A Perinatal Community Health Worker (PCHWs) is a professionally trained non-clinical maternal health professional who sees the mother (and her partner if applicable) throughout her pregnancy, during labor, and postpartum to provide emotional, physical, and informational support. PCHWs provide outreach, education, referrals, advocacy, labor, birth, and postpartum support, and home visiting services to expectant women; Additionally, the PCHW accompanies the women in labor to help ensure a safe and positive birth experience. While offering similar services as Doulas, PCHWs have more extensive training and experience. Women and their partners who choose to receive doula care/labor support during the childbearing year tend to have lower rates of medical interventions during their labors, including assisted deliveries and caesarean births. Mothers (and their partners) also tend to feel more bonded with their newborns, have increased parenting confidence, and doula supported mothers tend to breastfeed their babies longer and more exclusively.

 

Our Perinatal Community Health Workers complete a 14-week didactic and hands on skills training which includes the following topics:

• Anatomy and Physiology of the pregnant mother and baby 

• Nutrition for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

• Informed Consent, Advocacy, and Communication Skills

• Stages of Labor

• Comfort Measures and Relaxation Techniques 

• Supporting the Mother with an Epidural

• Complications in Pregnancy and Labor 

• Medical Interventions 

• Supporting Mothers through Cesarean Births

• VBACs, Twins and Breeches

• Lactation (Breastfeeding) Management

• Contraception Education and Fertility Awareness

 

Mamatoto Village PCHWs attend their first three births with the support and mentorship of an Experienced Birthworker, learning hands-on skills and techniques. 

 

Though each of our PCHWs offers her unique experiences and support style, we all provide these services as a minimum:

• 2-3 prenatal visits (the first two in our office and the 3rd in your home)

• Birth Plan Counseling

• Comfort measures and relaxation techniques exploration and practice

• On-call 24/7 support beginning 3 weeks before and 2 weeks after your estimated due date (EDD)

• Continuous labor and birth support from when you call in your PCHW until a few hours after delivery

• 3 postpartum visits with include Breastfeeding Support

 

 

Fee for Services:

Mamatoto Village use a sliding scale to determine the fee for our services,

which is 1% of your family's gross annual income. Labor Support fees range from ($0-$700). We also offer flexible payment plans. No matter your financial situation, we will work out a way for you to access our services. We do not turn anyone away due to an inability to pay. 

 

We volunteer our labor support services to teen and homeless mothers on a limited basis. 

 

If you have any questions about our services, feel free to send us an email!