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Our doulas are the best of the best and hold the highest standards of evidence-based, inclusive, and compassionate care. Each verified doula on Meela is vetted by a licensed medical professional and comes with multiple client recommendations, active certifications, and has extensive training and experience in perinatal care.

Found 9 Pros in New Orleans, LA, USA | Birth doula support
EXPERIENCE
0 50
Families served
0 3500
Birth fee
$0 $7500
HOURLY RATE
$0 $500
$ flexible
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Monique Hagan

New Orleans, LA

0 reviews • 55 families supported • 10 years experience

0 reviews • 55 families supported • 10 years experience

10+ years of experience working in the medical field, delivering exceptional care to patients. Skilled at maximizing patient comfort while meeting strict safety standards. Well-organized and forward-thinking in managing patient needs. Talented at conducting patient assessments, developing individualized care plans and implementing best-practice orders. Skilled in Reproductive Health, Reproductive Justice, Private Duty Adult & Pediatric Nursing, Patient Advocacy, and Community Health

Care philosophy

Strong Minds~Caring Hearts~Helping Hands

Areas served

  • New Orleans, LA
  • Southeast Louisiana Region
$ flexible
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Richelle Pultz

Slidell, LA

3 reviews • 25 families supported • 5 years experience

3 reviews • 25 families supported • 5 years experience

My practice varies between each client, because each client has different needs. I like to have a meeting where I sit down and get to know the families I’m working with, understand their desires, and exactly what they are looking for in a doula, and then become that exact person they need. There is no “one size fits all” in families and I make sure that my practice adapts to your precise needs. I am not only a birth and postpartum doula however. I also have certification as a Master Herbalist and a Professional Aromatherapist which allows me to give you extra help during pregnancy and birth.

Care philosophy

I believe that every person, no matter what their background or social status may be, deserve affordable doula care and have the birth of their dreams.

Areas served

  • Southern Louisiana

Reviews

  • Michelle
    September 22, 2022 at 11:20 am | Peer review

    Richelle is very experienced & knowledgeable at what she does. Highly would recommend her

$ flexible
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Haleigh Hocut

New Orleans, LA

3 reviews • 3 families supported • 2 years experience

3 reviews • 3 families supported • 2 years experience

As a professionally trained and seasoned chef with over 10 years of restaurant and cooking experience and a certified Doula; nurturing and cooking are synonymous to me and it requires a certain touch to care and cook for newly postpartum families. Just as you focused on your health and nutrition during your pregnancy, the postpartum period needs just as much attention, if not more. You nourish the mother, you nourish the child. Postpartum maternal nutrition is incredibly important and grossly overlooked in hospital births. Proper fuel is needed to build back blood, replenish the body with electrolytes and minerals, keep the body warm which promotes healing, all while being gentle on the gut as it slowly resumes its pre-pregnancy state and begins to absorbs the nutrients it needs to support a newly postpartum body and mind. Postpartum support directly correlates to the blossoming mother’s mental state, which in turn correlates to the child.

Care philosophy

I believe that pregnancy, birth, and new motherhood are an invitation into yourself to explore new thresholds of your mind, enhance the awareness of your body, and expand the understanding of your capabilities. My aim is to serve you throughout this experience with receptive and

Areas served

  • Chalmette
  • Metairie
  • Kenner
  • Slidell
  • Mandeville
  • Covington
  • Entire Southeast region
  • willing to travel

Reviews

  • Meagan
    February 20, 2023 at 3:25 pm | Client review

    Haleigh was a very supportive doula. She was attentive the entire labor and gave tons of support during labor to both myself and my husband.

$ flexible
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Melissa Champagne

Hammond, LA

0 reviews • 1 families supported • 1 years experience

0 reviews • 1 families supported • 1 years experience

I am a labor and postpartum doula in the north shore area. I specialize in natural out of hospital births but also serve hospital births as well!

Care philosophy

I have a love for labor and birth and believe birth is normal and such a beautiful thing! I service at home and out of hospital births and also hospital births as well!

Areas served

  • Hammond
  • New Orleans
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Reiona Andrews

New Orleans, LA

3 reviews • 2 families supported • 6 years experience

3 reviews • 2 families supported • 6 years experience

Taking my time with families to fully understand their mission and birth plans.

Care philosophy

Care. Love. Support.

Areas served

  • New Orleans
  • Slidell
  • Kenner
  • Metairie

Reviews

  • Amanda
    September 14, 2022 at 11:29 am | Peer review

    Reiona has met all criteria for BEST Certification and is an outstanding member of the BEST community.

