Doula Services

If you're pregnant and need extra support during your delivery, you can ask for a doula from our Hearts & Hands Program.

We want to make sure you have a safe and healthy delivery, as well as the care you need during labor. A doula's assistance is an option we provide at your request.

Graphic with U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals” badge for top-ranked obstetrics and gynecologic care

What's a Doula?

Doulas are volunteers trained to give one-on-one support during labor. They provide non-medical physical and emotional care and can help with communications between the patient, the patient's family and the hospital staff.

Doulas do not replace your partner and are not midwives. See Midwife Services for information on delivering with a midwife.

What to Expect

A doula is a helpful addition at any kind of birth, including induced labors and C-section births.

When a doula is requested by someone in labor, the doula stays by them continuously until the baby is born, no matter how long it takes. This is regardless of whether pain medications, including epidurals, are used or complications develop.

Our doulas attend births with midwives or physicians at both our La Jolla or Hillcrest Labor & Delivery suites and at our La Jolla Birth Center.See More About our Facilities

Cost & Availability

Our Hearts & Hands Program doula services are free and available 24/7.

Anyone delivering with UC San Diego Health can request one of our on-call, volunteer doulas at any time.

For any questions about doulas at UC San Diego Health (including doula availability), contact us at 858-249-5935 ordoulas@health.ucsd.edu.

Support for Your Birth Experience

A doula is a helpful addition at any kind of birth, including induced labors and C-section births.

When a doula is requested by someone in labor, the doula stays by them continuously until the baby is born, no matter how long it takes. This is regardless of whether pain medications, including epidurals, are used or complications develop.

Our doulas attend births with midwives or physicians at both our La Jolla or Hillcrest Labor & Delivery suites and at our La Jolla Birth Center.See More About our Facilities

Donate to Our Doula Program

Access to doula care provides better birthing outcomes. This is why the Hearts & Hands Doula Program is committed to offering this care equitably to all UC San Diego Health birthing families at no charge. Our volunteers have supported more than 7,600 births since our inception almost 25 years ago. Your financial gift makes this possible and we are beyond grateful for your support.

Give Now

How Doulas Help

Doulas specialize is in offering comfort and reassurance. Their care helps a laboring patient to feel safe and confident throughout labor, delivery and the immediate postpartum period. A doula's presence:

Helps partners participate at their own comfort level
Assists busy hospital staff
Increases patients' overall satisfaction with their birthing experiences

Partners are often grateful to share the "coaching" responsibility with someone more experienced so they can enjoy the birth experience more. Studies show that doula care can decrease:

Length of labor
Use of epidurals and other medications
C-section rates

While nurses, doctors and midwives change shifts and must come and go to attend to other patients, our doula remains with the patients and their families continuously until the baby is born.

We welcome doulas in labor rooms, and our doulas are accustomed to the hospital's procedures and facilities.