How to become a doula: What to know

When Makeetah Cochy returned home from the hospital after the first of her four children was born, she recalled feeling clueless.

“I was having problems with breastfeeding, and I didn’t really have a lot of support from my family,” said Cochy, 48, of Deer Park.

Motivated by that experience, Cochy said she enrolled in birth and postpartum doula training six years ago through the Long Island Doula Association. She also noted a need for more doulas of color because of the disparities in maternal health for Black women, who are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Unlike an ob-gyn or midwife, a doula does not assist in a birth but is trained to provide physical and emotional support to a woman before, during and shortly afterward. New York State does not require certification for doulas, but several organizations offer training.

A birth doula typically starts meeting with a client several months before they give birth, getting updates on their condition and offering support and advice, Cochy said.

“You build that rapport so when the time comes and you’re in active labor, I’m not getting to know somebody right then and there,” explained Cochy.

After the birth, Cochy said, “I give them a hug and kiss goodbye until another couple of weeks, and then I check in on them at home to see how they’re doing.”

Part of the postpartum doula training involves monitoring a client’s emotional health, particularly looking out for depression. When necessary, a doula will refer clients for counseling, Cochy said.

Brittney McPherson, 29, of Lindenhurst, said she appreciated Cochy’s help when she was expecting her first child.

“I don’t think I could have done it without her,” said McPherson, a psychotherapist who gave birth to baby Soleil on June 18.

McPherson said she had a high-risk pregnancy due to underlying health issues and was worried because of the higher rates of maternal mortality for Black women.

Cochy, she said, was “helpful because there’s just a million questions you have during pregnancy.”