The Community Doula Network
Harnessing the collective power of community to create real change in perinatal health outcomes, one birth at a time.
Our mission
The Community Doula Network was founded on the principle that every pregnant person should have access to birth doula support – regardless of income level or health insurance. We believe that birth is a sacred act and should be treated with the utmost care, respect, and celebration.
Our dedicated team of volunteer community doulas is working to make that vision come true for birthing people across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region.
We’re committed to providing free doula services for pregnant people across the DMV. Some of the things our volunteer doulas do include:
Help pregnant people create birthing plans during prenatal visits
Provide free birth training and coaching
Attend and support births in hospitals, at birthing centers, or at home
Offer postpartum check ins to process the birthing experience and ensure overall wellness for both parents and their babies
The Community Doula Network is not a doula agency.
We are a collective of doulas who are committed to providing free doula support for those who would otherwise be unable to access or afford doula support for their births. CDN is simply the go-between entity that finds a free doula for a birthing person in DC. We receive client referrals, work with our team to pair clients with a volunteer doula (of a similar cultural background when possible), and help facilitate a powerful relationship throughout the birth journey.
Our volunteer doulas are offering their training and services free-of-charge
Because our volunteer doulas are offering their training and services free-of-charge, the Community Doula Network works to provide participating doulas with communal support and consultation, opportunities for continuing education, and help navigating the many systems involved in birthwork. Many of our doulas also receive assistance in their journey to receiving their birth doula certification through DONA International.
We deeply believe in the power of community and are harnessing our collective power to create real change in perinatal health outcomes, one birth at a time.
Our commitment to inclusion
We recognize the disparities in perinatal morbidity and mortality for Black birthers as a crisis in our community.
We are dedicated to uplifting the experiences of birthing people that are impacted by systemic racism and oppression. Many of our doulas come to this work based on their own birthing experiences and are committed to breaking cycles of birth trauma and disempowerment by ensuring all of our clients are able to experience the birth they desire.
We deeply believe in the power of community and are harnessing our collective power to create real change in perinatal health outcomes, one birth at a time.
Who we are
