What are the benefits of being recognized by the hospital?

Are you not allowed to work as a doula unless the hospital recognizes you?

Sorry if this is a stupid question.... :shrug

A mom can bring in whoever she choses, whether it is a certified doula or not. In my experience they pretty much don't care who you are, because they are focused on mom. As long as you aren't being a problem, they don't mind.

I don't know if official hospital recognition exists. If it does, it doesn't exist at either of my hospitals yet.

You can work as a doula in the hospital without them recognizing who you are. I think the only time a doula would be recognized would be if she works for a hospital doula program (there are a few out there).

Typically a mom is hired privately by the family and then she comes in with them.

Maybe I am not understanding your question. Could you clarify it a bit?

You can work as a doula in the hospital without them recognizing who you are. I think the only time a doula would be recognized would be if she works for a hospital doula program (there are a few out there).

Typically a mom is hired privately by the family and then she comes in with them.

Maybe I am not understanding your question. Could you clarify it a bit?

Well....I will be taking Elizabeth Davis' Heart and Hand's Midwifery Intensives. I received an email about the intensives that stated that upon completion of the 8 week course, I would a 'recognized doula' at several Bay Area hospitals, including hospital X, Y and Z....

I will ask her what that means when I start the classes, but I thought maybe someone here would know.

Sorry I don't know what that means, because I have never heard of something like that.

It basically means that that particular hospital has at least heard of this training program even though it is not a widely known one. Since DONA and CAPPA are the two main certifying organizations, most hospitals are familiar with them. There have been other cert. orgs. come and go and mostly they are not recognized as no one has ever heard of them. I know that the hospitals in my area are fully aware of DONA's Scope of Practice etc.