December 31, 2024

The Impact of Doulas on Maternal and Child Health

The history of having a female support person with a mother as she gives birth dates to ancient Greece, with the term “doula” popularized in the 1960s. Since the 1980s, the popularity of doulas has grown as studies have shown that their presence is an important part of women’s health and wellness.

A 2023 review of research highlights the role doulas play in maternal and child health outcomes, including reduced cesarean sections, premature deliveries and length of labor. Doula support, specifically in low-income women, improved breastfeeding success and continued breastfeeding weeks after childbirth. Additionally, the emotional support provided by doulas reduced anxiety and stress.

EveryStep provides education and helps people receive the prenatal, birth and postnatal support they need. One way accomplish that is through EveryStep’s doula services, which are offered at no cost to anyone who qualifies.

Learn More About EveryStep's Support Services for New Moms and Children

Born in a Thai refugee camp, Paw Paw gave birth to her first child in the same camp. And it wasn’t easy. “It took me three days and three nights to have that baby,” says Paw Paw, speaking through EveryStep interpreter Moo Psawhtee, who also speaks Karen, Paw Paw’s native language. “Over there, they just let us be — they don’t do anything.”

After coming to Iowa, Paw Paw connected with EveryStep and met EveryStep doula Sarah Yak. Originally, from South Sudan, Sarah became a doula to provide the support and advocacy she felt she lacked when she developed complications after giving birth to her two sons there. “It was a wake-up call for me,” says Sarah. “Back then I thought once you have the baby, you only must think about the baby, not yourself. Now I want to help other women with not only having a healthy baby, but also being a healthy mom.”

Paw Paw says having Sarah by her side for the birth of her daughter, Daisy, was comforting and empowering. “She was waiting at the hospital for me and she made the room smell good,” says Paw Paw. “She made sure I was comfortable, and before they did anything, she always asked if it was something I wanted. Sarah made such a big difference.”

“Being a doula is a way for me to give back. I know most of the challenges of being a newcomer or refugee, and I want to help them understand the health system,” says Sarah. “Imagine if you are pregnant and there are a lot of things you need to understand about yourself or your baby, and you don't have that understanding of how to advocate for yourself. That’s what I’m here to help them do.”

Sydney Moore is part of the Title V Doula program, administered locally by EveryStep. The program offers specialized doula services to empower pregnant individuals who identify as Black or African American. “I think the biggest part of being a doula is that you get to see somebody at their lowest point and their highest point, and you get to be there with them through it all,” says Sydney. “It’s an amazing thing to be able to be a part of someone’s life like that.”

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Sydney met Chenice, a mother of three who did not have a good experience when she gave birth to her twins by C-section. She did not want another C-section, but a prenatal check-up showed Chenice’s blood pressure was dangerously high. An emergency C-section was necessary. Sydney was there with her and helped her navigate the procedure. Sydney gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

After birth, she started having swelling and pain and called Sydney for advice. “She told me to go to the ER now, but I told her I could push through the pain,” says Chenice. Sydney insisted she go right away. Chenice learned she had an infection. She received treatment and recovered.

“[Sydney] was so helpful to me,” says Chenice. “She was somebody you could talk to if you were having pregnancy problems. She was like a sister.”

EveryStep can offer critical support to new parents — an especially vulnerable stage in life — weaving together the threads of a care and support network to create an inclusive social fabric where everyone can flourish. By offering the connections, tools and resources they need to build a healthy family, they can become part of a flourishing, healthy community.

You can ensure that new parents who are struggling in your community receive the support they need. Consider a monthly contribution to strengthen Iowa’s care and support network.

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Investing in Iowa’s care and support network means no one must face adversity alone.

If you or someone you know is struggling to find the support they need, please contact EveryStep at 515-558-9946. Or complete the commitment-free, confidential “Find Care” form on EveryStep’s website here.