Birth Sister II (Experienced Doula), Obstetrics and Gynecology

Position: Birth Sister II (Experienced Doula) Department: Birth Sisters Program Location: Boston, MA Schedule: Per Diem POSITION SUMMARY: The Birth Sister II provides non-clinical, physical, emotional and evidence-based informational support and assistance to the birthing person and family. Participates as a liaison with clinical care providers involved in the birthing person’s prenatal, birth and postpartum care. The Birth Sister II is also able to manage more complex cases and larger caseloads independently. JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: Prenatal Period: Facilitates communication between the birthing person, the family and the clinical care providers over the course of the entire perinatal period. Initiates and provides various prenatal appointments and counsels clients on the topics of general pregnancy health, the stages of pregnancy, nutrition and exercise, culturally-sensitive birth preferences, preparing for labor and delivery, the stages of labor, common methods of induction and augmentation, common interventions, non-clinical pain management, the miles circuit and laboring exercises, pushing positions and breathing, breastfeeding, fundamental newborn care, postpartum mental health and the transition to life with an infant. Assesses social determinants of health and provides resources and preliminary navigation to ensure access to necessary services. Provides video and phone check-ins, in between appointments, as necessary. Labor and Childbirth: Responds to pager alerts within one hour. Manages the implementation and execution of the individualized birth plan. Maintains bedside presence and ensures emotional comfort of birthing person throughout labor. Suggests and provides non-clinical physical comfort measures as requested by the client, such as massage, compress application, implementation of water in shower or tub, hip squeezes, counter pressure, stretches, etc. Provides information and instruction in the placement and use of the peanut ball, birthing ball, wedged pillows and other tools for optimal labor progression. Postpartum Period: Provides in-hospital follow-up with birthing person within 24 hours of delivery Arranges and provides at least one in-home postnatal visit within seven days of delivery to discuss physical postpartum healing, breastfeeding success, mental/emotional health, etc. Escalates conflicts, as they arise, to pertinent internal departments and teams and external programs Provides additional home visits, as needed and as requested, in order to provide additional support with light tasks, newborn care, etc. Provides ongoing postpartum video and phone check-ins to ensure smooth transition into and throughout the fourth trimester. General: May be asked to assist with administrative and operational tasks such as data entry, scheduling, tabling, client communication and more. Documents all patient encounters and interactions appropriately and immediately. Maintains ongoing communication with Birth Sister management. Adheres to hospital standards of performance and conduct, including those pertaining to patient rights and advocacy, so as to promote and maintain the highest level of customer service. Follows established hospital infection control and safety procedures. (The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job. The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required). JOB REQUIREMENTS EDUCATION: High School Diploma or GED required. Doula education from an accredited, certifying doula training program required. CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED: Within 90 days of hire, must complete: BMC Birth Sisters education (12 hours) BMC Birth Sisters hands-on labor training (24 hours) BMC Birth Sisters perinatal visit shadowing (8 hours) BMC childbirth education course (12 hours) Within 180 days of hire, must complete: Supervised labor hours as primary Birth Sister (18 hours) Supervised perinatal visit hours as primary Birth Sister (6 hours) One-on-one professional development coaching with management (6 hours) Training is provided and compensated. Must maintain any and all Birth Sisters training and education requirements, which are subject to change. EXPERIENCE: Minimum one year of experience in social services, maternal health, health education, patient navigation, patient care or related field required. Some work experience as a labor doula, postpartum doula, childbirth educator, lactation professional, patient advocate or community health worker preferred. KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: Ability to speak, write and read English. Bilingual or multi-lingual skills appropriate to the patient population served may also be required for some positions. Must have cultural sensitivity and be comfortable serving socially and clinically high risk patients with a variety of needs. Must exhibit strong interpersonal skills in order to instill confidence in and advocate for patients and their family. Must be able to demonstrate empathy, active listening skills and exemplary bedside manner. Must be willing to work collaboratively with Birth Sisters team, OBGYN administration and members of the clinical care team. Must be comfortable with and around bodily fluids. Knowledge and experience in the neighborhoods of Boston preferred. SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS: Flexible schedule required Availability for on-call work (reliable transportation required) Ability to conduct in-home visits (reliable transportation required) Boston Medical Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. If you need accommodation for any part of the application process because of a medical condition or disability, please send an e-mail to View email address on click.appcast.io or call View phone number on click.appcast.io to let us know the nature of your request. COMPENSATION RANGE: $36.00 - $40.00/hr. Compensation Range: $24.04- $33.65 This range offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications. However, our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and a broad range of factors is considered when making an offer. This includes education, experience, skills, and certifications/licensures as they directly relate to position requirements; as well as business/organizational needs, internal equity, and market-competitiveness. In addition, BMCHS offers generous total compensation that includes, but is not limited to, benefits (medical, dental, vision, pharmacy), discretionary annual bonuses and merit increases, Flexible Spending Accounts, 403(b) savings matches, paid time off, career advancement opportunities, and resources to support employee and family well-being. NOTE: This range is based on Boston-area data, and is subject to modification based on geographic location. Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans According to the FTC, there has been a rise in employment offer scams. Our current job openings are listed on our website and applications are received only through our website. We do not ask or require downloads of any applications, or “apps” job offers are not extended over text messages or social media platforms. We do not ask individuals to purchase equipment for or prior to employment. Working at Boston Medical Center is more than a job. It’s a chance to make a difference as part of our mission to provide exceptional and equitable care to all. As a nationally-recognized leader in health equity, nursing, initiatives to combat climate change, and many other areas, BMC is dedicated to improving the health of our community in Boston and beyond. BMC’s mission to provide exceptional care without exception extends to our employees, and we have been recognized as a top employer and best place to work. A strong sense of teamwork and support for our staff are the bedrock of BMC, as we know that we can only provide exceptional care to patients when our staff are cared for too. Boston Medical Center is an equal employment/affirmative action employer. We ensure equal employment opportunities for all, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression or any other non-job-related characteristic. If you need accommodation for any part of the application process because of a medical condition or disability, please send an e-mail to View email address on click.appcast.io or call View phone number on click.appcast.io to let us know the nature of your request. Boston Medical Center participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program. As an E-Verify employer, prospective employees of BMC must complete a background check before beginning their employment at the hospital. BMC requires all staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and flu, as well as receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. According to the FTC, there has been a rise in employment offer scams. Our current job openings are listed on our website and applications are received only through our website. We do not ask or require downloads of any applications, or “apps” job offers are not extended over text messages or social media platforms. We do not ask individuals to purchase equipment for or prior to employment. To avoid becoming a victim of an employment offer scam, please follow these tips from the FTC: FTC Tips