Backup Birth Doula

About This Role

This contract role provides temporary birth support coverage for clients when their primary doula is unavailable. The Backup Birth Doula offers emotional reassurance, physical comfort, childbirth education, and non-medical labor support to expectant mothers and their families throughout labor, childbirth, and the immediate postpartum period. The ideal candidate is flexible, professional, and prepared to respond to on-call assignments with limited notice.

Responsibilities

• Provide backup coverage for scheduled birth doula clients when the primary doula is unavailable due to scheduling conflicts, illness, emergencies, or other circumstances
• Respond promptly to on-call requests and attend labor and birth assignments as needed
• Review relevant client information, birth preferences, and support plans provided by the primary doula, consistent with client consent and confidentiality requirements
• Establish rapport with clients and their families quickly to provide reassurance, trust, and continuity of support
• Provide continuous emotional, physical, and informational support during labor and childbirth
• Assist with non-medical comfort measures, including breathing techniques, relaxation exercises, massage, positioning, movement, and other comfort strategies
• Provide evidence-based information about labor progression, childbirth options, and non-medical pain management techniques
• Respect each client's birth preferences, cultural beliefs, personal values, and informed decisions
• Support clients in communicating their questions, concerns, and preferences to healthcare providers
• Collaborate respectfully with physicians, midwives, nurses, lactation consultants, and other healthcare professionals while maintaining the non-clinical scope of doula services
• Communicate significant concerns about a client's well-being to the appropriate healthcare professionals without performing medical assessments or procedures outside the doula's role
• Provide basic information and referrals related to breastfeeding support, newborn care, postpartum recovery, and community resources
• Complete required documentation and communicate relevant updates to the primary doula or designated team member in accordance with organizational policies and confidentiality requirements
• Maintain professional boundaries and protect all client information
• Participate in required training, team communication, and professional development activities to maintain high-quality backup coverage

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED
• At least one year of experience in childbirth education, labor support, breastfeeding education, or related maternal support services
• Doula certification from a recognized doula training program