When we step into a birthing room or a family’s home, we often talk about the "vibes." We talk about the energy, the connection, and the heart we put into our work. And while those things are the soul of doula care, there is a technical side to what we do that deserves just as much attention.
In my continuous learning journey, I’ve realized that some of the clinical frameworks used in healthcare can actually make us better doulas. One of the most powerful tools I’ve brought from my PSW certification training is the DIPPS Standard.
If you haven’t heard of DIPPS before, don’t worry: it’s not a standard doula certification term. It’s a framework used to ensure high-quality, person-centered care. DIPPS stands for Dignity, Independence, Preference, Privacy, and Safety.
By applying these five pillars to your doula practice, you aren’t just "helping" a family; you are providing a professionalized, high-standard level of care that respects the doula's scope of practice while elevating the experience for the birthing person. Let’s break down how these clinical pillars translate into the beautiful, messy, and sacred world of doula work.
1. Dignity: The Heart of Respectful Care
Dignity is the foundation of everything we do. In a clinical setting, dignity means treating a person in a way that shows you value them. In the doula world, especially during labor, dignity can sometimes feel like it’s at risk. When someone is in the thick of transition, they might be exposed, making sounds they’ve never made, or feeling completely vulnerable.
As doulas, our job is to be the guardians of that dignity.
This means more than just being "nice." It means:
- Asking for permission before touching their body, even if you’ve been doing hip squeezes for six hours.
- Ensuring they are covered up when hospital staff enter the room, if that is their wish.
- Speaking to them, not about them, when doctors or nurses are present.
For those of us coming from diverse backgrounds, preserving dignity also means honoring the cultural preferences of the family. Our "superpowers" as immigrant doulas often lie in our ability to understand the nuances of respect in different cultures. When we uphold a client’s dignity, we are telling them: "You are the authority in this room."
2. Independence: Empowering, Not "Saving"
There is a common misconception that a doula is there to "save" the birthing person from the system or to do everything for them. But the DIPPS standard of Independence reminds us that our goal is the exact opposite.
Independence in doula care is about fostering the client’s self-reliance. We are there to provide the tools, the physical support: like traditional shawl support or comfort sifting: and the evidence-based information so that they can make the decisions.
When we step back and let a partner take over the massage or let the birthing person find their own rhythm, we are supporting their independence. We want them to walk away from their birth feeling like they did it, not like the doula did it for them. This builds confidence that carries right into the postpartum period and parenthood.
3. Preference: Honoring Informed Choice
In the PSW world, preference is about knowing how a person likes their tea or what time they want to wake up. In the doula world, preference is the pillar of Informed Choice.
Every family has unique needs and values. Our job is to set aside our own biases about what a "good birth" looks like and focus entirely on the client’s preferences. This is where our slow-care approach as doulas really shines. We take the time to listen to their fears, their hopes, and their traditions.
Whether a client wants an unmedicated physiological birth or a planned cesarean with all the bells and whistles, the DIPPS standard dictates that their preference is our priority. This is also where we integrate ancestral wisdom. If a client wants to follow the traditions of Cuarentena or specific postpartum rituals from their cultural heritage, we support that preference with the same level of professionalism as we do their medical birth plan.
4. Privacy: More Than Just a Closed Door
Privacy is a big one, especially in the age of social media. In a clinical sense, privacy is about confidentiality and physical space. For doulas, this pillar applies in two major ways:
Physical Privacy: During labor, the body works best when it feels safe and unobserved. We can advocate for the lights to be dimmed, the door to be closed, and unnecessary people to be kept out of the room.
Digital & Information Privacy: This is part of professionalizing your "soft skills." Always ask before taking a photo. Never share a client’s story or images on your social media without explicit, written consent. Respecting their privacy builds a level of trust that is unshakable. When a client knows their most vulnerable moments are safe with you, they can truly let go and do the work of birthing.
5. Safety: Physical and Emotional Security
Safety is the final pillar, and it is perhaps the most technical. In our scope of practice, we do not perform clinical tasks like checking blood pressure or fetal heart rates. However, safety is still our responsibility.
Physical Safety: This includes things like ensuring the birthing person is stable when they get out of a birth pool or making sure they aren't tripping over cords in a hospital room. It also includes your safety (which we talk about in our ergonomics training!). If you are exhausted and your body is failing, you are no longer a safe support person.
Emotional Safety: This is the "soft skill" that is actually very technical. It involves trauma-informed care and creating a space where the client feels emotionally secure enough to express their needs.
By following the DIPPS standard, we ensure that we are operating within our scope while providing a safety net of support that covers both the body and the mind.
Why This Matters for the Global Doula Movement
You might be thinking, "Claudia, this sounds like a lot of rules for something that should be intuitive." But here’s the thing: when we use frameworks like DIPPS, we bridge the gap between ancestral wisdom and modern professional standards.
Many of us in this Network are immigrants. We bring incredible "superpowers" to this work: resilience, multilingualism, and deep-rooted cultural traditions. When we add professional frameworks like DIPPS to our toolkit, we become unstoppable. We show the healthcare system that doulas are not just "extra people" in the room; we are trained professionals with high standards of care.
Professionalizing these "soft skills" makes it easier to communicate our value to hospitals, insurance companies, and most importantly, to our clients. It gives us a language to describe the high-quality care we provide every single day.
Putting DIPPS Into Action
The next time you are at a prenatal meeting or a birth, try to view your support through the lens of these five pillars:
- Dignity: Am I treating this person with the utmost respect right now?
- Independence: Am I empowering them to find their own strength?
- Preference: Am I honoring their choices, even if they differ from mine?
- Privacy: Am I protecting their space and their story?
- Safety: Am I keeping this environment physically and emotionally secure?
When we lean into these pillars, we aren't just doing a job; we are building a movement. We are showing the world that culturally aligned, professional doula care is a necessity, not a luxury.
If you’re interested in learning more about how we bridge clinical standards with doula heart, or if you're looking to collaborate with a network that values professional growth and cultural heritage, we’d love to hear from you.
We are always looking for partners who believe in elevating the standard of care for all families. You can connect with us through our Partnership Form to explore how we can work together.
Let’s keep growing, keep learning, and keep supporting each other. Follow us on Instagram at @mama_doula_network for more tips on professionalizing your practice and honoring your "superpowers" as a birth worker.
Claudia Pereira - Founder of Mama Doula Canada
This post is part of our Educational Series for Doulas, where we explore the intersection of clinical excellence and heart-centered support.