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About Delco Doulas

At the heart of every birth story is the power of support, connection, and compassionate care. The Delco Doula Collaborative was created to bring families and doulas together in a personal, meaningful, and empowering way.

For families seeking a doula, our collaborative makes it easy to find the right match—whether you’re looking for specific experience, shared values, or simply the right energy to support your journey. We believe every family deserves a doula who truly aligns with their needs, and our platform is designed to make that search simple and intentional.

For doulas, this space is more than just a directory—it’s a community. Here, you’ll find opportunities to connect, learn, and grow through ongoing training, networking events, and open discussions about the unique needs of doulas in Delaware County. We’re here to support you as you support others.

Whether you’re an expecting parent, a seasoned doula, or just beginning your journey in birth work, you belong here. The Delco Doula Collaborative is built on the belief that when we come together, we create stronger families, stronger doulas, and a stronger community.

What is a Doula?

A doula is a trained birth professional that supports pregnant people and their families throughout pregnancy, during birth, and in the postpartum period immediately after birth.

Doulas provide information about pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, newborn care, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, advocacy and postpartum adjustment for birthing people and their families. Birthing families including moms, dads, partners, siblings, and babies can benefit from the emotional, physical, and informational support that is primary in the doula’s scope of practice. By having a doula present before, during, and after the birth experience, parents can feel more empowered, confident, and supported throughout their perinatal journey.

While doulas are not medical providers; and do not diagnose or prescribe treatments or medications they do help families navigate the medical system so that they can make more informed choices. Doulas also make referrals for services that families may need outside of the doula scope of practice.

How to Choose a Doula

Finding a doula to support you during your pregnancy and birth experience is an important decision. When looking for a doula, it’s important to carefully consider any specific needs you may have. It’s also very important for you to think deeply about why you want to engage a doula and your expectations of them. We offer the following types of doulas:

Labor/Birth Doula

Before childbirth, a birth/labor doula will typically:

  • Meet with you during your second or third trimester to get acquainted and build a trusting relationship
  • Teach you relaxation techniques
  • Offer education and answer your questions about childbirth, and the post birth period
  • Help you understand labor and delivery procedures and possible complications
  • Work with you to develop a birth and postpartum plan

During labor the doula will:

  • Stay with you until your baby’s first feeding to provide comfort and support
  • Use massage, touch, hydrotherapy, and other birthing tools to help you relax and rest
  • Help you get into comfortable positions
  • Help you get adequate nutrition and fluids
  • Help communicate your preferences to the medical staff at your hospital or birthing center
  • Work collaboratively with your medical team
  • Support, involve, and reassure the partner-to-be
Postpartum Doula

After delivery, a postpartum doula can:

  • Provide support and encouragement to both you, your partner, and other family members after the birth of your baby or the completion of a pregnancy
  • Teach the family how to care for themselves and the new baby
  • Assist with baby feeding and education
  • Support your partner and you in the transition to parenthood
  • Make sure you get plenty of rest, eat regularly, stay hydrated, and are comfortable
  • Ensure you have available resources at your fingertips for referrals
  • Help you to organize your new responsibilities
Bereavement Doula

A bereavement doula, also known as a “loss doula”, is a trained professional who supports families who have experienced the loss of a baby. This can include losses due to miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion, or a diagnosis that the baby will not survive long after birth. Bereavement doulas can also support families during pregnancy loss, in situations like fertility struggles, chemical pregnancies, or ectopic pregnancies.

Bereavement doulas can:

  • Provide support before, during, and after the loss
  • Help families plan funerals and memorial services and guide them to mental health professionals
  • Help families honor their feelings without fear of blame or abandonment
  • Assist with questions to ask your provider

Who is hosting this directory?

The Foundation for Delaware County is a community foundation serving all of Delaware County. The Foundation’s public health programs have addressed critical needs in Delaware County for more than 30 years. Our portfolio of programs are focused on improving the health of mothers and children and include Healthy Start, Nurse-Family Partnership and WIC.

The public health programs help to improve birth outcomes, maternal and child health, and the overall well-being of the families we serve. The programs provide direct services to support families and address the social determinants of health. We help families develop knowledge and skills – so they can thrive and bring their children up with every opportunity to succeed. Our staff ensures that families have access to the services they need to be physically and mentally healthy. We connect families to critical resources including support for housing, healthcare access, economic stability, and more.

The programs serve thousands of Delaware County residents each year and are nationally recognized for improving health outcomes and eliminating health disparities in Delaware County.

Meet our Doulas

View the Doula Directory