METRO DETROIT BIRTH DOULA AGENCY

A birth doula, sometimes called a labor doula, is a trained professional who provides physical, educational, and emotional support throughout pregnancy, labor, and birth. We help you navigate the challenges of labor with practical, evidence-based guidance, hands-on physical comfort, and emotional reassurance to help you achieve the best possible birth experience.

How Do We Support You?

PHYSICAL SUPPORT
Labor can be physically demanding, but we are trained in techniques that not only ease discomfort but also help labor progress more efficiently. By using specific positions to encourage optimal baby positioning, along with massage, counter-pressure, and movement, we help reduce pain, keep labor moving, and lower the likelihood of interventions.

UNWAVERING, PERSONALIZED SUPPORT
Unlike hospital staff who have other patients to care for and may need to divide their attention, we are there solely for you. Our only priority is you and your family.

ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATION
We act as the liaison between you and your medical team, helping to ensure your voice is heard and your birth plan is respected. While we don’t make medical decisions or speak on your behalf, we help you understand what’s happening, explain your options, and empower you to make informed decisions. This guidance can be invaluable in moments when decisions need to be made quickly.

EMOTIONAL REASSURANCE
And if things don’t go exactly as planned, we are the calm in the chaos. We’ll do everything we can to honor your birth plan, advocating for your wishes and helping you stay in control. If changes arise, we’ll guide you through your options with clarity and care, so you can make decisions that feel right for you. With us by your side, you’ll have the confidence of knowing you’re supported by professionals who are prepared for anything.

While both doulas and midwives play important roles in supporting you during pregnancy and birth, their responsibilities are very different—and they complement each other beautifully. You don’t have to choose one or the other; in fact, having both can enhance your birth experience tremendously.

Midwives focus on giving you a safe birth, ensuring the health and well-being of you and your baby.

Doulas focus on giving you a great birth, making the experience as comfortable, empowering, and supported as possible.

MIDWIVES: Your Medical Care Providers

Midwives are healthcare professionals who provide medical care throughout pregnancy, labor, and delivery. They are responsible for ensuring the health and safety of both you and your baby. Some of the clinical tasks midwives perform include:

• Cervical Exams: Checking dilation and effacement during labor.
• Fetal Monitoring: Using tools like a Doppler or electronic fetal monitor to check the baby’s heart rate and well-being.
• Administering Medications: Such as Pitocin to induce or augment labor, or pain relief options like nitrous oxide.
• Managing Complications: Monitoring for and addressing issues like high blood pressure, stalled labor, or signs of distress in the baby.
• Delivering the Baby: Catching the baby during birth and ensuring a safe delivery.
• Postpartum Care: Monitoring bleeding, stitching tears, and assessing the health of both the birthing person and baby immediately after delivery.

DOULAS: Your Non-Medical Support Team

Doulas are trained professionals who provide continuous emotional, physical, and informational support during pregnancy, labor, and birth. Here’s how we help create a great birth experience:

• Positioning for Progress: We suggest and assist with positions that encourage labor to progress and help your baby move into an optimal position for birth.
• Comfort Techniques: From massage and counter-pressure to breathing exercises, we use hands-on techniques to reduce pain and help you stay calm and focused.
• Emotional Support: We provide reassurance and encouragement to help you feel confident and in control, even during challenging moments.
• Partner Support: We guide your spouse or birth partner, giving them tools to support you effectively. We also step in so they can take breaks, ensuring they don’t feel overwhelmed or pressured to know everything.
• Advocacy and Communication: We help you understand what’s happening, explain your options, and ensure your voice is heard. While we don’t make medical decisions or speak on your behalf, we empower you to advocate for yourself.

By prioritizing your comfort, confidence, and emotional well-being, we help to make your birth a positive and memorable experience.

Why Have Both?

Midwives and doulas work together to provide a well-rounded birth experience. Your midwife ensures you and your baby are safe and healthy, while your doula offers continuous, hands-on support—helping with positioning, pain management, and guidance to keep labor progressing smoothly.

While midwives focus on clinical care, doulas focus on your overall experience, ensuring you feel informed, supported, and physically cared for throughout the process.

Together, we create the perfect combination of medical expertise and practical, personalized care - giving you both a safe and empowering birth.

Birth classes are an excellent way to prepare for labor, but they can’t replace the continuous, personalized support of a doula. While classes provide valuable knowledge, it usually takes an expert who is already familiar with birth to know when and how to use those tools in real time.

Labor is unpredictable, and even with preparation, it’s hard to anticipate every challenge or decision you might face.

Your doula takes the pressure off you and your partner to remember everything from class. We’re there to adapt to the moment, offering physical comfort measures, emotional reassurance, and guidance when it matters most.

Beyond pain management and breathing techniques, your doula is deeply familiar with the ins and outs of the hospital environment.

We can help you understand what’s normal, what to expect, and when to ask questions, giving you peace of mind in the moment.

It’s also nice to have an extra set of hands. If your partner needs to take a break, step out, or recharge, your doula is there to stay by your side.

Unlike hospital staff who have multiple responsibilities, your doula’s only job is to focus on your comfort, ensuring you feel supported and cared for throughout the entire process.

Think of a doula as the bridge between what you’ve learned in class and the reality of your birth experience.

We help you apply that knowledge, stay calm, and navigate the unexpected, ensuring you feel safe, heard, and supported the entire time.

