Meet the Mary's Hands Network Doula Team
How we are changing birth outcomes across Louisiana, one family at a time
All week, I have been telling you about doulas: what we do, why it matters, what a day in our lives looks like, and what it takes to become one. Today, I want to tell you about us. About Mary's Hands Network. About the community of doulas who are showing up for Louisiana families every single day.
Because this work does not happen in isolation. It happens in community. It happens through relationship. And it happens because people like you believe that every family deserves support.
By the Numbers
Those numbers represent something more than statistics. They represent 400 families who had someone in the room who cared about them. 254 people who decided this work mattered enough to train for it. Countless hours of prenatal visits, labor support, and postpartum check-ins. A growing movement of people who believe birth support should not be a luxury.
How It Started
Mary's Hands Network started with a simple question: Why should free doula support only be available to families who happen to know the right people or live in the right places? Louisiana has some of the worst maternal health outcomes in the country. Our families need support. And there were people willing to provide it. We just needed to connect them.
What began as a small network of volunteer doulas has grown into a statewide organization offering free doula services, ICEA-approved training, and a community of birth workers committed to changing outcomes for Louisiana families.
I started this organization because I believe in the power of support. I have seen what happens when families have someone in their corner. I have seen the research on doula outcomes. And I have seen too many families go through birth alone when they did not have to.
Where We Serve
Baton Rouge
Our home base and largest team. Serving families throughout the Capital Region.
New Orleans
Supporting families across the Greater New Orleans area and surrounding parishes.
Lafayette
Serving Acadiana with doulas who understand the unique culture of this region.
Houma/Thibodaux
Bringing doula support to the Bayou Region.
Hammond
Supporting families on the Northshore.
Central Louisiana
Coming soon! We are expanding to serve families in the Alexandria area.
Our Team Model
Why We Use a Team Approach
Unlike private doula practices where one doula serves one family, Mary's Hands Network uses a team-based model. Each family is matched with 2-3 volunteer doulas who share the responsibility of their care.
Why does this work?
First, it is more sustainable for our volunteers. Nobody has to be on call 24/7 alone. Doulas can have lives, jobs, families of their own, and still contribute to this work.
Second, it provides better coverage for families. With multiple doulas familiar with your story, there is always someone available when labor starts.
Third, it creates mentorship opportunities. Newer doulas learn alongside experienced ones. Our community grows stronger as we support each other.
Our Outcomes
We track our outcomes because we believe in evidence-based practice. Here is what we are seeing with the families we serve:
Mary's Hands Network Birth Outcomes
(vs. ~32% national average)
(within 2 hours of birth)
These outcomes reflect what the research predicts: continuous doula support leads to fewer cesarean deliveries and higher breastfeeding rates. We are proud of these numbers, and we are committed to continuing to improve.
But here is what the numbers do not capture: The mother who felt heard for the first time in her pregnancy. The partner who finally understood how to help. The family who walked out of the hospital feeling empowered instead of traumatized. Those outcomes matter too, even if they are harder to measure.
Services We Offer
For Families
Free Birth Doula Support: Prenatal visits, continuous labor support, and postpartum follow-up, all at no cost to families. We serve anyone who needs us, regardless of income, insurance, or immigration status.
Spanish Language Services: We have Spanish-speaking doulas available to serve families who are more comfortable communicating in Spanish. Contact Breea Carter to connect with our Spanish services team.
Bereavement Support: For families experiencing loss, we offer compassionate support from doulas trained in perinatal bereavement.
For Aspiring Doulas
ICEA-Approved Birth Doula Training: Our comprehensive training program prepares you for certification through the International Childbirth Education Association. We have trained 254 doulas through 15+ cohorts.
Mentorship and Support: New doulas are paired with experienced mentors and gain hands-on experience through our volunteer program. You do not have to figure this out alone.
Upcoming Training: We are planning a training in Central Louisiana in early March 2026. If you have been thinking about becoming a doula, this could be your opportunity.
The People Behind the Work
Our doulas come from all walks of life. Teachers, nurses, social workers, stay-at-home parents, students, retirees. Some had their own powerful birth experiences that called them to this work. Others never gave birth but feel drawn to support those who do. Some are building doula careers. Others volunteer a few births a year alongside other commitments.
What they share is this: a belief that every family deserves support, a willingness to show up in the middle of the night, and a commitment to serving without judgment.
They also share a community. Our doulas support each other through debriefs after difficult births, celebrations after beautiful ones, and everything in between. We share resources, cover for each other, and grow together. This work can be isolating if you do it alone. We do not do it alone.
How You Can Be Part of This
There are many ways to support our work:
Become a Doula
If you have been reading this series and feeling called to this work, we want to train you. Our next training cohort is forming now. Learn more about training
Request Services
If you or someone you know is pregnant and could benefit from free doula support, we are here. We serve families across Louisiana regardless of ability to pay. Apply for services
Donate
Your financial support helps us train doulas, provide supplies for families in need, and expand our reach across Louisiana. Every dollar goes directly to supporting families and growing our community of birth workers. Make a donation
Spread the Word
Tell people about us. Share this blog series. Let families know that free doula support exists. Awareness is one of our biggest challenges. You can help simply by talking about us.
Partner With Us
If you are a healthcare provider, community organization, or business that wants to support families, let us talk about partnership opportunities. Contact us
Why This Matters Now
Louisiana has some of the worst maternal health outcomes in the nation. Black mothers here are four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white mothers. Our infant mortality rates are among the highest in the country. These are not just statistics. These are our neighbors, our families, our community members.
Doula support is not going to fix everything that is broken in our healthcare system. But it is something we can do right now, today, to make birth safer and more supported for the families who need it most.
Every time one of our doulas walks into a hospital room, we are pushing back against a system that often leaves families feeling alone, uninformed, and powerless. We are showing that care and presence matter. We are proving that support should not be a luxury.
A Final Word
This World Doula Week, I want to thank every doula who has served with Mary's Hands Network. Every person who has donated, volunteered, or spread the word. Every family who trusted us with their birth experience.
And I want to invite you, whoever you are reading this, to be part of what comes next. Whether you become a doula, request our services, donate to our work, or simply share this post with someone who needs to hear it, you are part of this movement.
Birth support is not charity. It is justice. And together, we are building a Louisiana where every family has someone in their corner.
Join the Movement
Visit Mary's Hands Network to learn more about our services, training opportunities, and how you can support families across Louisiana.
World Doula Week 2026 Blog Series
Post 1: What Is a Doula, Really?
Post 2: The Evidence: Why Doula Support Works
Post 3: A Day (and Night) in the Life of a Doula
Post 4: Could You Be a Doula?
Post 5: Meet the Mary's Hands Network Doula Team (You are here)
Thank you for reading our World Doula Week series!
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