Doula

You provide emotional and physical support to people giving birth, which means you're on call 24/7 for weeks around the due date, coach breathing through contractions, and advocate for your client's birth plan in a medical system that doesn't always prioritize patient preferences. You're not a medical provider — you're the person who makes sure the patient is seen, heard, and supported during the most intense experience of their life.

What you'll actually do

• 01Provide continuous support during labor that can last anywhere from 4 to 40 hours
• 02Coach breathing, positioning, and comfort measures while the birthing person squeezes your hand into dust
• 03Advocate for the client's birth plan when medical staff defaults to protocols that may not be what they want
• 04Be on call 24/7 for 4-6 weeks around each client's due date — babies don't schedule
• 05Provide prenatal education and help clients prepare for a birth that will absolutely not go according to plan
• 06Debrief after births and process the emotional intensity of being present for new life