Welcoming Doulas into Community Hospitals

We're so proud to work with local doulas, who we consider to be part of your healthcare team, helping to create a more relaxed birthing experience for you whether you deliver at Clovis Community or Community Regional medical centers. 


What is a doula?

Simply put, a doula is a helpful guide who's there to improve your experience — before, during and after childbirth.


Doulas are professionally trained in childbirth but are non-clinical, meaning they can't give medical advice or perform medical procedures. What they can do is:


  • Act as a link between you and your medical care team, explaining to your physician and nursing staff your birth plan and advocating for your needs so you can focus on having a great birth experience
  • Give you information about the procedures and actions performed, easing any uncertainty or worry 
  • Be a source of physical comfort to you, guiding you through breathing exercises and administering massage in an effort to reduce stress and anxiety for you and your baby
  • Provide support and encouragement to you and your partner, spouse or loved ones


A female doula in pink scrubs holds the hand of a pregnant woman in a hospital bedWhy are doulas important?

There are many benefits to having a doula assist you throughout the pregnancy journey. Studies have shown that doulas help decrease cesarean rates, the length of labor, and even pain medication use. 


Having someone in the room who's there for your needs, to make your experience the best it can be, is a source of comfort for many mothers and their partners. Postpartum, a doula can help with feeding, newborn care and providing emotional support. 


Finding a doula

While we welcome doulas into our delivery rooms, Community doesn't have doulas on staff. Talk to your healthcare provider about how to find a doula that works for you. In some cases, doula assistance may even be covered by Medi-Cal.


Or, you can search the California Department of Health Care Services doula directory by county to find a doula in your area. 



Our Free, Online Parent Education Series

We're pleased to offer expectant parents our online education series, which details everything you need to know to prepare for your childbirth experience at Community. Register for the series using the form below and we'll send you a link for a video tour of our birthing facilities at Clovis Community and Community Regional. 


You'll also receive links to view all of our prepared childbirth virtual classes:
 

  1. Exploring Registration
  2. Understanding Labor & Birth
  3. Identifying Stages of Labor
  4. Handling Labor Pain & Comfort Measures
  5. Applying Labor Pain & Comfort Measures
  6. Identifying Labor & Birth Interventions
  7. Understanding Cesarean Birth
  8. Caring for Yourself Postpartum
  9. Experiencing Your Amazing Newborn
  10. Learning About Breastfeeding




Track Your Pregnancy with the Free MyHealthMate App 

Whether you choose to deliver your baby at Community Regional or Clovis Community, we have tools to help you prepare.


Our free mobile app, MyHealthMate, is powered by MyChart and allows you to access your health information plus navigate our online health system and services — all in one convenient place.


By using MyHealthMate, you can access a customized pregnancy tracker, weekly facts about baby’s growth, related articles and other tools such as:


Three mobile screens show the MyHealthMate landing page

  • Kick counter
  • Hospital packing list
  • Contraction timer
  • Diaper and feeding log

 

During your hospital stay, MyHealthMate will also allow you to view medications, lab results, and even names and photos of your care team. Learn more and  sign up today. 




YoMingo® Provides Education from Pregnancy through the First Year

Another free, online support tool we recommend using is YoMingo®. This extensive tool helps you stay organized during and after your pregnancy.


YoMingo® includes educational content on a wide variety of topics intended to help guide you through pregnancy, labor and birth, postpartum, breastfeeding and newborn care — all in multiple languages! Plus, you can make use of fun and helpful tools such as: 


YoMingo logo

  • Weekly milestones
  • Kick counter
  • Packing list
  • Contraction timer
  • Feeding log
  • Diaper log
  • Measurements
  • Appointments calendar
  • Immunization log
  • Journal




Mental Health Resources

Perinatal depression is something that can affect any pregnant person — no matter their age, race, culture or preparedness and excitement for being a parent. It can happen during pregnancy or postpartum, up through your child's first year.


Symptoms may include things like:


  • Feeling sad, angry, overwhelmed or experiencing mood swings
  • Lack of interest in things you once enjoyed
  • Excessive worry about the baby
  • Thoughts of self-harm, or of harming your baby
  • Feeling guilty or inadequate
  • Having a hard time accepting that you're a parent
  • Seeing or hearing things that aren't there


You should know that experiencing depression doesn't make you weak, ungrateful or a bad parent. It is absolutely not your fault.


The good news is that perinatal depression is treatable. You don't have to suffer. Help is available if you or your partner (who also may experience symptoms) need it.


Download our Helpful Guide 

List of Mental Health Resources

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, first talk with your doctor. For additional help, visit one of these organizations:


Fresno County Maternal Mental Health Resources Perinatal Wellness Center 

(559) 600-1033 


Maternal Wellness Program 

(559) 801-1598 


Department of Behavioral Health Access Line 

(800) 654-3937 


National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Fresno 

(559) 224-2469 


Exodus Recovery Crisis Center 

(559) 453-1008 


Postpartum Support International 

1 (800) 944-4773 or www.postpartum.net


Pregnancy Care Center Services for Men

(559) 237-0683 or www.pregnancycarecenter.com/for-men


Project DAD (Madera County only)

www.healthcollaborative.org/program/project-dad/


Resources for Substance Use

Fresno First 

(559) 264-7521


Westcare 

(559) 237-3420


Rescue the Children 

(559) 227-2190


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