Saluting and supporting doulas will improve maternal health | Opinion
Farah Shafi is chief medical officer for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.
This time of year carries deep personal and professional meaning for me.
Before joining Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, I spent almost two decades as a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist. So, when April comes around — bringing with it Black Maternal Health Week on the heels of World Doula Week and Community Doula Week — I’m always grateful to see the spotlight shining on women’s health and the amazing role doulas can play.
These events raise awareness of the maternal health crisis in the United States and highlight how doulas — nonclinical trained professionals who provide physical, emotional and informational support to expectant and new parents — address maternal outcomes. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports, Black women are three times more likely to die than white women from pregnancy-related complications and the overall number of annual maternal deaths exceeded 1,200 in 2021, extending a trend that has alarmingly been going in the wrong direction for more than 20 years.
We have much work to do in these areas, but I’m pleased that in Rhode Island we are committed to ending these unacceptable disparities.
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Doulas of Rhode Island, for example, is doing a wonderful job supporting and promoting doulas. The organization provides scholarships aimed at growing and diversifying the state’s doula workforce and, this year, with support from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, they have expanded the number of scholarships for people of color. Seven scholarships, ranging from $500 to $1,000 each, are available for aspiring doulas to complete training and seek certification or for practicing doulas to pursue continuing education.
I’m also pleased that support of doulas in Rhode Island is evolving to allow for expanded services before, during, and after childbirth.
In 2022, Rhode Island passed legislation requiring insurer reimbursement for doula services.
Why is this so important? Doulas provide vital information, often right in the comfort of clients’ homes. They advocate for the needs and preferences of expectant parents, especially in situations where there is the potential for discrimination or bias. Use of doulas is associated with lower c-section rates, decreases in preterm birth and low birth weight, improved Apgar scores, and reduced postpartum depression and anxiety.
Following birth, they play a crucial role in improving breastfeeding rates and help increase rates of infant safety measures, including back-sleeping and appropriate car seat use.
All of this can contribute to better birth outcomes and reduced disparities.
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Unfortunately, many people who could benefit from doulas are unable to access that care due to financial, geographic or cultural barriers. So, it’s great to see progress made in diversifying the doula workforce, which will ensure that more birthing people can receive culturally competent and compassionate care.
As a former OB-GYN and a current health care champion, I know that doulas are an essential part of the maternity care team. By working together to support doulas, Rhode Island’s health care leaders can go a long way toward improving maternal health outcomes for underserved and marginalized populations.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Doulas provide vital information and advocate for the needs and preferences of expectant parents.
