A doula is a trained professional who provides support and guidance to people during significant health-related experiences. The word “doula” comes from the Greek word doulē, which means “female helper.” At New England Doula Support, our doulas are all heart. We receive training and certification from internationally recognized organizations such as DONA or CAPPA to ensure we are incorporating up to date, evidence-based information into our day to day practice with families. At NEDS, helping is at the core of who we are both individually and as an organization.
We currently provide two types of doula support – labor and postpartum.
A doula is a trained professional who provides support and guidance to people during significant health-related experiences. The word “doula” comes from the Greek word doulē, which means “female helper.” At New England Doula Support, our doulas are all heart. We receive training and certification from internationally recognized organizations such as CAPPA or DONA to ensure we are incorporating up to date, evidence-based information into our day to day practice with families. At NEDS, helping is at the core of who we are both individually and as an organization.
We currently provide two types of doula support – labor and postpartum.
A Labor Doula attends the birthing family before, during and just after birth. The certified Labor Doula is trained to provide emotional support from home to birth site. The doula helps to ease the transition into the birthing environment, is there through changing staff shifts, serves as a labor support partner to give the birthing parent and her partner the added comfort of additional support throughout the entire labor process.
A Postpartum Doula is a knowledgeable professional who assists families during the critical period immediately after the birth of their baby. They offer physical, emotional and informational support to the family as well as practical help. The doula’s expertise in mother and baby care enables her to assist with postpartum comfort measures, breastfeeding support, non-judgmental guidance in infant care techniques and information on normal postpartum progress.
The Postpartum Doula role is different with each family. It can be customized for each family but typically includes breastfeeding support, light household organization, family nurturing and instruction to new parents on care of a newborn. The goal of the Postpartum Doula is to make the transition to parenthood easier, educate and support the family so they will feel confident in caring for their newborn themselves when the doula is no longer partnering with their family.
In the postpartum period, it’s easy for nourishing yourself to fall to the bottom of your list of priorities. Your body is healing. You may be making milk, adjusting to a completely new routine, and navigating life on very little sleep. It’s no wonder caring for yourself can slip to the bottom of the list.
A reflection rooted in both research and real life. There is a certain kind of presence that changes everything for a child. Sometimes she is called “Mom.”
Building Your Village with Intention – There comes a point in many postpartum journeys when the conversation shifts. From feeding rhythms and wake windows… to calendars, commutes, and childcare plans.
At New England Doula Support, we often say: the postpartum period is not meant to be navigated alone.
Family is not one fixed shape. It is a living, evolving mosaic. Some families are built through birth, others through intention. Some are led by one parent, two, or many steady hands. Every story is valid. Every beginning matters.
Because you were never meant to do this alone. There is a moment after a baby arrives when everything changes.
The world becomes smaller and bigger all at once. Your days are filled with feedings, decisions, emotions, and questions you didn’t even know to ask.
When families welcome a new baby, they quickly learn that pediatric care becomes a central part of their lives. Questions arise daily about feeding, sleep, fevers, rashes, growth, development, and everything in between. For many parents, the traditional pediatric model can sometimes feel rushed, with short appointments and limited time to ask all the questions that come with caring for a new child.
