What Are Doula Services and How Can They Support Your Pregnancy Journey?
What Are Doula Services (And Why More Families Are Choosing Them)
You’ve got a growing checklist of appointments, a due date on the calendar, and a head full of questions.
Enter: your doula.
Whether this is your first baby or your fourth, birth is big. Not just physically, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. And while your provider handles the medical stuff, who’s taking care of you?
That’s where doulas come in. A doula offers non-medical, whole-person care to help you feel supported, informed, and empowered through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
At Embrace Childbirth and Lactation, we’ve built a team of experienced, heart-led doulas in South Lake Tahoe, Reno and the Carson Valley who meet you where you are, with calm, compassion, and clarity.
Understanding the Role of a Doula
What a Doula Does (and Doesn’t Do)
A doula is your personal birth support person, someone who’s trained to provide:
Emotional support through the highs and lows
Physical comfort techniques during pregnancy, labor and birth
Educational resources to guide your choices
Advocacy support to help you navigate the system
But just to be clear: doulas aren’t medical providers. We don’t check your cervix, catch babies, or make diagnoses. Instead, we work alongside your OB, midwife, or care team to ensure you feel seen, heard, and held.
Different Types of Doulas
At Embrace, we support the full spectrum of reproductive experiences with:
Birth Doulas – present during labor and delivery for continuous support
Postpartum Doulas – help with infant care, feeding, healing, and household tasks after birth
Full-Spectrum Doulas – offer care for fertility, miscarriage, abortion, loss, and every transition in between
Sibling Doulas - offer care and support for older children during your labor and birth and early postpartum.
Benefits of Doula Support Throughout the Perinatal Experience
During Pregnancy
Help preparing a birth plan
Emotional check-ins and mindset support
Tips for managing anxiety, fears, or unknowns
Personalized childbirth education and decision-making help
During Labor & Delivery
A steady, calm presence from early labor through birth
Hands-on comfort like massage, breathing techniques, rebozo, and position changes
Support for your partner so they feel confident too
Advocacy and communication guidance with your care team
After Birth (Postpartum)
Support with breastfeeding or bottle-feeding
Light newborn care so you can nap or shower
Emotional processing and encouragement
Help with meals, laundry, and basic household tasks
Who Can Benefit from Doula Services?
You don’t need to be planning a home water birth to hire a doula (but hey, we’re here for that too). Doulas support:
First-time parents who want guidance
Families planning unmedicated, medicated, or Cesarean births
Those pursuing VBACs or navigating prior trauma
Solo parents or families without nearby support
Anyone who wants to feel more confident, connected, and cared for
Doula Services at Embrace Childbirth & Lactation
Holistic & Heart-Centered Support
Our approach is:
Trauma-informed and body-positive
Culturally responsive and inclusive of all identities
Focused on your mind, body, and spirit, not just your due date
We believe every birth deserves sacred care, and every parent deserves to feel empowered.
What Makes Embrace Childbirth & Lactation Unique?
At Embrace Childbirth and Lactation, our doula services include:
Custom care plans tailored to your needs
Support for all birth choices, hospital, home, epidural, unmedicated, planned Cesarean
Deep local knowledge of the South Lake Tahoe, Carson Valley and Reno hospitals, providers, and community resources.
An entire TEAM to support you, with Embrace you get two Doulas through your prenatal care so you know both your Primary and your Back-up and they both know you and your plans
Our team includes experienced birth doulas, postpartum doulas, lactation consultants, and educators, all working together to support your story.
FAQs About Doula Services
How are doulas different from midwives?
Midwives provide clinical care and can deliver babies. Doulas offer non-medical emotional, physical, and informational support.
Are doulas covered by insurance?
Some FSAs/HSAs or insurance plans may reimburse part of your doula services. We’ll help you navigate your options. Medical and Medicaid also offer doula coverage!
Can I have a doula in a hospital birth?
Yes! Our local hospitals welcome doulas. We collaborate respectfully with your provider to enhance, not replace, your care.
How do I find the right doula for me?
Start with a consultation. At Embrace, we match you with someone who fits your personality, birth goals, and support needs and have a large team of wonderful Doulas to choose from.
Ready to Feel Supported, Seen, and Strong Throughout Your Birth Journey?
Birth is one of the most transformative experiences of your life. You deserve care that honors the whole you.
Embrace Childbirth and Lactation offers comprehensive doula services in South Lake Tahoe, Carson Valley and Reno, from pregnancy and birth through postpartum and lactation.
Schedule your free consultation today and experience what it feels like to be truly supported.
