Professional Birth Doula Services · Minneapolis · Twin Cities
Your nurses will change shifts. Your provider will come and go. We’re your advocate & support through it all.
Continuous support from 36 weeks through your first weeks at home, for hospital births, home births, birth center births, and cesareans.
See packages and pricing
You have read the birth stories. You have watched the videos. You have a folder of things you are supposed to remember once labor starts.
And somewhere underneath all of it is a quieter question. Who is actually going to be in the room with me? Your partner will be there. Your providers will be there. A birth doula is the one person whose whole job is you. Not the monitors, not the charting, not the clock. You.
We are How2Mom, a full-service birth and postpartum agency. We have supported families through hospital births, home births, birth center births, planned cesareans, unplanned cesareans, twins, VBACs, and plenty of births that went nowhere near the plan.
Here is what we know after all of it. Birth is dynamic.
What you need at 3 a.m. may be different from what you wrote down at 34 weeks. We are trained to move with that, and we stay with you the whole way.
What is a Birth Doula?
A birth doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support before, during, and after birth.
The word comes from a Greek term that translates roughly to “a woman who serves.” In practice, that looks like a steady presence who knows what is happening, knows your preferences, and knows how to help you feel more like yourself when things get intense.
What a doula does
- Helps you prepare, so you know your options ahead of time
- Suggests positions, counterpressure, breathing, and movement
- Explains what is happening, in plain language, in the moment
- Supports your partner so they can be present with you
- Stays through the birth. No shift change.
What a doula does not do
- We do not check dilation or monitor the baby
- We do not deliver your baby
- We do not make medical decisions
- We do not speak for you or over your provider
Your provider handles the clinical care. We handle the human part, and we stay in our lane on purpose. That is what makes the whole team work.
What a birth doula can
change about your experience
We are careful about promises here, because birth does not come with guarantees and we are not going to pretend otherwise.
Here are some of the most impactful research points:
What the research points to
Continuous labor support is one of the most studied and least invasive forms of birth care. Here is some of what the research points to:
- 8%more likely to have a vaginal birth
- 10%less use of any pain medication
- 25%lower chance of a cesarean birth
- 41 minshorter labors on average
- 31%less likely to feel dissatisfied with the birth experience
Figures from a Cochrane review of continuous labor support. We went deeper in a Mom2Mom Podcast episode.
What families tell us
- They felt informed instead of managed
- They knew their options before they had to choose
- Their partner felt useful instead of helpless
- The hard parts were still hard, and they did not feel alone in them
- They look back on the day without regret, even when it did not go to plan
That last one comes up a lot. A birth can go sideways and still be a birth you feel good about.
Our birth doula packages
Every package includes the same care, the same inclusions, and the same 24/7 availability. The difference is who is with you.
In every package
The care is the same. What changes is who is with you.
Every birth we support gets the same visits, the same on-call access, and the same team behind it. Price reflects how long a doula has been doing this work and how much of her calendar is open, not how much support you receive.
- Two prenatal visits, in your home or ours
- Unlimited text and phone access
- On call for you from 37 weeks
- Continuous labor support, start to finish
- Guaranteed backup from the How2Mom team
- Postpartum follow up visit
Anchored
With Stephanie Sinclair, founder and birth doula
13+ years of births. A small number of openings each month.
The longest track record on our team, including births with a lot of moving parts. Hover to see who this fits.
A good fit if
- You are carrying multiples
- Your pregnancy is medically complex and you want the deepest experience in the room
- You came to this pregnancy through fertility treatment
- You need discretion and a private, protected experience
- You want to work directly with the person who built How2Mom
Grounded
With Nikki Zweber, lead doula and Mom2Mom partner
5+ years of births. DONA certified, trained by Stephanie.
A full calendar of births behind her, high risk and straightforward alike. Hover to see who this fits.
A good fit if
- Your pregnancy is high risk and you want a doula who works with complex cases
- You are planning a hospital, home, or birth center birth
- You are preparing for a VBAC, an induction, or a cesarean and want specialized support
- You want a doula trained inside the How2Mom approach from the start
- You have listened to Mom2Mom and want Nikki in the room
Rooted
With a certified How2Mom team doula, matched to you
Certified and mentored by Stephanie and Nikki. The most availability.
Trained in the same approach, backed by the same team, with room on the calendar. Hover to see who this fits.
A good fit if
- You are planning a hospital, home, or birth center birth
- You would rather be matched with a doula who fits you than pick from a list
- You want an agency team behind your doula, not a solo practitioner
- Your dates are close and you need someone who can say yes
- You want the full How2Mom experience and a doula who is early in a long career
Connected
With Stephanie Sinclair, wherever you are
13+ years of births. Available anywhere, no travel radius.
Two prenatal sessions, live labor support by video or phone, and postpartum care. Hover to see who this fits.
A good fit if
- You live outside the Twin Cities metro
- Your partner wants to be the hands on support, coached in the moment
- You are a repeat parent who wants an experienced voice on call
- Your hospital limits who can be in the room
Not sure which one fits? Tell us your due date and what you are hoping for, and we will walk through it with you. There is no wrong choice on this page.
Returning clients: $150 off your package. Once we have been at a birth with you, we already know your history, your preferences, and how you move through hard things.
What is included with every How2Mom birth doula package
Every package includes everything below. The only variable is which doula is beside you.
