The West Virginia Perinatal Partnership was awarded a $132,000 grant from the UniCare Health Plan of West Virginia, and thus launched the Doula Project. These funds were used to expand the reach of doula services offered to the pregnant and postpartum population in underserved and vulnerable communities in West Virginia. The Doula Project aims to improve maternal and infant health disparities, thus improving pregnancy and birthing outcomes by educating doulas who live and serve in the same communities.
The grant funds were used to provide opportunities to doulas in the following ways.
- Scholarships for Doulas of North America (DONA) trainings
- 56 labor support trainings completed
- 30 postpartum trainings completed
- Mini grants to doula pilot projects – funds are paid directly to on-staff doulas for their services.
- Joseph’s Hospital in Buckhannon – to train and hire full-time certified doulas; to develop a doula hospital policy; and to launch a centering model of group prenatal care. Link to article.
- Family Care birth center in Charleston – to hire 3 certified doulas to help serve perinatal patients delivering at both the birth center and at Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) – Women and Children’s.
- In-person workshops to provide education, networking, and professional development. These workshops include guest speakers and presenters from various backgrounds to enrich the doulas’ learning experience.
- In-service meetings with Labor and Delivery departments regarding the benefits of doulas. This provides an opportunity for doulas and hospital delivery department staff to discuss challenges and successes of collaborating care.
The Doula Project established both a network of doulas that meet monthly for interprofessional support, as well as a Doula Advisory Council that meets every other month. This is a collaboration of professionals of various backgrounds (midwives, doulas, physicians, policy specialists from state offices, & representatives from payor groups). The goal of the council is to identify ways to improve access to doula services, and to explore options for payment for services.
The Doula Project staff maintains an online directory which lists doulas by the counties they serve. This is intended to be used by providers, potential clients, and other professionals to have a continually updated resource of doulas for each region of WV. Additionally, the staff continues to collect and analyze data regarding birth outcomes for those that were attended by doulas. This data will provide a basis for research about the needs of the perinatal population, as well as facilitate future funding opportunities.
The WV Perinatal Partnership will continue to work in collaboration with the WV Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health (OMCFH), and the WV Rural Maternity and Obstetric Management Services (RMOMS) program to build upon the success of the doula project to enhance and expand services for pregnant and postpartum families.
What is a doula?
“A trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.”
-dona.org
Find a doula!
For help finding a doula near you, visit our Doula Directory.
What benefits do doulas offer?
Birth doulas provide support in some of the following ways:
- Offering breathing and positioning techniques during labor
- Empowering mothers to advocate for their health care preferences,
- Serving as a liaison with providers,
- Sharing guidance with family members
- Providing breastfeeding assistance.
Postpartum doulas mentor mothers after the baby is born and may see to the mother’ support for several weeks after birth.