Birth Doulas - Des Moines

Meet The Birth Doulas

The MercyOne Volunteer Birth Doula Program offers volunteer birth doulas that are "on-call" for a 24-hour period each month.

Patients who are in active labor and choose to have a birth doula will receive them on a first-come, first-served basis at no additional cost. Not knowing demand, there will not be a guarantee of no-cost doula services; however, if you would like to guarantee a doula, you may contract with a doula and pay for it out-of-pocket.

What to expect from the MercyOne Volunteer Birth Doulas

Upon admission to MercyOne, the services of a birth doula will be available to you if you haven’t already contracted with one.

• The birth doula will arrive as soon as she can and will speak with you about your desired birth plan.
• The doula will then work with the medical team to help make sure your birth plan is heard and understood.
• The doula will support you throughout your labor and delivery by keeping you moving, using massage, essential oils, music, pressure points, rebozo scarves and a host of other tools.
• The doula will not replace your support person, in fact, the doula will help keep your labor partner close and involved for the duration of the labor should you desire it.
• After your baby is born, the birth doula will ensure you have time alone with your little one during the sacred hour post delivery.

Celebrating 10 years of volunteer birth doulas

MercyOne is the only organization in Iowa to offer a volunteer birth doula program, supporting your personalized delivery plan as you begin life's greatest journey.

More Information

Contact Jennifer Callahan, MercyOne Volunteer Birth Doula Coordinator at 515-358-5060 or jcallahan@mercydesmoines.org. Jennifer can help coordinate private contract with the doula, answer questions about the program and help you select the right doula for you and your family.