A new training and support program is finally bringing more doulas to Monterey County.

Helen Diallo knows both the joy and the pain of the childbirth experience. The Monterey resident has experienced four pregnancies in Monterey County, one of which ended in a miscarriage. “I understand the fear, dread and anxiety that mothers can face, particularly of African ancestry,” says Diallo, who is African American. “It’s such a vulnerable space to be in physically and emotionally – and it’s such a magical and wonderful place to be in at the same time.”

Diallo has been helping other pregnant and postpartum women for years, including through a WhatsApp group where women can ask questions and get support from experts enlisted by Diallo and each other. Now she’s turning her passion into becoming a certified doula, thanks to a new program at Parenting Connection of Monterey County.

Research has shown that the use of trained and certified doulas who help pregnant women before, during and after birth leads to increased positive delivery outcomes, fewer C-sections and reduced anxiety, among other benefits. In 2022 the state approved adding doulas as a benefit for Medi-Cal patients, beginning in January 2023. Approval on paper was one thing, finding doulas in the county willing to sign on as providers was another.

The region’s Medi-Cal provider, Central California Alliance for Health, tried offering incentives to doulas to sign, and even $10,000 bonuses to nonprofits that recruited bilingual doulas. It took over a year to find two doulas who began as providers in April.

The process is now receiving a significant jumpstart through an $800,000 grant from the Alliance to PCMC to create and operate a training program and support hub for doulas. Two classes of 10 doula trainees each will begin training in October.

Trainees are paid for their time in class. Once they graduate and become state certified, they will be supported by PCMC with mentors, continuing education and handling of all Medi-Cal billing.

PCMC Executive Director Jaimee De Pompeo says there’s been a dearth of doulas locally partly because it can be a hard profession lacking emotional support. “There is a big issue with burnout,” she says. Low pay, being on call for births and witnessing difficult birth situations can take a toll. Mentors should help alleviate some of the strain.

Handling billing is also a challenge for individual doulas. PCMC will be doing it on their behalf, in turn paying them an hourly wage. The doulas will operate under PCMC’s business liability insurance and business license.

Working with other nonprofit partners – Maternal Mental Health Task Force, Kweens’ Kounsel and Birth Network of Monterey County – PCMC was able to recruit trainees.

Many of the trainees have already served as birth support for family and their community, like Diallo, who says she’s excited for the new opportunity.

“It is my hope in developing this new workforce of doulas, we can hold some of the weight for them so they can exist in the love and light of the work they are doing, which is bringing new life into the world,” Diallo says.