The Community-Based Doula: Supporting Families Before, During, and After Childbirth

Doula: One who "mothers the mother." A constant companion who provides physical, emotional, and informational support to mothers during the journey of labor and delivery, a doula makes a critical difference to families and newborns in underserved communities. In The Community-Based Doula: Supporting Families Before, During, and After Childbirth, the authors highlight how Chicago Health Connection's community-based doula model extends this role into a long-term relationship, providing support during pregnancy, birth, and the early months of parenting. This book provides research-based evidence of the profound effects doulas can have in the lives of mothers, newborns, their families, and their communities. It also serves as a call to action. The Community-Based Doula provides information and analysis to help social support, home-visiting, and medical and nursing care programs to find new ways to address the needs of birthing families and to relate to the culture, values, and language of young mothers who face difficult challenges.