Peer support during pregnancy is typically in the area of birth preparation: identifying birth preferences, practicing labor positions and comfort techniques, going over the phases of labor and what to expect in each phase, and discussing what options and rights a woman/birthing person has in the delivery room. A peer supporter also helps a new family prepare for the transition to post-partum and newborn life, unpack any worries or fears, and instill a sense of confidence.

A peer supporter is typically “on-call” from ~38 weeks and accompanies the birthing person in their home, birth center, or hospital. They provide continuous physical and emotional support during labor and can also help partners understand how they can provide support.

Peer supporters are not midwives or doctors. While a they focus on individualized support for one person at a time, midwives often attend to several people in labor and are responsible for many clinical and administrative tasks besides direct labor support.

Easing the transition into newborn parenting can look different for every family, but may include lactation/bottle-feeding insight, helping to emotionally process the birth, or lending an empathetic ear in what is a particularly hormonal time in a person’s life. An essential role of the peer supporter post-partum is not only to check in on their client’s physical wellbeing, but also to provide emotional support, reassurance, and nourishment in whatever capacity is needed. Some people offer additional support such as overnight stays, picking up groceries, or watching older children so that the new parents can shower, nap, or have a moment to themselves.

A peer supporter/doula advocates for the client’s wishes as expressed in their birth plan, prenatal conversations, and intrapartum discussion, by encouraging them to ask their midwife questions and to express their preferences or concerns. It’s very important that both parties recognize that the advocacy role does not include the supporter speaking instead of the birthing person or making decisions for them. The advocacy role is best described as streamlining the communication between the client and care provider.

Peer supporters/doulas do NOT:

• Give medical advice
• Diagnose illnesses
• Prescribe or give medicines, treatments, or drugs
• Provide clinical or medical tasks, such as checking cervical dilation, monitoring fetal heartbeat, or delivering babies
• Speak for their client or make decisions for the client