How Doulas Can Work Better With Hospital Staff (From an OB Who Welcomes You in the Room)

By Dr. Bill Chun, OB-GYN | 35+ Years in Practice | Thousands of Births Attended

I’ve worked with doulas who elevated the entire birth experience, and I’ve worked with doulas who unintentionally turned the room into a standoff.

If you want to truly serve your client and be welcomed back into the hospital, you have to understand the environment you’re walking into.

Hospitals have their own culture, rules, and hierarchy. You don’t have to agree with all of it, but knowing how to navigate it will make you far more effective.

Here’s what I’ve learned from the thousands of births I’ve attended: the doulas who master these skills aren’t just tolerated, they’re valued.

1. Learn the Chain of Command

In the hospital, the nurse is often the gatekeeper.

Build rapport here first. A respectful relationship with the nurse will open more doors than you realize.

2. Stay in Your Lane

Your lane is emotional, physical, and informational support.

It’s not giving medical advice, interpreting fetal monitor strips, or telling the nurse or OB what they “should” be doing.

If you cross that line, you risk being shut out,  and your client loses.

3. Read the Room

Sometimes the best thing you can do is be still.

If the staff is moving quickly, it’s for a reason. Ask your client if they want you closer, quieter, or advocating, but never assume.

4. Use “We” Language

“We’re going to try a new position” is softer than “She doesn’t want that.”

It invites cooperation rather than setting up sides.

5. Debrief Privately

If something concerns you, discuss it with your client privately, not in front of the entire care team.

You can always circle back for clarification after the moment has passed.

6. Bring Solutions, Not Just Objections

If you’re going to question something, pair it with an alternative that fits hospital protocols.

It’s harder to shut down someone who offers options.

Bottom Line

The doulas who thrive in hospital settings aren’t the loudest.

They’re the most strategic.

They protect their client’s wishes without alienating the people holding the medical license.

Want the Full Playbook?

This is just one part of what I teach in Doula Unbound,  the OB-led training that shows you exactly how to work inside the hospital system while keeping your client’s autonomy intact.

You’ll learn:

• How labor really begins (and how to support it without pushing interventions)

• The medical indications for induction (and when to push back)

• How to interpret the flow of the room without crossing into the provider’s role

Join Doula Unbound and become the doula the hospital welcomes, not just tolerates.