May is National Doula Month
D’Ara Nazaryan
COVID-19 has laid bare the racial inequities in our health care system.
The US has an unacceptably high maternal mortality rate, far higher than other developed countries. These rates are particularly and shockingly high for women of color — even when adjusted for income and educational levels, pointing to the racial bias that persists in health care.
As part of May’s National Doula Month, we encourage you to learn more about doulas. In Connecticut, doulas are advocating to create a state certification process so their health care services can be covered by Medicaid and offered to more women. PoliticaCT testified in support of doula legislation (Senate Bill 395) in 2020, and will again when the CT State Legislature convenes again in 2021.
What is a doula?
A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and after her pregnancy and delivery, in order to help her achieve the healthiest and most satisfying birth experience possible. This is a definition from DONA International, an organization that provides one framework standards and ethics for the professional.
Who needs a doula?
Any pregnant person and their partner can benefit from this non-medical approach, which does not take the place of a midwife or other obstetrically-focused medical professional. Rather, doulas offer comfort, advice and vast experience coaching people through pregnancies, and during the postpartum period, in order to insure the healthiest outcome for both mother and infant.
Making the services of birth and postpartum doulas more accessible and affordable for every pregnant person, and ultimately covered by private insurers and by public insurance (Medicaid) will improve postpartum outcomes for parents (including offering fathers a more rewarding birthing experience). Wider use of doulas will also save money in our health system from the fewer complications of pregnancy and birth that will be detected and avoided through awareness and early interventions. Currently, those who wish or need doula services must find a way to pay for them out of pocket.
A first step in this process is determining a process to certify doulas practicing in Connecticut, and identifying which training and educational programs are recommended for certification, so that those now practicing or considering this career, can choose the best training route. Ultimately, reimbursement for these services by Medicaid, and private insurance, should be a goal, which will save health care dollars and benefit birthing women and their families.