Business of Birth Work

Part of the BirthPro Business Basics series If you've applied for your NPI number (if not, start here), you've probably hit a screen asking for your taxonomy code and thought: what is this, and does it even apply to me? It does. And once you understand what these codes are and how they work together, billing gets a lot less mysterious. What Is a Taxonomy Code? A taxonomy code is a 10-character code that identifies what type of provider you are. It's maintained by the National

April is Medicaid Awareness Month. And if you work in birth — or you're training to — this is a moment worth paying attention to. Here's the tension: we are living through the most significant expansion of Medicaid doula coverage in U.S. history, happening at the exact same time federal Medicaid funding is being cut to the bone. Progress and threat, simultaneously. That's where we are. The good news first As of March 2026, 26 states and Washington DC now provide Medicaid cove

There's a conversation happening in birth worker circles that tends to get heated fast. It goes something like this: Should contracts include a time clause — say, 18 hours of continuous support — after which an additional hourly rate kicks in? Some birth workers say yes, absolutely. Others say it's harmful. And a surprising number are somewhere in the middle, quietly wondering if it's okay to even consider it. Let's talk about it. Where the idea comes from Birth worker burnou

People find out I started a nonprofit and they look at me like I just told them I climbed Everest. "How did you do that?" they ask. "That must have been so hard." Honestly? I didn't know it was supposed to be hard. So I just did it. That's not false modesty. I genuinely didn't walk into it with a mental list of obstacles. I needed something to exist, I figured out the steps to make it exist, and I took them. Nobody told me to be intimidated, so I wasn't. I think about this a

If you’re a doula, showing up in local Google searches can be one of the most consistent ways families find and contact you. A well-optimized Google Business Profile helps you appear in searches like: “birth doula near me” “postpartum doula in [your city]” “VBAC support [location]” “overnight postpartum help near me” This guide walks you through setting up your listing and optimizing it so the right clients can find you. Step 1: Create Your Google Business Profile Go to:...

If you’ve opened the CAQH application and immediately thought,“None of these options apply to me…”you are absolutely not alone. CAQH was designed for medical providers—physicians, nurses, therapists—not for doulas.And yet, many doulas now need a CAQH profile to work with Medicaid and insurance systems. This guide will walk you through what to select, what to skip, and how to get through this process without overthinking every field. 🌿 What is CAQH (and why do doulas need it)

When you’re building your doula practice, one of the first business questions that comes up is: Do I need an LLC, or can I just be a sole proprietor? The answer depends on your goals, your finances, and how you want to structure your work. Let’s break it down in plain language. What Is a Sole Proprietor? A sole proprietorship is the simplest way to operate a business. If you’re running your doula practice under your own name and reporting your income on your personal tax retu

Feeling overwhelmed after doula training? Mentorship helps untangle the confusion and turn uncertainty into confidence. Every doula has a moment when the work feels bigger than their training. You’re competent—you know the basics—but confidence can waver when a client’s needs push you into uncharted territory. That’s exactly where mentorship makes all the difference. Today, we’re sharing real stories of how mentorship has helped doulas move from “I hope I’m doing this right”

Everything you need to know about the process, why it matters, and which taxonomy codes to use. How to apply for your NPI number Why Doulas Need an NPI Number If you’re a birth or postpartum doula, you may be wondering why you keep hearing about “getting your NPI.”An NPI (National Provider Identifier) is a unique 10-digit number issued by the federal government to identify healthcare providers in the U.S. While it’s not a license or certification, it’s often needed when: Subm