Why I Use the Codoula Model and How It Works
by Court Harris
There are lots of different ways to practice birth work, from solo practice to collectives to partnerships and then some.
In my four and a half years of being a full-spectrum companion, I have primarily taken birth clients as a solo companion. However, this year, I have shifted to codoula support, and I’m excited to share why I’m opting for this model and how it works for me and my community.
Why I Use the Codoula Model
Birth work requires dynamic, expansive care, and the truth is, this takes a lot of time, energy, and resources.
I care deeply about doing this work in ways that are sustainable, as well as mutually beneficial.
I want my clients to be well, and I, too, want to be well!
I want my colleagues to be well!
I want my community to be well!
I want all of us to be well!
Birth* clients have varying, unique needs and this will continue unfolding throughout the relationship. We don’t know, when we start working together, how someone’s journey will look. They may end up, for example, having a planned cesarean, a long induction, a loss, an ECV, or a difficult immediate postpartum. We don’t know whether they will birth unexpectedly early or whether we will be on call up to 42 weeks.
No matter what their journey looks like, I feel so much confidence and ease knowing that my partner and I can hold this space together.
Working in partnership with other companions has afforded me many benefits this year including the following:
Experiential learning from my colleagues at prenatal and postpartum meetings– and even in our group text thread with clients.
Expanded knowledge base of resources and information through my codoulas.
Built-in support for processing and debriefing.
Greater ease to travel, knowing that I have shared call time with my partner.
Less impact to my body, as my partner and I can tag out after 10-12 hour shifts (if we are both in town) or split overnight care so we both get sleep. If I am sick and can’t attend a birth, I can lean on my co-companion.
Ability to offer clients more expansive care with things such as welcome home visits, in-hospital visits, and integrated postpartum care.
Potential for taking on extra clients due to the shared load.
*I am sharing about my experience offering codoula care specifically for birth clients, but I believe the general principles of partnership can be applied to a range of caregiving situations and scenarios.
How I Implement a Codoula Model
First and foremost, this model requires a commitment to relationship and mutual trust.
I am currently partnering with a few colleagues and friends that I have been in community with since the beginning of my birth work journey. I know these folks offer care that aligns with my values and how I practice.
Before we take on a client together, we review our rates and agreements to ensure that we are both comfortable with the terms. Then, once we are ready to move forward, there is ongoing communication about personal needs and requests—blackout dates, travel dates, happenings with other birth clients, etc.
My sliding scale document offers this statement about co-companion care that can be helpful in expressing the structure of the model to clients:
“In an effort to make care work sustainable, such that I can show up my best for your family, I have increasingly utilized the codoula model. This means that you and your family get to build relationships with and have access to the knowledge and care of two doulas. Both doulas will attend all prenatal visits. Labor and birth support may be split depending on length of labor, needs of clients, and doula availability (or they may both attend!). There will typically be one postpartum visit with both doulas present, to process the journey, as well as 1-2 postpartum care visits.”
To give an example of what this looks like, here’s a glimpse at my current caseload:
I have two codoula clients whose estimated due dates are this month.
One client birthed last week. My partner had been at another birth the night before and got zero sleep, so I was able and willing to take the night shift for our shared client. This means that she will take on the postpartum care shifts.
My other shared client is due in a week, and my codoula needs to travel unexpectedly for a funeral this week, so I will take the weekend call solo if they’re still pregnant. If the birth happens before or after my codoula’s travel, we will be in touch on the day(s) of to decide who has the capacity to attend and how we will split shifts.
It is probably clear by now that this model of practice is not cut and dry.
It requires the doulas to be more flexible in the ways and times they show up for one another and for the clients. That said, in my experience, partnerships also provide me with a great deal more security about meeting the clients needs without burning out.
I also want to acknowledge that there are some complications of the codoula model. For me, the biggest one is having one additional calendar to work with when trying to schedule visits. Additionally, the rates for codoula are higher than solo doula in order for both people to be compensated fairly.
What are the Benefits to Clients
How does the codoula model benefit the families who hire them?
My first thought is this: doulas who are working in sustainable ways will be more resourced and better able to show up for their clients. This is a bit of an invisible benefit that is not easily quantifiable.
In addition, these are some of the benefits that come to mind:
Known backup. While most doulas have backup doulas they can call on if they need last-minute coverage, that person will be a new, unknown member of their birth team. Under the codoula model, however, clients will have the time and space to build relationship with both companions.
More expansive care. With two doulas, there can be more coverage, as I mentioned above, for extra visits, especially in the immediate postpartum time.
Two birth team members whose focus is on the birthing person and partner(s), if relevant. The more people who are tuned in to the ebbs and flows the birthing person is going through, the better! (Under typical OBGYN care, babies have seen their pediatrician multiple times before a birthing person is even seen once. So IMO, the birthing person needs so much more care and attention!)
Two sources for information, education, resources, and referrals, as well as for emotional support and processing.
Each doula has different strengths, and together they can show up for more of the clients needs over time.
Find Your Community
Whether the codoula model resonates with you or not, I hope you find your community! And I hope you create ways of doing this work that make it sustainable and enjoyable.
Birth work, like all carework, is essential work.
Let’s keep working together to build and vision a future in which everyone can birth (or not) in systems of care.
Court Harris (they/them) is a witness, space-holder, supporter, and caregiver for families of all types and in all stages. They have served youth and their families since 2008. Court is passionate about honoring life’s transitions, and they believe that all birthing people deserve compassionate, steady, and informed support throughout their unique reproductive journeys. Court works with a wide range of clients, including folks who identify as highly sensitive, queer, trans, polyam, teens or young parents, and fellow caregivers.
As a full-spectrum companion, Court is proud to elevate the voices and needs of each client they have the honor of serving. They are dedicated to inclusive, anti-oppressive work both in their personal and professional relationships and in the systems they live and work in.