Find a Postpartum Doula in Virginia Beach, VA
Doulas on Meela are certified, client-recommended, and vetted by licensed medical practitioners. Find one near you.
Create a free account, and we'll bring top doulas to you.
Get started
1,000+ childbirth experts
Client recommended, 97% 5-star reviews
Vetted by licensed medical practitioners
Verified client testimonials
Why Use Meela to Hire Your Postpartum Doula?
Meela is the trusted place for parents to find top-rated postpartum doulas, connecting over 1,700 parents with vetted doulas each month. Reach out to postpartum doulas directly, or answer a few questions and let us bring you the best available options near you. All for free, no strings attached.
Certified, Expert-Vetted Postpartum Doulas Near You
Our postpartum 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.
4 reviews • 15 families supported • 2 years experience
9 reviews • 18 families supported • 4 years experience
As your birth doula, I support you in preparing for birth and navigating the unexpected. As you ask questions and make choices about your birth preferences, I listen and discuss options with you. I am knowledgable about evidence-based birth information and you are the expert on you, your body, your baby, and your family. My goal is always to listen to what you need and provide safe, nurturing space to discuss any topic. I also provide group or individual birth education if that is something you desire. When the time for your birth arrives, I go when and where you need me, home, hospital, birth center or a combination. I provide physical support through massage, counter pressure, and other physical comfort measures. I follow your lead when you know just what you need and make suggestions when you need fresh ideas. I also support the loved ones you choose to have in your birth space, through reassurance, encouragement, giving them a break or going on a food run. I build rapport with your entire birth support team through kindness and respect as we all strive together to support your best birth experience. After your baby is born, I continue to be available in the early postpartum days by phone or to visit and check in. I can help you navigate any questions or challenges that have come up and help connect you to additional professional resources you need.
Care philosophy
During a career of Coast Guard service, caring for my community became as important to me as life-saving missions, so I have transitioned to full-time birth work. I love encouraging and supporting families through pregnancy, birth, life, work and return to work after the birth of a child. Whether at a hospital, home or birth center, every family and birth benefits from education and support.
Areas served
- Virginia Beach
- Norfolk
- Chesapeake
- Hampton Roads
- Portsmouth
- Suffolk
- Newport News
Reviews
-
Jasmine
June 23, 2023 at 12:41 am | Client reviewAs a second time parent I thought maybe I didn’t need a Doula, but decided to hired Mary and I am so glad I did! Mary came with so much experience, enthusiasm and knowledge. She taught me new and innovative techniques that really set this birth experience bar high. My birthing experience with her was even better than the first time! If you are wondering if Mary will be a good fit for you the answer is YES! She’s an excellent doula and I will definitely be hiring her again for my next birth.
3 reviews • 11 families supported • 6 years experience
As a military spouse I have supported many friends through birth with and without their partner and family. I began just helping friends and realized this was something that brought me joy and life. I have since been trained by DONA and Madriella as a birth doula and am pursuing my postpartum certification as well. I have attended many births as a birth doula and helped the mother and her partner to find moments of peace and unity in what can be a fear filled and lonely process. I support birth plans of all types and work as a part of your care team to give you the experience you desire. This begins before birth with our prenatal meetings and planning. I help you create a birth plan and prepare for the unexpected. These conversations will help you to be more at ease during labor and delivery. I had babies earlier than most of my friends and have found myself being the example many turn to for how to raise their babies. I have helped over 10 families troubleshoot breastfeeding, sleep, and scheduling with their newborns and love helping each family find ways to communicate with their babies and the practices that work for their family.
Care philosophy
As a mother myself I know the need for you to make choices based on your own personal needs and desires. I aim to support the decisions you make for yourself while answering questions you may have about the process of labor, birth or raising babies. After having a high risk pregnancy and high need infant I understand the changing nature of this time and want to support you where you are.
Areas served
- Yorktown
- Hampton Roads
- Williamsburg
- Hampton
- Newport News
- Poquoson
Reviews
-
Abby
July 4, 2022 at 10:48 am | Client reviewAs a first time mom, I was really nervous about giving birth! Becki was SO helpful as we talked through hopes and expectations, making sure we understood all our options and the risks/benefits associated with each before we ever got to the delivery room. That education helped me feel calm and empowered going into our birth. Then on the day itself, Becki was the perfect coach for my husband and me. She knew when to step back and coach him as he supported me and when to give him a break so we could all make it through the marathon that is birth. She had this instinctive ability to know exactly what I needed at various points in labor – counterpressure, change of position, a pep talk, you get the idea. The whole experience was better than I ever could have dreamed. Did everything go “according to plan”? No! It never does! But Becki did something even better. She helped me feel supported in my decisions, on the same team as my medical providers, safe in the delivery room, and cheered on by both her and my spouse. Lastly, her follow-up postpartum has been incredibly helpful as we navigate the learning curve of the 4th trimester! If you’re on the fence about hiring her as a doula, trust me, she is worth every penny! 10/10 would recommend her to any mama (or new dad!) looking for an advocate in the delivery room!
