Find a Doula Today!

What does getting a Doula with the Shades Of Motherhood Network look like?
At SOMN, we're thrilled to introduce our amazing local doulas who have successfully completed our first Doula Desert program! Dive in to read about each incredible doula and take our fun Doula Compatibility test at the bottom. Get ready to be matched with the perfect doula tailored to your unique needs!

Apply for a Doula

Meet the Doulas

Compatability Quiz

Girl Get A Doula

What is a Doula?

A doula is a trained, non-medical support person who provides continuous emotional, physical, and informational support to women and families throughout their maternal journey. Unlike doctors or nurses, a doula does not perform medical procedures, instead, they focus on ensuring that women feel informed, supported, and empowered in their decisions during pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and beyond.

Research shows that having a doula can make a powerful difference. Women who are supported by doulas are:

Less likely to have unwanted or unnecessary C-sections
More likely to have shorter labors
Less likely to use pain medication or interventions they did not want
More likely to feel satisfied with their birth experience

Unfortunately, the statistics show the urgency of this support, Black women in the U.S. are more likely to undergo unwanted or unnecessary C-sections, a reality connected to systemic inequities, bias in medical care, and lack of advocacy in clinical settings. Having a doula can help bridge that gap by ensuring women’s voices are heard and respected.

What is a Full Spectrum Doula?

A Full Spectrum Doula provides care across the entire reproductive journey—not just pregnancy and birth. This includes:

Pregnancy support – guidance, education, and preparation for birth.
Labor and birth support – continuous presence during childbirth, helping manage comfort and ensuring your birth plan is respected.
Postpartum care – supporting recovery, newborn care, lactation, and emotional adjustment.
Loss and bereavement support – compassionate care through miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion.
And so Much More

Why It Matters

Having a doula is about more than just extra help—it’s about ensuring that every woman feels seen, heard, and supported in one of the most vulnerable and powerful times of her life. For Black women and families especially, doulas can be life-changing advocates, working to reduce disparities and protect the dignity of birth.

You deserve to be cared for, respected, and uplifted on your maternal journey. That’s what our Full Spectrum Doulas are here for.

What can a Doula do for you?

Every maternal journey is unique, and a doula’s role is to walk beside you in whatever way you need most. From the very beginning of pregnancy through postpartum recovery and beyond, a doula offers compassion, knowledge, and continuous care that adapts to your personal story.

Here’s how a doula can support you:

Emotional Support

Pregnancy and birth can bring a whirlwind of emotions, joy, excitement, fear, and sometimes uncertainty. A doula provides a steady, calming presence, offering encouragement when things feel overwhelming and reassurance when you need to know you’re not alone. Many women say simply having someone by their side who believes in them made all the difference in how they experienced birth.

Physical Support

Labor can be intense, and doulas are trained in comfort techniques to help ease the process. This might include:

Gentle massage or counter-pressure for pain relief
Breathing techniques to manage contractions
Positioning suggestions to encourage labor progress
Warm or cool compresses for comfort
Creating a soothing environment with light, sound, and touch

These small acts of care can have a big impact, helping you feel more in control of your body and experience.

Informational Support

Pregnancy and birth come with countless decisions. Should you consider an epidural? What does a birth plan look like? What happens if your provider suggests induction? A doula provides evidence-based information so you can make informed choices that align with your values. They don’t make decisions for you, but they ensure you understand your options and feel confident in your choices.

Advocacy

One of the most powerful roles a doula plays is being an advocate. Too often, women, especially Black women, report that their voices are ignored or dismissed in medical spaces. A doula is there to remind you of your rights, uplift your preferences, and help ensure your care team respects your decisions. They don’t speak for you, but they stand with you so your voice carries the weight it deserves.

Ongoing Presence

Unlike medical providers, who may rotate shifts or be in and out of your room, doulas provide continuous care. That means they are there from start to finish, whether your labor lasts 4 hours or 24. Having that unwavering presence is linked to improved outcomes and greater satisfaction with the birth experience.

Gain Education to Support you through your maternal Journey

Check out our resource book for local Resource's:

See all the Services we offer:

Resource Book

Our Services

Check out our Educational Videos: