Doula Services
What is a Doula?
Doulas are trained professionals who provide emotional, physical, and informational support before, during, and after childbirth. Doulas help pregnant mothers and their families feel safe and empowered throughout their pregnancy. They can assist with pain management techniques, offer guidance on birth plans, and act as advocates during labor. Doulas can help ensure clear communication with healthcare providers. Postpartum doulas also support families with newborn care, emotional well-being, and household tasks to ease the transition. Whether you seek comfort, advocacy, or hands-on assistance, doulas provide compassionate care throughout the pregnancy journey.
Community of Caring
A community doula service provider is a trusted, trained professional from within the community who provides emotional, physical, and informational support before, during, and after childbirth. Since 2021, NJ Family Care has provided a doula benefit, meaning doula support services during the perinatal period is fully covered for Medicaid recipients. Our Community of Caring doulas help ensure a positive and empowering birth experience, offering continuous care and support. Research shows that having a doula reduces C-section rates and preterm births and increases breastfeeding success— particularly improving maternal health outcomes for mothers of color.
Our community doulas provide comprehensive support throughout pregnancy, labor, and the critical postpartum period, extending up to 3 months. To be eligible, participants must reside in Paterson, Newark, Irvington, and East Orange. We are proud to offer bilingual doulas fluent in Arabic, Portuguese, and Spanish to better serve our diverse community.
Now in its 4th year, this pilot program results from collaborative funding efforts from our generous funders:
If you want to learn more or need to refer someone, complete the referral form and return it via eMail or fax.
Postpartum Doula Support Services
A postpartum doula supporter provides evidence-based information on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, mother-baby bonding, infant soothing, and primary newborn care. Research shows that moms, dads, and babies have an easier time with this transition if a good support team exists.
Services provided by the Partnership’s Postpartum Doulas in Paterson, Newark, Elizabeth, and Plainfield are offered in Spanish and English.
PMCH postpartum doulas in New Jersey offer many services to clients; the primary goals are to help “mother the mother” and nurture the entire family as they transition into life with a newborn. This would include doing things to help parents feel more confident in their roles, sharing education on family adjustment, and tending to the mother’s unique needs. Assistance could include breastfeeding support, help with the emotional and physical recovery after birth, assistance with newborn care, such as diapering, bathing, feeding, and comforting, baby soothing techniques, and referrals to local resources such as parenting classes, pediatricians, lactation support, and other support groups. The PMCH doula program in New Jersey is available to families up to one-year post-birth.
For more information contact us here.
How to become a Doula in New Jersey
Our Community-Based Doula program offers high-quality Doula training for northern New Jersey residents at no cost. This program is focused on developing culturally reflective doulas who offer peer-to-peer support for healthy pregnancies, births, breastfeeding/chestfeeding, and early parenting. Using the NJ FamilyCare-approved HealthConnect One model, doulas are equipped to promote maternal health within their communities. For more information and updates on the next application cycle, please fill out this form .
Community of Caring Program Advisors:
