Pregnancy and childbirth is an exciting time in the life of a family — but also intimidating, disconcerting and sometimes downright scary. Stephanie Hulse and Amy Houghtaling are hoping to alleviate some of the anxiety that pregnant women, new mothers and their families feel by offering their services as professional doulas.

Hulse, owner of Turlock Doula Services, and Houghtaling, owner of Wave’s Embrace Doula Services, each operate as independent professionals in the Turlock area, but support each other in their goal of spreading the word about the benefits of having a doula.

“We’re like a professional birth attendant. When somebody is pregnant, getting ready to deliver, we start working with them to prepare them for birth, either through education or just preparing them on how the process works. We offer different breathing exercises that can help, different relaxations that can help them prepare their bodies, or some moves they might want to try during labor…When they go into labor we go and meet them wherever they want to have their baby,” said Hulse.

Hulse said that a doula is different than a midwife. A midwife provides medical care during and after birth, while a doula offers educational, emotional and physical support.

“A doula is offering continuous support throughout labor. When you’re at the hospital and you have the baby, you maybe will see your doctor once or twice the whole time you’re there. The nurses are going in and out of your room all the time. We’re there to offer support — emotional support, informational support, physical support — for the birthing person and their partner. We’re not there to replace their partner, but we support them through the entire labor, support them through delivery. We’re there when they deliver; we don’t catch the babies, but we’re there. And then we are there for the first couple of hours after they have the baby to help ensure bonding and early breastfeeding, if that’s what they want.”

Houghtaling described her role in the birthing process as the “calm voice” in the sometimes chaotic circumstances that surround delivering a baby.

“We listen. We support you. We give you real information that validates your feelings. Sometimes they go into their doctors offices and hospitals and then just get bullied or pushed around or coerced into making a decision because they’re frightened,” said Houghtaling. “And we’re there to bring in a professional, impartial, third perspective. I’m that person in the room who says, ‘Do you want to take a moment to think about that and look at your birth plan?’”

Both Hulse and Houghtaling also offer postpartum services.

“We’re available. You contract with us and you have access to us 24/7, all the way through your birth and beyond. And that really good for new parents and new moms…You’ve got someone watching over your body care, your baby’s care, your partner or spouse in the home, your other children, your family,” said Houghtaling.

Along with being certified as a birth and postpartum doula, Hulse is also certified as a breastfeeding educator, young parent support specialist, trauma-informed care, loss and bereavement doula and a developmental disabilities specialist.

Education is very important to expecting parents and Hulse said she is excited to host childbirth classes in Turlock, a service that has been lacking for quite a while. She is starting a four-part childbirth education course in September. Classes will be held at the I Am Yoga Wellness Studio in Turlock. For more information, visit www.TurlockDoulaServices.com or call (209) 262-4114.

Houghtaling and Hulse said that now is a great time for families to learn more about having a doula part of their birthing process as staring Jan. 1, 2023, doula services are covered under Medi-Cal. The local doulas said that they have also found that more private insurance companies have also expanded delivery services to include doulas.

“Things are shifting and we’re getting more support for the value in support roles. It’s really amazing to be able to tell our potential clients (about the new law) since Stanislaus County has 47% on Medi-Cal and Merced County is 51% Medi-Cal…We’re just happy to see the pendulum swinging the other way and these things becoming more recognized,” said Houghtaling.

For more information about the doula services offered by Houghtaling, visit www.wavesembrace.com or call (209) 585-8610.