Doula Care was founded in 1991 by Ruth Callahan. Ruth is a certified Postpartum Doula through Doulas of North America (DONA), a lactation counselor with 500 clinical hours of extensive training in Human Lactation at Beth Israel Hospital and a trained Childbirth Educator with the CEA (Childbirth Education Association) of New York.
Ruth carefully selects ten experienced postpartum doulas to work through the service. All the doulas are certified, trained and experienced in teaching, and assisting first time moms & dads after the birth, as well as providing the extra pair of hands needed to tend to older siblings.
DONA International certifies the doulas. All are Red Cross CPR certified and carry personal liability insurance. The doulas complete professional training in maternal and infant care, lactation support, infant massage, infant development, care of multiples, postpartum mood disorder, and family transitions.
The doulas regularly attend professional continuing education workshops pertinent to postpartum and breastfeeding to maintain doula certification, and remain up to date on current evidence based studies.
On average the doulas have been working for the service for five years, and all have impeccable recent client references available upon request.
A pre-birth registration questionnaire is completed to match the family with the doula. A visit is then arranged between the family and doula.