Doula Synergy Focus Group: Reflections, Learning, and What's Next

Watch the Recording:

Date: Wednesday January 28th, 2026 via Zoom

This Work Belongs in Community

I was truly in awe to see that nearly 90 people registered for this focus group. That level of interest tells me something important: there is a growing desire to transform how we support families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss, and to learn more about what Doula Synergy is building.

It was an honor to be in the presence of individuals who care so deeply about this work—people who show up not just with professional expertise, but with lived experience, compassion, and a genuine desire to create change. This conversation reaffirmed that bereavement support does not belong in silos. It belongs in community.

Who Was in the Room

Participants represented a wide range of perspectives, which was essential to this conversation:

• 53% doulas

• 20% medical or perinatal providers

• 13% mental health providers

• 27% nonprofit or community organizations

• 47% parents or family members with lived experience of loss

Many participants held multiple roles, highlighting just how interconnected this work truly is.

A Clear (Critical) Gap in Loss Support

One of the most striking findings came from our polling during the session:

• 95% of attendees shared that support for families experiencing loss is inadequate, difficult to access, or contains significant gaps.

  
  

This confirmed what many of us already know through lived experience and professional practice: families are falling through the cracks during one of the most vulnerable times of their lives.

After reviewing the role of a trained bereavement doula and how this support can improve the perinatal loss experience, participants were asked about the potential impact of this care:

• 65% responded that bereavement doula support would make a “huge impact”

• 29% responded with a 4 (high impact)

• 6% responded with a 3 (moderate impact)

This collective response reinforces the belief that bereavement doula care is not an “extra”—it is a critical missing component of perinatal and postpartum care.

What We Discussed:

Overview of Doula Synergy

I shared the vision behind Doula Synergy: a future where families experiencing loss are surrounded by wraparound, in-person doula support that is compassionate, accessible, and integrated into existing systems of care.

Doula Synergy is currently fiscally sponsored by Star Legacy Foundation, allowing the initiative to pursue funding and program development while it continues to grow.

Core offerings discussed included:

• Bereavement doula support

• Doula-led grief circles

• A national doula directory/database

• Training and community-building for doulas

• Education and collaboration with providers

• Integration into healthcare and community-based systems

Defining the Role of a Bereavement Doula

A detailed working definition of a bereavement doula was shared, emphasizing support that is compassionate, practical, trauma-informed, and long-term.

Key elements discussed included:

• Nonjudgmental emotional support

• Education about the physical and emotional processes of loss

• Postpartum recovery and lactation support

• Advocacy within medical and clinical settings

• Practical household and family support

• Memory-making, rituals, and honoring babies

• Ongoing presence, follow-up, and continuity of care over time

Participants affirmed this definition and emphasized that bereavement support does not end shortly after loss; for many families, support may be needed years or even decades later.

A strong and consistent theme emerged: most birth and postpartum doulas are not trained to support loss, and without proper preparation, even well-intentioned care can unintentionally cause harm during an already vulnerable time.

Training & Standards of Care

Poll results showed significant variation in the amount and type of bereavement training participants had received - there is NO standard of care for bereavement!

Compassionate Support Through Loss for Doulas is the first training offered in collaboration with Doula Synergy.

There was strong agreement that:

• There is currently no consistent or widely recognized standard for bereavement doula training

• Both foundational and advanced training opportunities are needed

• Training and experience should be visible to families and providers

• Developing a shared standard—and eventually a certification pathway—would help raise the quality and consistency of care

Lived experience was acknowledged as deeply meaningful and valuable, but participants agreed it must be supported by education, supervision, and community to ensure ethical and effective care.

Doula Directory / Database

I shared a vision for a searchable, filterable national directory that would help families, providers, and community organizations connect with doulas trained specifically in loss support.

Key feedback included:

• Training and experience should be clearly and transparently listed

• Optional disclosure of lived experience may help families feel safer and more connected

• Cost transparency is complex—helpful for some families, but potentially overwhelming for others

• The directory would be especially valuable for providers, chaplains, hospitals, and community organizations

Throughout the discussion, participants emphasized the importance of accessibility, inclusivity, and avoiding gatekeeping.

Marketing, Partnerships & Storytelling

Participants discussed the widespread lack of understanding about what doulas—and particularly bereavement doulas—do.

There was strong interest in developing shared marketing and educational tools, including:

• Clear, concise materials for providers and care teams

• Storytelling and testimonials that demonstrate the real-world impact of bereavement doula care

• Short videos that explain the role and value of bereavement doulas in accessible language

Many participants offered to contribute stories, testimonials, and outreach support to help raise awareness and educate communities and systems.

Integration Into Care Systems

A central theme of the discussion was that families in crisis are not in a position to research or navigate support options on their own. Support must be integrated into systems where families already are, particularly healthcare settings.

Challenges identified included:

• Gatekeeping within healthcare systems

• Liability concerns around referrals

• Overworked providers who need simple, vetted, and time-efficient resources

Strategies discussed included:

• Relationship-building and trust with providers

• Education through conferences, trainings, and presentations

• Warm handoffs and continuity-of-care models

• Leveraging doula-led grief circles as an entry point for integration

Organizational Structure & Funding

Participants discussed the importance of building a model that is sustainable and equitable, ensuring doulas are fairly compensated for their work.

Ideas explored included:

• Membership models

• Grant funding through fiscal sponsorship

• Insurance and Medicaid billing pathways

• Creating a fund to ensure families can access support regardless of ability to pay

There was clear and strong consensus that bereavement support should not rely on unpaid labor, and that sustainability is essential to providing high-quality, consistent care.

How This Landed

At the end of the focus group, participants were asked how aligned they felt with Doula Synergy’s mission, vision, and overall approach. The majority of responses were very positive.

I am deeply grateful for this. Doula Synergy is built on collaboration, and this conversation affirmed that people want to be part of shaping something thoughtful, inclusive, and meaningful.

What Comes Next

• A follow-up survey is being shared to gather additional feedback

• Development of the doula directory (goal: June)

• Outreach for testimonials, partners, and collaborators

• Scheduling the next focus group for the last Wed of April - 4/29/26 12pm

• Opportunities for involvement as advocates, collaborators, partners, or future leaders within Doula Synergy

Gratitude and Moving Forward

Doula Synergy exists because of community. I am so grateful for the honesty, insight, and care that participants brought into this space. This movement is about building something together that truly improves the loss experience for families.

If you feel called to be part of this work, I invite you to continue the conversation and explore ways to get involved.

Together, we can do better—and together, we will.

— Ashley Rose Salvitti 

Founder, Doula Synergy