07/01/2026
A nurse recently said to me "It's so wonderful that they (my clients) have a friend like you". She meant this in the kindest way however, I told her that I was hired by these people and was doing my job, just as she was.
Doulas are not just a "friend" and when we are labeled as such it does our clients a disservice. Being labeled as a "friend" makes it easy to discount our knowledge, experience, and training. I have been to over 130 births, done Spinning Babies training, doula training, bereavement training, lactation education, and work at a hospital as a doula as well as privately. Not to mention that I bill insurance for my services. I'm pretty sure insurance doesn't pay for friends.
So if you are working with a doula and the hospital you are going to doesn't even know the difference between a doula and a friend, you might want to rethink your birth place. For my Tacoma clients - Both Tacoma General and St Joe's absolutely know what a doula is 😉
