Doula Scope of Practice

Purpose

A Community Perinatal Doula provides non-clinical, culturally responsive emotional, physical comfort, and informational support from pregnancy through postpartum to reduce barriers to perinatal care and strengthen continuity of support. Through education, guidance, and advocacy support, the doula strengthens health literacy, practical parenting and feeding skills, client confidence and self-advocacy, and a supported care experience while honoring client autonomy.

Scope of Services

Prenatal

A Community Perinatal Doula may provide education about pregnancy and the childbirth process, emotional support, birth preferences and planning support, appointment preparation (questions and priorities), navigation support (referrals, scheduling, transportation and childcare problem-solving, insurance access), and connection to community resources.

Labor and birth

A Community Perinatal Doula may provide continuous non-medical labor support and comfort measures, coping strategies, and communication support to help clients voice questions, preferences, and concerns. The doula reinforces informed consent and shared decision-making, supports partners/support people, and provides emotional support after unexpected outcomes (transfer, operative birth, NICU, loss).

Postpartum and early parenting

A Community Perinatal Doula may provide adjustment and recovery education, self-care and support planning, newborn and infant parenting education (infant cues, soothing, sleep rhythms, diapering, bathing, and safe sleep), and non-clinical infant feeding support and guidance for lactation, pumping, formula, or combination feeding. Support may include positioning and comfort suggestions, normal feeding patterns, and confidence-building, with care continuity support for postpartum and pediatric follow-up.

Communication and advocacy support (all phases)

A Community Perinatal Doula may help clients prepare for visits, ask questions, request needed supports (including requesting interpretation per policy), and communicate preferences respectfully, reinforcing client autonomy.

Referral and escalation

A Community Perinatal Doula connects clients to OB/midwife care, pediatric care, IBCLC, mental health, social services, and urgent or emergency care when needs exceed scope or warning signs arise, including suspected child abuse.

Out of Scope

Community Perinatal Doulas do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and do not perform clinical tasks (vitals, exams, fetal monitoring, medications). Doulas do not manage emergencies (they support activating urgent/emergency care), do not replace licensed providers (OB/midwife, pediatrician, mental health clinician, IBCLC), and do not provide medical interpretation when certified interpretation is required or prohibited by policy.

Scope-safe language (examples)

We teach doulas to use clear, respectful “scope language” in real situations, such as: “I cannot take blood pressure or interpret it medically, but I can help you contact your provider today,” and “I cannot serve as the medical interpreter, but I can help you request a certified interpreter and write down your questions.”

Applicability

This policy applies to all certified Community Perinatal Doulas and is a condition of certification and recertification.