How doula support impacts outcomes

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists identifies continuous doula support as one of the most effective tools for improving labor and delivery outcomes. Only 6% of birthing people in the U.S. currently have access to it.

This whitepaper examines the clinical evidence behind doula care, and the role health plans can play in closing that gap.

Inside the guide, you'll explore:

• How prenatal and birth doula support affects labor outcomes, including C-section rates, pain medication use, labor duration, and postpartum depression
• The evidence on postpartum doulas, including their role in mental health, breastfeeding support, and newborn care education
• How doula care can reduce racial disparities in maternal outcomes, and why community-based doulas are increasingly recognized as a tool for addressing the Black maternal mortality crisis
• The current state of doula coverage across U.S. states and private insurers, and where coverage remains severely limited
• How health plans can expand doula access through comprehensive fertility and maternity benefits, and what the cost-effectiveness data shows for insurers

Download the guide to see what the evidence says about doula support, and what health plans can do to make it more accessible.