New Enhancements for Volunteer Doulas

Brookings Health System established its volunteer doula program in 2011 as a means to provide a pool of doula candidates, free of charge, to support parents during the labor and delivery process. Now in its seventh year, Brookings Health is revisiting the volunteer doula program, aiming to improve the volunteer experience and increase doula service usage by parents.

A doula is a woman who provides continuous support during labor and delivery and helps expectant parents have healthier, easier births. She assists parents with emotional and physical needs, making the experience as comfortable and memorable as possible. 

One change the health system is making to its volunteer doula program is asking volunteer doulas to stay on the obstetrics unit during their monthly 12 or 24 hour shift.

“Before we asked our volunteer doulas to be on-call during their monthly shift,” said Obstetrics Director Mary Schwaegerl. “If parents didn’t request a doula, the doulas weren’t called to come in. That also meant the doulas missed the opportunity to get to know the nurses and doctors during their shift as well as the general feel for the unit. Having the doulas regularly report to the OB unit during their shift not only allows them to forge relationships, but also helps them gain experience and should increase overall doula service usage by parents.”

Brookings Health is also focusing on mentorship. Novice doulas will now be paired with experienced doulas until they feel comfortable assisting parents on their own. In addition, Brookings Health will hold monthly gatherings for volunteer doulas to network, share their experiences, exchange ideas and gain further professional development.

“We want our doula volunteers to feel safe, competent and professional when they assist parents and work alongside other OB team members,” said Schwaegerl. 

The qualifications to volunteer as a doula at Brookings Health remain the same: complete a Doulas of North America (DONA) training course or its equivalent. Certification is not required to volunteer. For those volunteers who wish to become certified, Brookings Health will help them attend three qualified births to gain the necessary experience toward certification.

“If doulas meet our volunteer qualifications and collaborate with our team, we know they will work toward the best outcomes for our patients,” said Schwaegerl. 

All-in-all, the changes help enhance the experience of doulas and parents alike and improve the labor and delivery options at Brookings Health System.

Interested in volunteering as a doula at Brookings Health System? Contact Obstetrics Director Mary Schwaegerl at mschwaegerl@brookingshealth.org or (605) 696-8053.