It’s a question many partners ask: “Can’t I just be the doula?” And the short answer is, yes, they absolutely can—especially if they’re already trained in labor techniques, pain management, and the emotional rollercoaster of childbirth.

However, unless your partner has extensive experience in these areas, this may not be the ideal moment to take on such a demanding role alone.

Being a birth partner is one of the most meaningful and challenging roles someone can have. It requires physical stamina, familiarity with comfort techniques, and the ability to navigate the unexpected.

Labor can last 20+ hours, and the demands can be overwhelming.

Support during birth isn’t just holding your hand or saying, “You’ve got this.” It’s about knowing how to apply counterpressure for hours, helping with breathing techniques, advocating for your needs with the medical team, and staying calm and confident through every twist and turn.

That’s a lot to ask of anyone, especially when emotions are running high.

While Michigan Family Doulas highly recommends the Bradley Method for preparing your partner to be your birth coach (and we proudly teach Bradley classes ourselves), even the most prepared partners can feel uncertain in the moment.

A doula takes the pressure off your partner so they don’t have to remember everything they learned in class.

We’re there to remind your partner of what they already know, guide them through comfort techniques, and provide the answers and reassurance needed on one of the most important days of your life.

DOULAS AND PARTNERS

• A doula’s role is not to replace your partner but to enhance their ability to support you.
• We provide continuous care, assist with physical comfort measures like positioning and massage, and help communicate your preferences to the medical team. We also step in when your partner needs a moment to rest, ensuring that both of you feel supported throughout the process.
• With a doula by your side, your partner can focus on being fully present with you, without the added stress of trying to manage every detail.
• For partners who may worry about being sidelined, it’s important to understand that a doula’s presence often strengthens their role. By offering guidance and support, a doula empowers your partner to be more engaged, not less.
• Many partners find that having a doula deepens their connection to the birthing experience, as they feel more prepared and confident in their role, rather than overwhelmed and unsure.

If your partner has concerns, we encourage you both to meet with one of our doulas.

This is an opportunity to discuss their role, address any questions, and ensure that everyone feels comfortable and aligned.

After all, this is someone you are inviting into your birth space, and it’s essential that you feel confident in their ability to support your family.

At Michigan Family Doulas, we’re committed to providing exceptional care for the entire family. Whether it’s helping your partner advocate for you, guiding them through comfort techniques, or simply offering an extra set of hands, we’re here to ensure that your birth experience is as positive and empowering as possible.

Not at all! In fact, many of our clients are parents who’ve already had a baby.

Often, it’s those who’ve experienced birth before—whether with or without a doula—who truly understand the value of having continuous, personalized care.

Maybe your first birth didn’t go as planned, and you’re hoping for a more empowering, redemptive experience this time—one where you feel more in control, informed, and confident.

Every birth is unique, and a doula can help you approach this one with greater clarity, preparation, and peace of mind, no matter your past experiences.

Absolutely. In fact, most of the births we attend take place in hospitals, and that’s exactly where having a doula can make the biggest difference.

While doctors and nurses are exceptional at what they do, unfortunately hospitals don’t always prioritize your best interests, especially when it comes to respecting your rights and providing informed consent.

The fast-paced environment often leaves little room for patience, and what feels urgent or mandatory is often not.

At Michigan Family Doulas, we know how hospitals operate—we understand the system, the policies, and the processes.

We work alongside your medical team, never in place of them. Our role is to complement the care you’re receiving.

We’re here to help you navigate it with confidence. A doula is your expert guide, someone who can explain your options, advocate for your choices, and remind you that you are in control.

You have the right to choose the medications and exams you feel are best for you.

You don’t have to agree to procedures or fill out paperwork while managing contractions. You don’t have to accept interruptions or allow medical students to observe if it makes you uncomfortable.

You can say no. And you’re free to say yes.

With a doula by your side, you’ll have someone to ensure your voice is heard, provide clarity in the moment, and help you make decisions that align with your values and comfort.

A doula is a fantastic support no matter how or where you give birth. It’s a common myth that having a doula means you can’t have an epidural or other medication, but that’s simply not true!

We fully support your birth plan, whether you’re planning a natural delivery, an epidural, or another form of pain management. It’s your birth and your choice. Whichever route you choose, we’re here to help make it a positive experience.

For hospital births, we work alongside your medical team to ensure your preferences are respected and that you feel informed and supported throughout. If you’re planning a medicated birth, we can help you prepare by discussing your options, providing comfort measures before and after medication, and helping you feel confident and cared for during the process.

Our goal is to support you in having the birth experience you want, no matter what that looks like.

Doula services are sometimes covered by insurance, and many families use Health Savings Accounts (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), or Carrot benefits to help pay for their care.

At Michigan Family Doulas, we’re experienced in helping families navigate these options to make doula support more accessible.

If your insurance plan offers reimbursement for doula services, it’s important to note that most plans require your doula to be certified. Our team is fully certified and prepared to meet these requirements.

For families with Carrot benefits, Jodi, our agency owner, is highly knowledgeable about the reimbursement process.

Many of our clients have successfully used Carrot to cover both birth and postpartum doula expenses with her guidance.

We encourage you to reach out to discuss your specific benefits and payment options. We’re here to help you explore all available resources to ensure you receive the support you need.