Recognizing the work and contributions of doulas towards improving pregnancy, birth, and postpartum outcomes.

IV 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 395 Recognizing the work and contributions of doulas towards improving pregnancy, birth, and postpartum outcomes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 11, 2023 Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin (for herself and Ms. PRESSLEY) submitted the fol- lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce RESOLUTION Recognizing the work and contributions of doulas towards improving pregnancy, birth, and postpartum outcomes. Whereas doulas can play an important role in— (1) maternal health; (2) maternal mental health; and (3) reducing maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States; Whereas doula support includes continuous non-clinical 1-on- 1 emotional, physical, and informational support during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum; Whereas doulas empower mothers with information about pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, breast feeding, and in- fant care; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:57 May 12, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR395.IH HR395 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HRES 395 IH Whereas doulas can speak up for and serve as navigators for mothers during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum; Whereas studies have shown that doula-assisted mothers are 4 times less likely to have a low-birth weight baby, and 2 times less likely to experience complications during pregnancy; Whereas continuous doula support has been shown to shorten the duration of labor and delivery; Whereas research indicates that, with the support of doulas, women are— (1) more likely to have spontaneous vaginal births; (2) less likely to require epidural anesthesia and other interventions; and (3) less likely to experience postpartum depression or another postpartum mood and anxiety disorder; Whereas the Expert Panel on Improving Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program of the Centers for Medicare and Med- icaid Services from 2013, and the recommendations for Maternal Health and Infant Health Quality Improvement in Medicaid from 2020, identified providing coverage for continuous doula support during labor as a potential strategy to enhance maternal and infant care manage- ment; Whereas the American College of Obstetricians and Gyne- cologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine reported that the continuous presence of a doula during pregnancy is one of the most effective tools to improve labor and delivery outcomes; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:57 May 12, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR395.IH HR395 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HRES 395 IH Whereas the presence of a doula during pregnancy, child- birth, and postpartum helps foster shared decision mak- ing for birthing women by facilitating communication be- tween women and their providers; Whereas the presence of a doula can provide vital emotional and physical support after a stillbirth; Whereas a doula can provide pregnant and postpartum women and their partners with critical information about urgent maternal warning signs, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Whereas a doula provides continuous support during labor and delivery and can alert hospital staff to signs and symptoms of complications that require immediate med- ical attention, thus lowering the risk of escalating com- plications for the mother and baby; Whereas access to doula support services, especially in under- served communities, may contribute to— (1) improved birth outcomes, both physically and emotionally; and (2) lower health care costs by reducing the risk of— (A) low-birth weight babies; (B) complications that might otherwise go un- noticed; (C) primary and repeat cesarean deliveries; and (D) epidural anesthesia and other interventions; Whereas training members of underserved communities, in- cluding rural areas, to become doulas and support moth- ers in their own communities can— (1) help provide employment opportunities for im- proving maternal health; and VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:57 May 12, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR395.IH HR395 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 4 •HRES 395 IH (2) build trust and reduce adverse consequences of racial bias for pregnant and postpartum women of color; and Whereas community-based maternal health care models, in- cluding doula support services, in collaboration with ob- stetrical care, show great promise in improving, and re- ducing disparities in, maternal health outcomes: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) recognizes the important role of doulas in 2 providing respectful, responsive care to all women, 3 including women in underserved communities, in- 4 cluding rural areas, who lack access to maternal 5 health services; 6 (2) acknowledges that doula support services 7 provide continuous physical and emotional support 8 to help mothers achieve healthy pregnancies and safe 9 deliveries and recoveries; 10 (3) urges greater recognition for the important 11 role that doulas play in— 12 (A) supporting improved pregnancy, birth, 13 and postpartum experiences and outcomes, in- 14 cluding maternal mental health; 15 (B) reducing health care costs and working 16 towards the elimination of health disparities; 17 and 18 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:57 May 12, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR395.IH HR395 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 5 •HRES 395 IH (C) overcoming barriers for assisting low- 1 income women of color and women in rural 2 areas with access to health and social supports; 3 (4) recognizing the Doula Week to raise aware- 4 ness about, and advocate for the benefits of, doulas 5 and the support services doulas provide; and 6 (5) recognizes the importance of access to doula 7 support services, especially in underserved commu- 8 nities. 9 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:57 May 12, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR395.IH HR395 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB