About Us
Mission
Our Vision
Our Vision
At Mary's Hands Network, we're on a mission to empower women, promote birth excellence, and bridge the health equity gap in our community. We provide top-notch training programs and manage a network of dedicated volunteer community doulas who offer essential support services to the women in our community free of charge.
Our Vision
Our Vision
Our Vision
To ensure that every woman has access to the benefits of a doula and a dedicated community of support during the perinatal period. We strive to create a society where women can achieve birth excellence and have equitable access to quality healthcare, regardless of their socioeconomic background.
Meet Our Doulas
Meet the amazing people who support the network!
Our Name
Why are we called “Mary’s Hands”?
In the first chapter of the Christian Bible’s Gospel of Luke is the story of the birth of John the Baptist. John’s mother was Elizabeth, the cousin of Jesus’s mother, Mary. In the Gospel story, Mary is called by an Angel of the Lord to visit her cousin Elizabeth who is in the final months of her pregnancy. Mary supported and helped Elizabeth through her pregnancy, birth, and afterwards. Mary was Elizabeth’s doula.
We are called to serve the women of our community in the same way that Mary did for her cousin Elizabeth. We are here to teach our community members how to use their hands to serve and change the narrative around birth. Our nation has some of the worst statistic around maternal morbidity and mortality especially for women of color and it is time to fight back. Join our mission to empower women to empower each other.
Doulas on the News
Mary's Hands Network Equal Opportunity Policy
Mary's Hands Network maintains a strong policy of equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants. Our partners must have their own equal employment opportunity policies and comply with both their policies and ours in the hiring and supervision of volunteers and staff.
Mary's Hands Network Equal Opportunity Policy
Mary's Hands Network is dedicated to hiring the best-qualified individuals. We ensure equal employment opportunities, hiring, training, promoting, and compensating based on competence and potential. We do not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other protected classifications. This policy applies to all employment aspects.
We comply with the ADA and relevant laws, providing reasonable accommodations for disabilities. Partner applications and job descriptions must align with our policy. We may request partners remove unnecessary ableist language unless it is an essential function that cannot be reasonably accommodated. For example, "must be able to lift and carry 50 pounds" might be revised to include “with the assistance of a lift, dolly, or other reasonable accommodation.”
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
At Mary's Hands Network, we're all about leveling the playing field and ensuring everyone gets a fair shot. We're tackling the stark disparities in maternal health head-on, especially for minority groups. Did you know Black women in the US are three to four times more likely to face pregnancy-related complications compared to white women? And Indigenous women are also at significantly higher risk. That's why diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just buzzwords for us—they're the heart and soul of what we do.
We believe it's time for bold moves. By forging strong partnerships with organizations that share our commitment to equity, we're ensuring everyone has a voice in tackling society's biggest challenges. Because healthy communities can't thrive when historic and systemic racism, class oppression, and gender discrimination hold people back. We're investing in equity and divesting from outdated systems to pave the way for real change.
About Doula Care
Please reach us at info@maryshandsnetwork.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Mary's Hands Network Volunteer Doula Program is a community-based initiative that connects trained doulas with expectant mothers who may benefit from additional support during their pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum journey.
- A doula is a trained and experienced professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support to women and families during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Doulas offer non-medical support and work alongside healthcare providers to provide compassionate care.
- Volunteer doulas provide emotional, physical, and informational support to expectant mothers and families. This may include offering comfort measures during labor, providing emotional support, assisting with breastfeeding, and helping with postpartum recovery and newborn care.
- Doulas can provide emotional and practical support to women in crisis pregnancy, helping them navigate the challenges and uncertainties they may face.
- Doulas have the opportunity to assess a mom's individual needs and help her find the right support to bridge any gaps and improve her overall experience.
- Doulas don't just provide support during birth, but also help moms prepare for pregnancy, birth, and the continued growth of their family.
Anyone who has completed our doula training program and is passionate about supporting expectant mothers and families can apply to become a volunteer doula with Mary's Hands Network.
While previous experience as a doula is beneficial, it is not necessarily required. Mary's Hands Network provides the opportunity training and ongoing support for volunteers to ensure they are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to provide effective support to expectant mothers and families.
Volunteer doulas are matched with expectant mothers based on factors such as availability, location, and specific needs of the mother. Mary's Hands Network carefully considers these factors to ensure the best possible match for each mother.
- ICEA doula training provides a comprehensive understanding of the birth process and the various options available to women during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.
- Certification through ICEA ensures that the doula has met a high standard of training and professionalism, giving women and families greater confidence in their abilities.
- ICEA doula training also includes education on cultural competency, enabling doulas to serve women from diverse backgrounds with sensitivity and respect.
- Being an ICEA-certified doula allows for continued education and networking opportunities with other birth professionals, keeping doulas up-to-date on the latest research and best practices in the field.
- Many hospitals and birthing centers require doulas to be certified in order to practice, making ICEA certification a valuable asset for those seeking to serve a wider range of clients.
If you are an expectant mother seeking support, you can connect with Mary's Hands Network by contacting us via email at info@maryshandsnetwork.org. We are dedicated to providing compassionate care and support to empower you on your motherhood journey.
Yes. RS 22:1059.1 - RS 22:1059.5 are the most recent laws passed in Louisiana related to doula care, lactation support, insurance coverage, the creation of the doula registry board, as well as acknowledged the dire state of our current maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality rates. You can access these, and all other Louisiana law codes here: https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?p=y&d=1240072
Mary's Hands Network
451 E. Airport Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70806
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