$ flexible
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Elizabeth Pruitt

Mandeville, LA

0 reviews • 2 families supported • 1 years experience

0 reviews • 2 families supported • 1 years experience

I am a newer doula being trained through maternitywise. I have been involved in childcare for years and have a bachelors in birth to five years. I have always thought about being a doula, but decided to finally go for it after seeing my best friend struggle with enough support, and realizing I wanted to be there for other women and help as much as possible. I am very open to any kind or birth (except unassisted), and like to make sure my clients feel heard and are well informed. For labor care, I am available to answer questions, help make a birth plan, and prepare you for the birth you would like from the moment you hire me. I have two official prenatal appointments that I have with clients and am officially "on call" from 37 to 42 weeks. I also include one post partum check in with labor services. For postpartum care, I assist however best suits the family. This can be newborn care/tips, sibling care, meal prep, light housework, maternity support/assistance, and lactation assistance.

Care philosophy

I like to work with families to create a unique plan, and make sure they can do everything in our power to have the birth they want and are well informed. I help with holistic style approaches, but also have training in epidural based births for mothers that know they will want one. I attend any and all births except unassisted births.

Areas served

  • Folsom, LA
  • Covington,LA
  • Slidell,LA
  • Hammond, LA
  • New Orleans, LA
  • Lacombe, LA
$ flexible
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Austen Williams

New Orleans, LA

0 reviews • 1 families supported • 1 years experience

0 reviews • 1 families supported • 1 years experience

I entered birth work after personally experiencing and bearing witness to healthcare inequities in my local community and I felt called to do more. With my background in social work, I feel that I can uniquely support not only the physical and logistical needs that come in navigating prenatal and postpartum life but also the emotional changes. Life can be full of excitement, challenges, and unknowns--but you never have to go through it alone!

Care philosophy

As a doula, my care philosophy is to support individuals and empower informed decision making that will lead to the most positive outcome for you. I hope to be a shoulder of support, an ear to listen when needed, and your biggest cheerleader during major life changes.

Areas served

  • Greater New Orleans Area, Northshore
$ flexible
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Krystal Carpenter

Ponchatoula, LA

0 reviews • 1 families supported • 1 years experience

0 reviews • 1 families supported • 1 years experience

About three years ago after having my first baby and having the most wonderful doula supporting me I fell in love and became passionate about all things birth and babies; that led me to wanting to become a doula myself. So this fall I decided to go for it and became a certified doula start my own business, supporting local families in their birth journey. My main goal is to help families feel empowered throughout their birth journey so they can have an overall positive experience.

Care philosophy

My mission is to educate and empower pregnant women, birthing partners, and new families, who want better outcomes and more positive experiences, through emotional, physical, and informational support.

Areas served

  • Covington
  • Mandeville
  • Hammond
  • Ponchatoula
  • Baton Rouge
  • Northshore
$ flexible
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Indya Walden

New Orleans, LA

0 reviews • 10 families supported • 2 years experience

0 reviews • 10 families supported • 2 years experience

Hey, y'all! My name is Indya. I am a certified birth doula, postpartum doula, and budding herbalist. I am originally from  Omaha, Nebraska so GO BIG RED! Now that I have resided in Louisiana for almost 10 years, I am happy to call this city home. The spirit of resilience and rebirth is something that has spoken to me so strongly, which is why I started Circle of Love Birth Services. Birth is a joyous occasion, but also one of extreme change and growth. A baby is not the only one born on birth day, so are moms and dads. I like to focus in on that journey to parenthood, so that you can be prepared in the best way possible when your little one(s) arrives. In addition to this journey navigator approach, I offer holistic options such as salves, tea infusions, and tinctures. Once postpartum arrives, I like to focus in on mom's recovery as well as making sure that the family unit has the best plan of action to succeed in their new normal. I am always honored to be a part of a birth journey and hope that I can have your birth #CircledInLove

Care philosophy

My goal as a doula is to support birthing women and their families. I want to give you the knowledge to make the best choices for you and your birth experience. Knowing all of your options allows you the empowerment of making informed decisions that are best geared towards your lifestyle. So many go unheard and ignored. I am here to hold your space, and your hand through this journey.

Areas served

  • Greater New Orleans Westbank Southwest Gulf Coast

Doula Services: FAQs

A doula is a professional that provides emotional, physical and educational support to new parents before, during, and after childbirth and into the early postpartum period. Doulas are companions who strive to give families a safe, positive, and healthy labor experience. They provide parents with evidence-based information and education on childbirth and are someone who the parent can turn to with questions and concerns about having a baby. Doulas also take an active role in collaborating with the parent to create a birth plan.

A certified birth doula offers advice and techniques to help reduce the stress that the parent often experiences during childbirth and provides you with education about different aspects of delivery and labor and what comes after.

There are two ways you can hire a doula through Meela in New Orleans, LA.  

