By Janet Choi, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Progyny
Aspirations of pregnancy and parenthood are often filled with joy and anticipation. Too often overlooked on this journey, however, are the stresses, risks, and uncertainties that can accompany starting a family. With a steady focus on optimal health outcomes, we offer members education on and access to a spectrum of solutions to the challenges we’ve come to understand so well. Doulas are one of those offerings that have shown to play an important role in potentially improving pregnancy health outcomes. When integrated as a trusted member of the care team, doulas bring much needed educational information, advocacy, and support to the unique and intensely personal transformation that occurs through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
While medical professionals like OB/GYNs are clinically trained to care for women along their journey, many families find that emotional and practical needs are unmet. When these needs are met, women are more likely to enjoy fulfilling birth experiences and positive health outcomes, which can have lasting effects on a family.
Supporting better experiences and outcomes
With an emphasis on diverse member experiences and maternal health outcomes, Progyny uses doulas, who are trained, non-medical birth companions, to provide evidence-based guidance and advocacy. With a dedicated partner throughout the personal health journey, each member experiences emotional and physical support antenatally and postpartum virtually—and, if desired, virtually or in-person during labor—to have a safe, healthy, and personal birthing experience. This level of care empowers women to be heard and fully present.
Research has found that doula care may help increase vaginal birth rates, decrease C-sections and NICU complications, and result in positive patient experiences across countries and ethnicities worldwide. In the U.S., we also see doulas promoting safer deliveries and improved outcomes via lower complication rates particularly in minorities.
Addressing individualized needs
A successful delivery ideally originates months before delivery day, with doula support of expectant families throughout pregnancy. With visits around months three and seven of pregnancy—and additional visits, if necessary—our doulas connect with expectant families to help them gain an understanding of personal health history, medical conditions, birthing preferences, and other unique circumstances of maternal health. This may include providing support for and education on social resources as well as awareness around mental health needs that may arise both pre- and post- delivery, and helping members stay on top of visits and recommendations from their providers. For families who have not considered everything a healthy pregnancy and birth entails, the doula will help by asking important questions to consider.
The information about pregnancy shared by healthcare providers can overwhelm expectant parents. Doulas take the time to ensure members are informed about medical guidelines and recommendations including frequency of clinical visits, diet and exercise, and management of existing conditions, addressing questions and encouraging women to communicate with providers about concerns. Better informed members enter the birthing process with calm and confidence, which positively impacts the experience. In consideration of maternal health disparities, doula support that facilitates this type of self-advocacy has a way of breaking down biases, promoting equitable, safe maternal care for all patients.
Empowering families
One of the greatest assets of doulas: they don’t interject to express their own opinions, but rather they act with your values, wishes, and best interests in mind. Our doula program and its self-serve platform of resources often translate to empowerment that advances maternal health. With evidence-based resources, families can stay informed about how exercise, sleep, prenatal vitamins, stress management, and appropriate prenatal care contribute to the mother’s health. And with encouragement to take note of and discuss specific symptoms/changes, patients become more comfortable communicating important information to their care providers. For example, one of our members simply dismissed her continuous headaches during pregnancy. With doula encouragement to share the symptoms with her physician, the member soon discovered she had preeclampsia, which was safely monitored through her baby’s delivery into the postpartum period where the doula helped ensure the new mother followed up with her provider for her one-week visit to monitor her blood pressure and other symptoms.
Along with resources on the doula platform and 24/7/365 access to virtual doulas during pregnancy, families can benefit from doula support during labor and postpartum—more on this in an upcoming blog. As we continue to deliver a full spectrum of personalized support and specialized resources for every family to thrive, guiding members throughout the pregnancy lifecycle remains critical to improving maternal health.