi-Cal or be a network provider within the beneficiary’s managed care plan.

**Under Medi-Cal, a member who was pregnant within the past year, and would either benefit from Doula services or who requests doula services, would meet the medical necessity criteria for a recommendation for additional postpartum visits from a doula. For more information, visit www.dhcs.ca.gov