VCU SCHOOL OF NURSING DOULA PROGRAM

Give Us a Call!

Your Birth is Important to Us

The VCU volunteer doulas strive to provide doula

support to women and families who otherwise could
not afford private doula services. If you feel our
program would be a good t for you based on your
birthing and familys needs, please call us at the
number listed on the back of this brochure.

We know that every pregnancy and every birth are

unique - even pregnancies for the same mom. Your
second, third, fourth (or more!) pregnancies are all
different, and you may have different needs for each
one.

We would be happy to answer any questions about

how our students are trained, where they attend
births, and what their job description entails.
Please call early; our monthly limits for referral slots
do tend to ll up.
We wish you all the best for your labor and birth!

Hoping for a natural vaginal birth? We can help. You

cant imagine labor without an epidural? We can
help. Are you scheduled for a c-section? We can
help. Are you high or low risk? We can help. Seeing
the doctor or the midwife? Were here!
Your birth is important to us, and we will support you
in any way we can.

SCHOOL OF NURSING

Doulas

With you every centimeter of the way.

Telephone 804.828.3375
E-mail lindnersl@vcu.edu; kbell3@vcu.edu
VCU School of Nursing
1100 East Leigh Street
Richmond, VA 23298-0567
*Citations available upon request

VCU SCHOOL OF NURSING DOULA PROGRAM

Who We Are

What is a Doula?

The doulas of Virginia Commonwealth University

(VCU) is a dedicated and compassionate group of
nursing students who volunteer their time as labor
and birth doulas. Our services are 100% free to you.

A doula is a trained birth assistant. They are not

medical providers like a nurse midwife, nurse or
physician, but they provide valuable emotional and
psychosocial support during your pre-birth, labor and
delivery, and postpartum (or after birth) periods. Our
doulas only provide labor and delivery support at
this time.

Our program was started by Mrs. Susan Lindner,

M.S.N., RNC-OB, clinical assistant professor at the
VCU School of Nursing in 2011. Volunteers trained
through a local program in Richmond, Virginia and
began caring for mothers in our community.
Since its start, our specially designed program has
grown to include over 30 uniquely trained doula
volunteers. Our doulas are ready to assist you
during your labor and birth, as well as meet in
advance to get to know you and your wishes for
your birth.
Some of our doulas are also procient in foreign
languages, including Spanish, French and Vietnamese.
Please call us to discuss special needs you may have.

What We Do
We provide prenatal support and labor and delivery
services as follows:
Meet with you twice before your labor to get to
know you and discuss your birth wishes.
Provide support to you during your labor as we are
able.

Research has shown that having a doula provides

many benets to the mother and child. Mothers who
have doulas are less likely to*:
Have a c-section
Have an epidural

Provide a back up doula to make every effort to

attend you at your birth!

And they are more likely to*:

Have a vaginal birth
Breastfeed successfully and for longer than their
non-doula supported peers.

Provide unconditional support for your birth wishes

and plan. We support you no matter what your plan
is, or how your labor unfolds.

Its hard work bringing your

baby into this world, and every
woman should feel love, strength,
encouragement and joy in those
moments.

Stay with you a few hours after your birth to ensure

your comfort before we leave.