Arvizu: The First Doula Agency in Massachusetts Aims to Support Local Women

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Erin Arvizu, GoLocalWorcester Health Columnist

Sometimes the basic needs of laboring women are not met in our current healthcare system, but the Central MA Doula Agency (CMDA) hopes to change that by making doula support more accessible to the women and families of central Massachusetts.

Doulas play a vital role in supporting the emotional needs of women during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Heywood Hospital has been offering doula support as standard of care for over twenty years and they maintain the lowest C-section rate in the state of Massachusetts. Doula support has also been shown to increase self-esteem and improve breastfeeding rates.

CMDA offers three levels of doula support designed to cater to the different budgets and needs of laboring women and their families. This structure also allows doulas the option to maintain a more flexible schedule while still allowing them the opportunity to do what they love - support birthing women.

So how did CMDA come to be? Dineia Williams, Co-founder, student midwife and mother of three was inspired to launch CMDA based on her own personal experience of having a doula. “As a single mom,” Williams explains, “I was able to accomplish an empowering birth experience because of the support my doula gave me.” Since the birth of her daughter in 2012, Dineia has been working as a devoted birth doula and has attended many births.

“I love being a doula, but I wanted to take my business one step further,” Dineia shares, “All women deserve to have a doula. And doulas deserve to earn a living wage. One of the major goals of CMDA is to work with insurance companies to cover all or some of the cost of having a doula. Meeting the emotional needs of laboring and postpartum women really should be standard of care.”

In order to provide quality support to as many women as possible, CMDA is also developing a unique certification program where doulas can be trained in-house. “We’re teaming up with Kayla Daly of Worcester Music Therapy to incorporate a one of a kind program that utilizes traditional holistic doula training in conjunction with some music therapy techniques.” Music therapy is used in a variety of settings to help patients cope with pain, stabilize blood pressure and create a cohesive, bonding experience.

Want to learn more? Central MA Doula Agency is hosting an Open House this Saturday, June 20th at 2pm at Wild Orchid Baby. All expecting parents are welcome to join to learn more about CMDA.

Erin Arvizu is the owner of Wild Orchid Baby. If you need help exploring your birth options, stop by Wild Orchid Baby located at 490 Shrewsbury Street in Worcester and chat with local birth professionals and childbirth educators.