Doula Referral Network
Are you seeking doula services, either for labor support or postpartum help? The Center maintains an up-to-date and active free doula referral service that covers the state of Michigan. Call or email and we would be happy to provide you with the names and phone numbers of doulas in your area. Contact CCY

Doulas Care: Volunteer Support Services for Pregnant Women

This volunteer/outreach program is a referral service that matches qualified student doulas with low-income pregnant women (including teenagers) in need of extra support in communities throughout southeastern lower Michigan. The doula will arrange a minimum of three prenatal consultations, provide labor support in the hospital, and three postpartum home visits to interested moms-to-be. All services are free of charge and can include the following:

• Private consultations prior to the birth. Meeting prior to the birth allows a trusting relationship to develop between the expectant mother and her doula. The doula can help prepare the woman for her birth and answer questions informally that she may feel too intimidated to ask in a clinical setting.
• Accompany the pregnant mom as she accesses available community resources, or accompany her to prenatals, help with transportation, and so on. Some doulas may be willing to serve as the woman's partner for attendance at a series of Childbirth Preparation classes.
• The doula can work out a birth plan with the mother so that she becomes familiar with the woman's desires and choices regarding her birth and method of feeding her baby afterwards. This process may familiarize the mother with options she hadn't considered and engage her in taking an active role in decisions regarding her birth.
• Doulas do not promote one particular method of birthing over another, but will assist the mother in making informed choices. If a mom expresses a desire to experience natural childbirth, the doula is prepared to help her be successful.
• Doulas stay with the woman throughout her labor. They do not take the place of the expectant dads or other family members if any are involved, but attempt to facilitate everyone's optimal participation. They offer loving attention and support for the laboring mother. Support can include massage, emotional reassurance, information about her labor, offering fluids, assistance to the bathroom, drawing up a bath, and so on.
• A multilingual doula (or one who knows sign language) can serve as a woman's interpreter and facilitate communication with her caregivers and the hospital staff.
• Doulas promote bonding of mom and baby by staying close at hand for the first two hours postpartum, helping to keep mom and baby together if at all possible, and acting as a guardian over those all-important early interactions.
• Doulas can make postpartum home visits to the new mom and her baby and even provide transportation home from the hospital. They are available to answer questions about the mom's physical recovery or about care of the baby.
• Doulas will provide encouragement to breastfeed and, if mom desires, provide support to overcome any obstacles to breastfeeding

BELLY CASTS: A wonderful way to celebrate, honor and remember your pregnancy!
With Kate Stroud

A belly cast is a plaster mold of your pregnant belly at about 38 weeks. It can be done in the comfort of your home or at the Center. The process takes about one hour. While the cast is drying you will receive a relaxing foot massage. After we're done, I'll take the cast and put a smooth finish on it, that can be left white or be decorated to become a beautiful piece of artwork guaranteed to become a family heirloom.

For more information, email Kate Stroud.