You can browse through the available doulas in New Orleans, LA and send the doulas you are interested in a message, introducing yourself and setting up an interview. We recommend interviewing at least three before hiring your top doula.

You can also hire a doula in New Orleans, LA in three easy steps:

  1. Post a job for free: answer some questions and receive responses from top-rated doulas in New Orleans, LA. It takes less than 30 seconds to post your job.
  1. Get your list of New Orleans, LA doulas: in a few hours, you will have a collection of doulas near you who are qualified to meet your needs. You can compare pricing, experience and read reviews. You can chat with each doula to learn more about them.
  1. Hire a doula with confidence: schedule virtual or in-person interviews with your top doula choices. Hire your top doula and start getting the care you deserve.

While the cost of a doula can vary based on experience and the services offered, the average cost of a doula in New Orleans, LA is $862, but typically ranges from $620 to $1,104. These costs are based on a representative group of 10 doulas surveyed by Meela in the New Orleans area. The average cost of a doula in New Orleans, LA is higher than the average cost of a doula in the state of Louisiana, which is $767.

To put this in further context, the cost of a doula in New Orleans, LA is lower than the U.S. national average cost of a doula, which is $971.

When hiring a birth doula in New Orleans, LA, you and your doula will discuss and agree upon a fee structure, and your doula will send you itemized invoices through Meela, which you can pay securely through the app.

Some insurance companies will cover all or part of the cost of hiring a doula. Contact your insurance company to find out if they offer any coverage for hiring a doula; not all insurance companies do.

You can hire two types of doulas in New Orleans, LA: a birth doula and a postpartum doula. The birth doula is during your pregnancy and through the birth of your child. They provide you with emotional, physical and educational support during your pregnancy, your labor and delivery and for the first few hours after your child is born.

A postpartum doula will support you for the first few weeks after the baby is born. They provide in-home assistance, including teaching you how to take care of your newborn, acting as lactation consultant, and can provide some night nanny services.

Yes, a birth doula can provide support during a Cesarean birth and delivery. Doulas are non-medical professionals and do not replace obstetricians, physicians, midwives or nurses. They are an additive member to the team and provide emotional, physical and informational support to the birthing parent, partner and family. It is up to you whether the certified doula can remain in the operating room during the procedure.

When you hire a doula in New Orleans, LA, your services typically include several in-person prenatal sessions, 24/7 phone and text support, full attendance throughout your labor, and several hours of support immediately following your birth.

A doula in New Orleans, LA can help you in any kind of birth. Certified doulas are able to assist parents in creating the ideal “birth environment” and help parents deliver their baby safely. A doula can provide support during the birth whether it occurs in a hospital, a home, or another birth center of some kind. Doulas are there to support you in your desired birth preferences, whether that is a preference for natural, non-medicated, assisted, C-section or anything else.

Certified doulas can also act as a liaison between you and hospital staff regarding your childbirth expectations and preferences. For example, if your preference is to have a non-medicated birth, a doula can help guide you through that process and create a personalized birth plan. A certified doula in New Orleans, LA does not replace medical staff (such as your obstetrician and nurses).

When a surgical procedure is required, there are some situations in which a birth doula can also remain in the operating room, although this is not an expected obligation. A certified birth doula can also assist hospital staff to improve the overall birthing experience. A doula in New Orleans, LA will typically stay with the parents for several hours after birth to help them with birth recovery.

Evidence suggests that a birth doula in New Orleans, LA can help improve parent satisfaction with their baby’s birth and delivery. The involvement of a doula can also lead to shorter deliveries with less complications.

Recent studies show that parents who have a support person like a doula by their side throughout labor and childbirth are more likely to:

  1. Give birth without the need for pain medicine
  2. Describe their birth experience in a positive way
  3. Give birth without the need for medical intervention, such as C-sections or vacuum delivery
  4. Experience a shorter labor

You can hire a doula early in your pregnancy to allow you time to get to know each other and to begin planning for your later trimesters, labor, birth, and aftercare. It is ideal to hire a doula when you are around 20 weeks along, but you can start looking for one before that.

It is never too late to hire a doula in New Orleans, LA; you have right up to your due date to find a doula near you and receive all the benefits of doula support.

While many people think that a doula and a midwife are the same thing, their educational background and job duties are different. Doulas are non-medical professionals who provide emotional, physical and educational support, while also offering actionable advice and guidance to new parents about how to nurture their baby.

A midwife is a certified nurse-midwife (CNM) or a certified midwife (CM). CNMs are medical professionals that are certified and licensed by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. CMs are also certified, but they do not have nursing backgrounds.

Doulas are not medical professionals; they focus on the emotional support for the parents and the family before, during, and after the birth of the baby. Their job is to provide information, advice, and support to the family not diagnose any medical conditions or provide medical advice.

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