A doula is a trained birth professional who provides physical, mental, emotional, and informational support to a patient. This support is offered before, during, and shortly after childbirth. The goal is health, safety, and advocacy at every stage.
A doula is not a medical professional. Doulas do not perform exams, deliver babies, or administer medications. A doula's role is to make sure the parent feels informed, supported, and heard every step of the way — and to help the rest of the birth team understand what matters most to the family.
What is the difference between a doula, a midwife, or a nurse?
Midwives and nurses provide medical care: monitoring health, delivering the baby, and managing complications.
Doulas provide non-clinical support alongside medical providers: comfort measures, emotional reassurance, education, and advocacy.
You don't need to choose between a doula, midwife, or nurse. They work together.
产后护理师
Midwife
Nurse
Type of care
Non-clinical, whole-person support
Clinical, medical care
Clinical, medical care
Medical tasks
No
Yes
Yes
Emotional support
Core focus
Balanced with clinical duties
Offered where time allows
Comfort measures
Core focus
When time permits
Trained in some
Advocacy
Solely for the family
Within hospital protocol
Within hospital protocol
Education
Ongoing, many visits
Prenatal appointments
Mostly during hospital stay
Postpartum
Multiple dedicated visits
Typically one follow-up
Ends at discharge
Relationship
Consistent over months
Varies by practice
Often met at admission
Are Raya doulas certified?
Yes. Every doula in the Raya network is certified and approved by the state they practice in. On top of that, doulas go through Raya's own credentialing process:
Background checks
Skills verification
Ongoing quality reviews
Families can feel confident in the doula supporting them.
Does doula care really make a difference?
The research says yes. Compared with people who do not have a doula, patients with doula support are significantly better off across every major outcome measure.
52.9%
Less likely to have a cesarean delivery
了解更多
57.5%
Less likely to experience postpartum depression or anxiety
了解更多
4×
Less likely to have a baby with low birthweight
了解更多
90%+
Satisfaction reported with the overall birth experience
了解更多
Doula support has also been linked to a reduced need for pain medication and shorter labors.
了解更多
Why is doula care covered by insurance?
Doula care used to be an out-of-pocket luxury — putting it out of reach for many of the people who could benefit from it most. Maternal health outcomes in the United States vary widely by income, race, and insurance status.
As evidence connecting doula support to better outcomes grew, many states added doula care as a covered Medicaid benefit — recognizing it as a genuine, cost-effective way to close those gaps.
Raya was built to make that benefit simple to use:
In-network with 20+ health plans across California
Includes Medi-Cal managed care plans
All patients pay $0 out of pocket
Who benefits most from doula care?
Anyone giving birth can benefit from doula support. It can make an especially meaningful difference for:
First-time parents
Those navigating a high-risk pregnancy
Those recovering from a difficult past birth experience
Those for whom English is not a primary language
Those who wish to honor cultural or religious practices
Anyone who wants a dedicated advocate
How does this work?
01
Fill out an intake form
In a few minutes, we collect details about you and your insurance. Coverage gets verified within 24 hours.
02
Get matched with a doula
Personalized matches in your area are delivered for you to choose from. Pick the right doula with confidence.
03
Connect on the Raya Care Platform
Visits, messages with the care team, and helpful resources all live in one place.
04
Receive ongoing support
Your doula stays involved through prenatal visits, labor and delivery, and postpartum care. Raya handles billing and coordination behind the scenes.
Patients are eligible for an average of 12 appointments.
What happens at a doula appointment?
Prenatal Visits
Regular check-ins to talk through your birth plan
Answers to questions, big or small
Comfort and relaxation techniques
Building confidence heading into labor
Labor & Birth
Emotional and physical support throughout labor
Breathing techniques and positioning
Comfort measures
Advocacy, so your voice is heard in the room
Postpartum Visits
Support with breastfeeding and newborn care
Emotional wellbeing check-ins
Connections to additional resources while adjusting to life with a new baby
What if my doula isn't available during labor?
Every Raya patient has a backup doula from the Raya Network is arranged for them. That backup doula is made familiar with the patient's birth preferences and care plan, so no one navigates labor alone.
What's included in a care package?
✓
Included
✓
1 intake visit (1.5 hours)
✓
8 prenatal or postpartum visits (1 to 1.5 hours each), used however works best for you
✓
2 extended postpartum visits (3 hours each)
✓
Labor and delivery support
×
Not included
×
Clinical or medical services (blood pressure checks, fetal heart tones, vaginal exams)
×
Help with activities of daily living (nannying, housecleaning, etc.)
×
Group classes
×
Photography
×
Placenta encapsulation
×
Medications
×
Home birth without a medical professional
Unsure about a covered service? Reach out to support@findraya.com
From pregnancy support to postpartum guidance, Raya doulas provide personalized, insurance-covered care when you need it most.
.svg){kind=small}
.webp)