Doula

Mary's Center is committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within our organization and the communities we serve. We embrace diversity of experiences, ideas, and individuals, and seek to bring a diverse group of candidates to the table.

Important Note: Mary's Center is mandating the COVID-19 vaccine + booster for all staff.

Position Summary

The Doula will provide emotional, physical, and informational support to the birthing parent and support partners during the prenatal period, during birth and the postpartum period, offering participant-centered support.

Overall responsibilities will include preparing participants for the birthing experience, including discussion about expectations and participant's preference. The Doula will offer in-person and virtual home visits and will be present during birth providing support with breathing and relaxation techniques, comforting touch, and suggestions of physical movements and positions to aid the labor progress. The doula also serves as a guide for other members of the birth team, such as the father of the infant, to participate in supporting and/or participating in the predetermined manner.

Reportability

This position will report directly to the Perinatal and Family Health Program Manager.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

Perinatal Support

• Closely monitors a caseload of 4-10 participants at various stages of pregnancy with regards to their medical and social needs
• Offers at least three prenatal visits with a minimum of one in-person encounter During prenatal visits, Doula will establish rapport, discuss logistics of doula support, complete a participant birth plan, provide information to participants about the birth process in general, a variety of comfort measures and coping skills, and common procedures.
• Provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to expectant mothers and their families throughout the childbirth process.
• Assists mothers in developing birth plans and provides education on childbirth options and techniques.
• Supports participant's birth using evidence-based birth doula techniques, including comfort measures such as massage, breathing techniques, and positioning during labor. As a doula, this individual has the primary responsibility of being present in every sense during labor, providing continuous care during labor and delivery.
• Advocates for the mother's wishes and facilitates communication with medical staff to ensure a positive birthing experience.
• Provides at least two follow-up visits postpartum, with the first visit required between four (4) and ten (10) days after birth, in person or virtually depending on current organizational and safety guidelines, and participant preferences.
• Supports the non-gestation parent and/or other birth partners, friends, or family who are present, helping them to participate in the birth experience to the extent that they are comfortable, and the birthing person is comfortable.
• Provides postpartum support including breastfeeding assistance, newborn care education, and emotional support for the new family.
• Comfortable traveling to and visiting participants in the community. Communicates virtually via phone calls, video conferencing, and text messages.

Documentation

• Documents all participant encounters in Mary's Center EMR and grant-specific databases within required timeframe, completely and accurately.
• Submits requested required reports in a timely manner.

Program and Professional Growth

• Participates in team meetings and trainings, shares experience and insight, seeks input from others, and applies lessons from training to daily work practices.
• Participates in continuing education to maintain certification.
• Participates in weekly supervision with Supervisor that includes reflective discussion, program expectations, as well as personal and professional growth.

Participant Education/Presentation/Events

• Supports the development of childbirth education content for presentation to participants.
• Delivers childbirth education presentation to perinatal participants during routine childbirth education classes.
• Delivers presentation to raise awareness on the role of the doula and working with a doula during routine Meet the Doula events.

Client Relationship Building

• Respects cultural diversity and integrates the participant's values and culture into support plan that reflects their agenda and background.
• Respects differences and offers information about alternatives if certain cultural practices are harmful.

Qualifications

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Minimum High School diploma required; Associate or Bachelor's degree in social work, nursing, public health or similar discipline preferred.
• Certification as a Birth Doula by DONA, CAPPA, ALACE or another suitable doula program required.
• Demonstrated experience in providing labor support and attending births in the role of a doula.
• Demonstrated knowledge of prenatal education, childbirth education, breastfeeding, labor comfort measures, newborn care and managing the postpartum period
• Knowledgeable in social determinants of health and maternal health disparities and the impact of doula services
• Individuals who identify as a trusted member and/or have a unique understanding of the community served will be prioritized.
• Demonstrated cultural competence in communicating with people from various backgrounds.
• Skilled in data entry, with computers and utilizing Microsoft Office.
• Willingness to be on-call to provide labor support to participants as required, including available nights and weekends.

Language Requirement - Ability to communicate effectively in English. Spanish proficiency and fluency is highly preferred.

Physical Demands - Regularly required to work at a computer and travel to community locations throughout the city. Regularly required to communicate with team members and community members. Ideally able to move objects up to twenty-five (25) pounds.

Work Environment - Mostly in a typical office, home setting, and/or hospital or birthing center. This position has the option of working a hybrid schedule - remotely & onsite, as needed. Will be expected to travel to locations within the District of Columbia, especially in Wards 7 and 8.

The Benefits:

• Health Insurance: medical, dental & vision - plus retirement options through 403(b) contribution and investment opportunities
• 25 days of paid leave annually (in addition to paid holidays), plus 5 educational days
• Tuition reimbursement of $2000/year towards education assistance and professional development
• Transportation subsidy via metro & bus
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)