Baby talk: Maternal and child health policy and community-based doula programs

In recent years birthing families' access to prenatal care and consistent birthing support has been diminished by provider shortages, rising insurance costs, demographic shifts, and national policy. In the face of the de-coupling of cash assistance from Medicaid and changes in policies concerning pregnant and birthing immigrants, two vulnerable populations, low-income pregnant and parenting women and their children, are at risk for detrimental outcomes. Although programs such as Healthy Start and WIC continue to underscore the importance of early intervention on the health of low-income families, health care and social support during the childbearing year are increasingly fragmented and difficult to access.

Chicago Health Connection's community-based doula model addresses these concerns by collaborating with grassroots organizations, trusted institutions and government agencies to improve maternal and infant health, strengthen families, and establish supports for ongoing family success. Doula support during the childbearing year is related to fewer labor and delivery complications, fewer medical interventions, and increased well-being for mothers and babies. The integration of doula support increases prenatal visit compliance of high risk women, promotes maternal infant attachment, increases breastfeeding initiation and success, assists home visiting programs in bridging pregnancy and parenting, and enhances health education programs by providing the support of a well trained and experienced peer provider. Panelists will describe the challenges facing birthing families, the community-based doula model and its effect on birth outcomes, the experience of national replication sites, and ongoing efforts to develop federal funding to support the sustainability of these primary prevention programs.