How to become a doula: What to know
Doula Makeetah Cochy with new mom Brittney McPherson shortly after she gave birth. Credit: Rick Kopstein
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.
Soleil, now two months old, with mom Brittney McPherson. Credit: Rick Kopstein
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.”
COMMITMENT
A birth doula must be flexible in their hours, since they have to be on call. “I don’t know when someone is going into labor, so my phone stays on the moment they hit their 36th week,” doula Makeetah Cochy said.
SERVICES
A doula's responsibilities include prenatal check-ins, breastfeeding support and childbirth education and resources. Cochy said she generally stays with clients at least two hours after they give birth, making sure they eat properly, gathering their belongings and taking them back to their recovery room.
COST
Training costs vary, depending on where you enroll. In-person birth and postpartum doula training through the Long Island Doula Association costs $465. For more information visit lidoulas.com.
Additional training resources can be found at bit.ly/3yN4Uec.
GET CERTIFIED
To become a certified doula through the Long Island Doula Association, you must complete the following:
Undergo two days of in-person training, plus online courses on the “Business of Being a Doula";
Read nine assigned books on subjects such as pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and perinatal mood disorders;
Write a paper on the value of labor support, your personal experiences as a birth support person and birth equity;
Work with a mentor;
Take a lactation class and a postpartum care workshop.
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Newsday Live Music Series: Long Island Idols Newsday Live presents a special evening of music and conversation with local singers who grabbed the national spotlight on shows like "The Voice," "America's Got Talent,""The X-Factor" and "American Idol." Newsday Senior Lifestyle Host Elisa DiStefano leads a discussion and audience Q&A as the singers discuss their TV experiences, careers and perform original songs.
