The University of Vermont Medical Center > Departments & Programs > Obstetrics & Midwifery > Doula Services

Doula Services at the UVM Medical Center

We connect people coming to the University of Vermont Medical Center for labor and delivery with a trained volunteer birth doulas. We have doulas on-call 24-hours.

Requesting Doula Services

Our services are free to patients laboring and delivering at the UVM Medical Center. We provide services on a first-come, first-served basis. Let your prenatal provider know you are interested. This interest will be put on your chart for labor. You can also request a birth doula through your nurse.

Doula Services We Provide

Doulas at the UVM Medical Center are volunteers who have received special doula training to provide non-medical care for birthing people before, during, and after labor and delivery.

  • We provide social, emotional, and educational support to increase access to quality health care services.
  • We help people in labor to advocate for themselves.
  • Our skills and services include:
    • Labor position support and recommendations
    • Comfort measures such as back rub, counter pressure, physical support, use of essential oils, hydrotherapy
    • Breastfeeding assistance (if desired)
    • Support for partners, friends, and family
    • Providing information on community resources and referrals

What is a Doula?

 A doula is a labor support professional who provides support for pregnant persons and their families during labor and delivery, to help them have the healthiest, most satisfying experience.

Benefits of Doulas

The combined results of 26 randomized trials studying over 15,000 people giving birth reveal numerous benefits of having continuous, one-on-one labor support. Doulas lead to healthier mothers and babies:

  • 31% decrease in the use of Pitocin
  • 28% decrease in the risk of Cesarean
  • 12% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth
  • 9% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief
  • 14% decrease in the risk of newborns being admitted to a special care nursery
  • 34% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience

Become a Volunteer Doula

How to become a volunteer:

  • Contact the Volunteer Doula Coordinator by email at doulainfoatuvmhealth [dot] org (doulainfo[at]uvmhealth[dot]org).
    • Interview and submit an application.
  • Become a member of the UVM Medical Center Volunteers.
  • Attends volunteer doula 24-hour training.
  • Commit to one to two 12-hour shifts per month for 1 year.