Village Doula Program

FREE or Low-Cost Doula Support Now Available

The Village has trained a large group of new doulas who are ready to support local families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum—at no cost or very low cost while completing their certification process.

Text or email Sam Loza at 410-200-3598 or info@thevillagemd.com

to get matched with a doula.

Doulas do not count as visitors at Easton Hospital and are allowed during labor and postpartum.

What is a Doula?

A trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.

What a Doula Does:

Offers calm, consistent support before, during, and after birth
Advocates for your wishes and helps communicate with your care team
Provides comfort through touch, breathing, and relaxation
Assists with postpartum recovery and breastfeeding
Connects you with local resources and community support

Why have a Doula by Your Side?

Shorter labors and fewer medical interventions
Reduced stress and anxiety during birth
Greater confidence and satisfaction with your experience
More support for your partner
Someone focused entirely on you and your birthing experience

How experienced are these doulas?

Each of the doulas participating in this program has completed an in-depth, hands-on training process designed to prepare them for real birth support while working toward full Medicaid credentialing.

These doulas were trained through a special partnership between The Village Maternal Holistic Wellness Center and Coco Life, which focuses on equitable access to quality doula care on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The doulas' education doesn’t stop at certification—The Village provides ongoing professional development and business training to ensure every doula builds a strong, sustainable practice that serves local families well.

In addition, each doula receives:

Advanced childbirth education through Thrive Birth Services and Easton Hospital, deepening their knowledge of labor, delivery, and postpartum care.
Clinical observation opportunities, where they shadow labor & delivery nurses and midwives at Easton Hospital. This allows them to learn directly from the medical team, gain firsthand experience in the hospital setting, and develop collaborative relationships with the providers who will be part of your birth.

Some of these doulas are newer to birth work and currently completing the three births required for Medicaid credentialing, they are highly trained, well-supported, and carefully mentored by experienced doulas and birth professionals in our community. Every family who participates in this program receives compassionate, evidence-based care from someone who is both deeply committed and well-prepared to support them through this life-changing experience.

What are the goals of The Village Doula Program?

The goal of The Village Doula Program is to expand access to doula care on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, with a focus on Spanish speaking and BIPOC communities. This program is funded by the Babies Born Healthy: Doula Training and Capacity Building grant received from The Talbot County Health Department.

The program supports a diverse group of new and existing doulas, including several bilingual and Spanish-speaking doulas. The newly qualified doulas are offering free and low cost birth and postpartum doula services as they complete the three qualifying births required to apply for Medicaid credentialing. This will ensure the doulas gain valuable hands-on experience throughout the entire birth process — prenatal, birth, and postpartum — helping them become more confident and better prepared to serve the community. Families who participate in this program receive free or low-cost doula support while helping grow a stronger network of trained doulas for our region.

After completing their three required births and becoming credentialed with Medicaid, the doulas can be connected with Medicaid clients through the Mae pregnancy tracking platform. This will help ensure long-term access to doula care for local families.

The ultimate goal is simple: to make skilled, compassionate doula support available to every family—regardless of income or language—across the Eastern Shore.

How do I connect with a doula in this program?

It’s simple! Just text or email Village Owner Sam Loza at 410-200-3598 info@thevillagemd.com to be matched with a doula from our program.

After a brief conversation with Sam, you’ll be connected with three doulas from the program to interview. You can then choose the one who feels like the best fit for you and your birth preferences.

Our goal is to make the process easy, personal, and supportive—so you can focus on preparing for your baby with the right person by your side.