Two in-home prenatal consultations to talk through your preferences, questions, and plan
Unlimited phone, text, and email support starting at 36 weeks
Education and practice with comfort measures, labor positions, and fetal positioning
A How2Mom client packet of helpful resources
50% off all How2Mom online courses, including Childbirth Education and Lactation
24/7 on-call availability starting at 36 weeks or at contract signing
Continuous in-person support through labor and delivery, no shift change
Informal birth photos and digital glimpses of the day (optional)
A dedicated backup doula, matched and briefed in advance
Text support through the early postpartum days
One in-home postpartum follow-up visit
A text check-in with our IBCLC certified lactation consultant
A free prenatal yoga class with Amy Bizal Wellness
A free consultation with a functional dietitian to ask your questions
A birth and motherhood affirmation deck
Discounted placenta encapsulation to support you through postpartum
Access to our vetted referral network: pelvic floor therapists, dietitians, chiropractors, mental health providers, and more
Most agencies sell these as add-ons. We include them, because a good birth is rarely the work of one person. We would rather hand you the whole team.
Insurance, HSA/FSA and Coverage
You might be wondering if any of our services are covered by insurance. The answer: that depends.
HSA and FSA
Doula services are generally eligible for HSA and FSA funds. Many of our families pay this way. Your plan administrator can confirm what they need from you, and we provide the documentation.
Employer family-forming benefits
This is the one many families do not know about.
Many employers now offer family-forming benefits that reimburse doula care. Carrot is the most common one we see, and some plans reimburse up to $2,000. Several large Twin Cities employers include this benefit.
Superbills for reimbursement
We provide an itemized superbill after your birth that you can submit to your insurer or benefits provider. Reimbursement depends on your plan, and we cannot promise an outcome, but we can make sure you have exactly what they ask for.
Is having a birth doula on your support team right for you?
We are probably a good fit if:
- You want to understand your options rather than be handed a plan
- You are planning a hospital birth and want someone who knows the metro hospitals
- You are planning a home birth/birth center birth & want a doula to partner with your midwife
- You are preparing for a cesarean
- Your partner wants to be involved & is not sure how
- You have had a hard birth before and this time you want it to feel different
We are probably not the right fit if:
- You want someone to make decisions for you. That part stays yours, and we will help you make it from an informed place.
- You are looking for clinical care. That belongs to your provider, and we work alongside them.
Meet your Primary Doula Team
At How2Mom, you don’t just get support—you get to choose the doula who feels right for you. Our team brings both expertise and heart to every birth experience. our lead doulas are Stephanie Sinclair, Founder of How2Mom and Nikki Zweber, Partner. To see the full How2Mom Team go to our Team page!
Stephanie, Founder + Doula
As the founder, Stephanie has supported countless families through pregnancy and birth with calm and compassionate guidance.
Nikki, Partner & Doula
As a partner in the firm, Nikki brings a warm, steady presence and practical care to each birth she attends.
What Twin Cities families say about working with us
Professional Birth Doula Services · Minneapolis · Twin Cities
Let's talk about your birth
You do not have to have it all figured out before you reach out. Most families do not. They just know they want someone steady beside them.
Tell us your due date and what is on your mind. We will set up a free consult, answer everything, and you can decide from there.
No pressure, no hard sell. Just a conversation about the day you are getting ready for.
Not ready yet? Explore our online childbirth education course or browse our vetted resource directory.
Your most asked questions
Birth Doula FAQs
What does a birth doula do?
A birth doula provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support through pregnancy, labor, and birth. That includes comfort measures, positioning, breathing support, plain-language explanations of what is happening, and help asking your care team the right questions. Doulas do not provide clinical care.
What is the difference between a doula and a midwife?
A midwife is a medical provider. She monitors you and your baby, catches your baby, and manages the clinical side of your care. A doula is a non-clinical support professional. She stays with you continuously and supports you physically and emotionally. Many families have both, and the two roles work well together.
How much does a birth doula cost in Minneapolis?
Twin Cities birth doula fees generally range from about $1,200 to $3,500. How2Mom packages are $1,997, $2,597, and $2,997, with travel in the metro included and payment plans available.
Does insurance cover a doula in Minnesota?
Direct coverage through commercial insurance is still uncommon, though it is changing. What we see work most often is employer family-forming benefits, such as Carrot, which reimburse doula care and sometimes cover up to $2,000. We provide an itemized superbill for reimbursement, and Minnesota Medical Assistance also reimburses doula services provided by doulas on the state registry.
Can I use my HSA or FSA for doula services?
Generally, yes. Doula care is typically an eligible expense, and many of our families pay this way. Check with your plan administrator for what documentation they need, and we will provide it.
When do most families hire a birth doula?
Most reach out in the second trimester, somewhere between 20 and 28 weeks. That said, we have been hired at 36 weeks and we have been hired the week of. If you are further along than you meant to be, reach out anyway and we will tell you honestly what we have available.
Do you support home births and birth center births?
Yes. We support hospital births, home births, and birth center births throughout the Minneapolis and St. Paul metro, and we work regularly alongside local midwives.
Do you support cesarean births?
Yes, both planned and unplanned. Our Premier and Signature packages include specialized cesarean support, and every doula on our team knows how to support you through an unplanned one.
What happens if my doula is not available when I go into labor?
You are matched with a dedicated backup doula in advance, and she is briefed on your preferences and your history. You will have met her or spoken with her before your due date. You will not be handed a stranger.
Where does my partner fit in?
Right where they want to be. We are not there to replace your partner. We are there so your partner can be present with you instead of trying to be a doula, a photographer, and a support person all at once. We show them counterpressure, we take over so they can eat, and we make sure they get to actually experience the birth.
What questions should I ask when hiring a doula?
Good ones: How many births have you attended? What happens if you are unavailable? What is your backup plan? How do you work with providers at my hospital? What is included and what costs extra? How do you support partners? Bring those to your consult with us, and to anyone else you are considering.
Do you serve my area?
We serve Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the greater Twin Cities metro, including Edina, Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Woodbury, Eagan, and surrounding suburbs. Metro travel is included.