GRAND RAPIDS CHARTER TOWNSHIP, Mich — In the United States, Black Americans have 2.4 times the infant mortality rate as white Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
One profession working to decreasing that disparity is birth doulas. Doulas are a non-medical professional supporting birthing people during pregnancy, labor and postpartum through emotional, physical and educational means.
"Doulas, I feel like, are a crucial part of a birthing team and helping with those disparities in care," said Lyanna Moore, a Grand Rapids area doula. "Because we're there to educate our clients, but also work with medical providers. We're not here to fight against them. We're working with them to make sure that that person is having the best possible birth outcome imaginable."
According to the National Academy for State Health Policy, pregnant people who had continuous support, like that of a doula, during childbirth were less likely to have a Cesarean delivery and more likely to have babies with higher Apgar scores and fewer adverse outcomes.
Moore began her journey to becoming a doula in part due to her desire to reduce the infant mortality disparity. She is also a mother herself to three, and wants birthing people to feel heard in their decisions during pregnancy and birth.
"Everyone deserves to be respected in their birthing decisions, to have the information on what their birthing space can look like," said Moore. "I really wanted to support that."
She said often, doulas are seen as a "luxury," when the support shouldn't be.
In 2023, Michigan Medicaid began covering doula services.
"I think we're making it more much more affordable and much more of an option for anyone," said Shannon Wilson, vice president of population health and health equity for Priority Health. "I think that there is that misnomer that it is a luxury or a high-end ticket item. I think if you look at what doulas provide, it is actually something that is very affordable for most Americans."
Wilson said they have one of the highest proportion of doulas credentialed with Priority Health.
"As a society, we do a disservice if we're not getting as many infants as possible through their first year of life," said Wilson, "and right now, we are not, and we know that. We're trying to really increase the access to the doulas, reduce the barriers associated with getting that extra support and care. If there is a route to a healthier pregnancy, we want to make sure that we're delivering that."
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