02/28/2026
This notice was sent out by an obstetric office informing patients that doulas will no longer be permitted to support labor within their practice. Patients desiring doula support are advised to seek care elsewhere.
The birth community is riled up.
But as the owner of a Doula Certification Organization, we completely understand why these policies are on the rise.
And it’s exactly why we structure and train our students the way we do, to prevent the future of doula regulation by teaching the true skills and approach that create positive birth outcomes… whether the doula even makes it to the birth or not.
Doulas are not independent medical advocates. Period.
They are not licensed providers.
They are not legally liable for medical decisions.
They do not hold power of attorney.
They cannot legally give medical advice.
They cannot override hospital policy.
A doula’s role is emotional, mental and physical support, sometimes education based on training and experience.
But when doulas operate without full-spectrum education, it creates a foundation of reacting from emotion instead of informed empowerment.
The “I’ll fight the system for you” branding is ego-driven and misleading. Policy battles are not won inside a labor room. Arguing regulations over a laboring mother increases stress under the guise of protection, it does not create autonomy, it creates the regulations we are now witnessing.
If doulas feel called to activism, that work belongs outside the birth room in legislation, policy reform and organized data collection.
When parents outsource advocacy instead of learning informed consent and self-agency themselves, maternal authority weakens. And yes, blurred scope and adversarial dynamics are part of why regulations are tightening. We have been saying this for years.
We need to support women.
Educate women.
Strengthen women.
But we must stop pretending doulas hold legal or medical authority they do not have. That confusion is the foundation of why these boundaries are being created..
Full articles from The Wombsisterhood on this topic:
wombsisterhood.wixsite.com/tppjo/post/how-do-we-actually-fix-the-system-change-birth-for-the-better
wombsisterhood.wixsite.com/tppjo/post/the-threat-of-doula-regulation-in-the-u-s
wombsisterhood.wixsite.com/tppjo/post/he-said-he-d-call-security-when-doulas-become-the-threat-instead-of-the-support
