Healthy Start Doula | Healthy Start of Southwest Florida

Healthy Start Doula Program

The Healthy Start SWFL Doula Program aims to improve birth experiences, support healthy pregnancies and postpartum recovery, promote breastfeeding, reduce preventable complications, improve poor birth outcomes, and advance healthier outcomes for mothers and babies across Lee, Collier, Hendry, and Glades counties. Our goal is to increase access to doula care particularly for families and communities experiencing barriers to maternal health services while strengthening connections between families, healthcare providers, hospitals, and community resources. Through comprehensive, no-cost training, scholarships, ongoing professional development, and workforce support, the program prepares doulas to serve as trusted members of the maternal care team. Trained doulas are connected with local families to provide continuous emotional, physical, informational, and advocacy support throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. By investing in local doulas, we are also investing in a sustainable maternal health workforce made up of trusted advocates who understand and reflect the communities they serve.

How a Doula Can Support You:

✅ Emotional & Physical Support
Provides encouragement, reassurance, comfort measures, and continuous support during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period.

✅ Pregnancy & Birth Education
Helps families understand pregnancy, labor and birth, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, safe sleep, newborn care, and what to expect along the way.

✅ Support for a Positive Birth Experience
Helps families prepare for birth, communicate their preferences, ask questions, and feel informed and supported throughout their maternity care experience.

✅ Postpartum & Newborn Support
Provides support after birth as families adjust to life with a new baby, including breastfeeding support, newborn education, and recognizing when additional help or healthcare may be needed.

✅ Connection to Care & Community Resources
Connects families with prenatal and postpartum care, Healthy Start services, healthcare providers, social services, parenting resources, and other community programs.

✅ A Trusted Member of Your Care Team
Works alongside, not in place of, your doctors, midwives, nurses, and other healthcare providers to help you feel supported, informed, and heard throughout your pregnancy and postpartum journey.

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Every birth story is unique. This is yours.

Every mother deserves support, encouragement, and someone by her side during one of life’s most powerful moments. Our doulas provide compassionate guidance, education, and advocacy to help families feel confident, empowered, and cared for throughout their pregnancy and birth journey. Services beginning in early 2027

Join the Healthy Start SWFL Doula Program

Whether you’re new to doula work or an experienced doula, we invite you to join our growing network of compassionate professionals supporting families throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

Our program offers no-cost training, professional development, workforce support, and opportunities to serve Healthy Start families across Southwest Florida.

Interested in joining us? Submit an interest form to learn about training and opportunities for both new and experienced doulas.

All of our programs are powered by Connect, Florida’s coordinated intake and referral process. Connect is the one-stop entry point to connect families with home visiting programs and other resources to improve outcomes for moms and babies.