0 reviews • 500 families supported • 5 years experience
Postpartum Doula Services: FAQs
For most parents, the transition into early parenthood is hard. Postpartum doulas in Virginia Beach, VA offer all sorts of practical, physical, informational and emotional support to new parents. Postpartum doulas in Virginia Beach, VA offer a wide range of after-birth support services, including:
- Caring for and assisting in the recovery of the birthing parent
- Providing breastfeeding and lactation support
- Offering advice for baby soothing, diapering and bathing
- Parent-baby bonding
- Caring for older siblings
- Light housework
- Night nannying or sleep relief services
Some parents require additional physical and emotional support due to their specific situation, lack of family support, or their particular lifestyle. A postpartum doula positively affects the entire family, as many postpartum doulas are involved in sibling care, housework chores, and educating clients on childcare information/techniques.
To find a postpartum doula in Virginia Beach, VA, most parents recommend creating a job post on Meela and having uniquely qualified postpartum doulas near you (in your budget) reach out to you through the Meela app.
You can interview and chat with as many postpartum doulas as you wish and hire a postpartum doula in Virginia Beach, VA with confidence. It is completely free to create a job post on Meela and find a postpartum doula. There are no commitments to hire any of the qualified and expert vetted postpartum doulas Meela brings you.
Here’s how it works in 3 easy steps:
- Post a job for free: Answer some questions and receive responses from top-rated postpartum doulas near you. It takes less than 30 seconds to post your job.
- Get your list of postpartum doulas: In a few hours, you will have a collection of postpartum doulas near you who are qualified to meet your needs. You can compare pricing, experience, and read reviews. You can chat with each postpartum doula to learn more about them.
- Hire a postpartum doula with confidence: Schedule virtual or in-person interviews with your top postpartum doula choices. Hire your top postpartum doula and start getting the care you deserve.
To find a postpartum doula, you can also browse the available postpartum doulas near you in Virginia Beach, VA and read reviews, compare pricing, experience and fit. Send the postpartum doulas you are interested in a message, introducing yourself and setting up an interview. We recommend reaching out to and interviewing at least three postpartum doulas before hiring a postpartum doula near you. After interviewing, hire the most qualified postpartum doula near you and start getting the care you deserve.
While the cost of a postpartum doula can vary based on experience and the services offered, you can expect the average cost of a postpartum doula in Virginia Beach, VA to be $35 per hour, which is the average cost of a postpartum doula in the state of Virginia. The cost of a postpartum doula in Virginia Beach, VA can range from $29 to $41 per hour. These costs are based on a representative group of 139 postpartum doulas surveyed by Meela across the state of Virginia. The average cost of a postpartum doula in Virginia is lower than the U.S. national average cost of a doula, which is $37 per hour.
When hiring a postpartum doula in Virginia Beach, VA, you and your postpartum 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.
A postpartum doula in Virginia Beach, VA is meant to help the entire family and their role is not just limited to the birthing parent and newborn. A doula provides physical and emotional support to parents and siblings, but they also offer information and advice regarding how to feed, bathe, swaddle, and soothe the baby.
They also often help with postpartum depression issues, and are considered child care “consultants” rather than medical professionals. Many postpartum doulas in Virginia Beach, VA offer a range of services that can help with parents trying to adjust to a newborn child. These services often include:
- Sibling care
- Assist with household chores
- Parent-baby bonding
- Physical and emotional recovery
- Support to parents and extended family
A postpartum doula in Virginia Beach, VA can have a lasting positive impact on a family and help them feel more confident about their parenting role and the way that they feed and nurture their baby. They might offer advice regarding feeding, bathing, and parent-baby bonding.
It is important to note that a postpartum doula might offer advice but is not expected to provide medical care of any kind or serve as a replacement to an accredited physician. Postpartum doulas are also not qualified to prescribe medication.
Many new parents want to know about certified postpartum doulas and how exactly they are certified. Since the demand for postpartum doulas has greatly expanded in the last several years, the number of reputable postpartum doula training and certification programs has grown in Virginia Beach, VA. Training criteria can differ from program to program, but most follow a similar curriculum which includes core academic curriculum and practical hours and real-life care experience.
One of the most common national postpartum doula training certifications comes from DONA International. A postpartum doula usually receives about 27 hours of practical training before they are a certified postpartum doula.
There are also CAPPA-certified postpartum doulas in Virginia Beach, VA, as well. These doulas were certified by the Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association, an international organization that certifies doulas and other childbirth educators/professionals.
As a reminder, because postpartum doulas are not trained to be a medical professional and diagnose and treat medical conditions, a certification is not required for them to practice.
As their names suggest, a birth doula’s main priority is to provide support services before, during and in the moments immediately after childbirth. A postpartum doula’s obligations usually begin after the birth, for several weeks or months. In many cases, your birth doula will also be a trained and certified postpartum doula, which can provide a continuity of care that many parents find extremely valuable.
Many parents want to know whether a postpartum doula or a baby nurse would meet their needs and expectations. A baby nurse might be focused on making sure that a baby sleeps or feeds properly, but that might be the extent of their role. A postpartum doula generally offers more holistic services for their clients.
A postpartum doula in Virginia Beach, VA is expected to be more involved with the family as a whole. They might remain involved in sibling care or also provide emotional support to the partner as both parents adjust to becoming new parents. This may even include support for older siblings, light housework, and even meal prep. A postpartum doula provides more physical, emotional, and informational support than a baby nurse.
You can hire two types of doulas in Virginia Beach, VA: 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.
Lisa
September 21, 2022 at 11:46 am | Client reviewWhen I had my second child Monica, was there helping me before I went into labor as well as when i got home. She helped me with different position to nurse my baby. Tips on how to help with burping him. She was great support system and was always there when i had a question or just needed a mommy moment