PATHWAYS PROFILE
Mary’s Center Birth Doula Program... ...continued from page 9
• Lower usage of pain medication; UHGXFWLRQLQFHVDUHDQUDWHV +LJKHU$SJDUVFRUHVIRUEDELHV • Reduced labor times;
+LJKHUUDWHVRIEUHDVWIHHGLQJLQLWLDWLRQZLWKLQKRXURIELUWK DQG KLJKHU UHSRUWV RI D SRVLWLYH ELUWK H[SHULHQFH ZKLFK LV WKH leading protective factor against birth trauma and related postpartum PRRGGLVRUGHUV ,QUHVSRQVHWRWKLVUHYLHZDQGRWKHUUHVHDUFKDLPHGDWWKHEHQH¿WV RIELUWKGRXODVXSSRUWWKH$PHULFDQ$VVRFLDWLRQRI2EVWHWULFVDQG*\ - QHFRORJ\ $&2* UHOHDVHGD brief asserting that continuous labor sup- SRUWE\DGRXODLV³RQHRIWKHPRVWH̆HFWLYHWRROVIRULPSURYLQJODERU DQGGHOLYHU\RXWFRPHVLQ$PHULFD´7KHUHVHDUFKLVFOHDU ELUWKGRXODV are an invaluable tool for bridging the gap in modern obstetrical care and improving both maternal and infant health outcomes.
Why Birth Doulas? AddressingNation- andDistrict-wide Maternal Health Disparities 7KH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV KDV WKH KLJKHVWPDWHUQDOPRUWDOLW\ UDWH RI DQ\ LQGXVWULDOL]HG FRXQWU\ LQ WKH ZRUOG HYHQ WKRXJK LW VSHQGV RQ DYHU - DJH WKUHH WLPHV PRUH RQ KHDOWKFDUH FRVWV WKDQ RWKHU LQGXVWULDOL]HG countries. The maternal mortality rate LVIRXUWLPHVKLJKHUIRU%ODFN ELUWKHUVWKDQZKLWHELUWKHUVDQGGRXEOHWKDWRI+LVSDQLFELUWKHUV DQG WKRVHGLVSDULWLHVDUHHYHQKLJKHULI\RXORRNDWVSHFL¿FJHRJUDSKLFUH - JLRQVLQWKH86 ,QWKH'LVWULFWRI&ROXPELDDODUPEHOOVKDYHEHHQULQJLQJIRU\HDUV around inequities in maternal and infant health indicators. As of '&¶VPDWHUQDOPRUWDOLW\UDWHZDVPRUHWKDQKLJKHUWKDQ WKHQDWLRQDODYHUDJHDWGHDWKVSHUELUWKV²WKHWKKLJKHVW maternal mortality rate in the country. The closing of the maternity wards in both hospitals east of the Anacostia River has only exacerbat- ed these alarming rates, disproportionately impacting Wards 7 and 8, which now lack access to adequate perinatal healthcare in their com- PXQLWLHV :KHQ DQDO\]LQJ VROXWLRQV IRU PDWHUQDO DQG LQIDQW KHDOWK GLVSDULWLHVUHVHDUFKKDVVKRZQWKHEHQH¿WVRIUHWXUQLQJWRRXUURRWV and restoring the compassionate, community-based care that doulas R̆HUWRWKHLUFOLHQWV ,Q&RFKUDQHSXEOLVKHGDV\VWHPDWLFUHYLHZVXPPDUL]LQJWKH EHQH¿WV RI ELUWK GRXOD VXSSRUW IRU ODERU DQG GHOLYHU\ RXWFRPHV IRU ELUWKVDFURVVWKH86 &RFKUDQHDQLQWHUQDWLRQDOQHWZRUNWKDW FUHDWHVDQGPDNHVDYDLODEOHV\VWHPDWLFUHYLHZVLVUHFRJQL]HGDVDJROG VWDQGDUGIRUWUXVWHGKLJKTXDOLW\KHDOWKFDUHLQIRUPDWLRQ 7KHGDWD UHYHDOHGDQXPEHURIVLJQL¿FDQWSRVLWLYHRXWFRPHVDFKLHYHGWKURXJK continuous support from a doula during labor and delivery, including: Melissa Davis, owner of Hands of Melody Doula Services, local birth doula trained at GracefulFusion by Nicole, supporting a client through massage and unconditional loving presence during labor.
Austyn Holleman at the last birth she attended rejoicing with the new parents over a beauti- ful birth and the arrival of their newest family member.
Bringing It All Together: The Mary’s Center Doula Referral Program 0DU\¶V &HQWHU LV D )HGHUDOO\ 4XDOL¿HG +HDOWK &HQWHU SURYLGLQJ SDUWLFLSDQWV DFURVV '& DQG 0DU\ODQG ZLWK KHDOWK FDUH LQ - FOXGLQJ PHGLFDO GHQWDO DQG EHKDYLRUDO KHDOWK HGXFDWLRQ DQG VR - FLDOVHUYLFHV0DU\¶V&HQWHURSHUDWHVXVLQJD social change model that supports families with not only evidenced-based treatment, but also wraparound preventative and education services to encourage holistic wellness and upward mobility. ,QIDOORIDIWHULGHQWLI\LQJDQRSSRUWXQLW\WRIXUWKHUVXSSRUW RXU SDUWLFLSDQWV ZLWK FRPSDVVLRQDWH PDWHUQLW\ FDUH 0DU\¶V &HQWHU EHJDQDSDUWQHUVKLSZLWK1LFROH+HLGEUHGHURZQHURI*UDFHIXO)XVLRQ 'RXOD7UDLQLQJ , to provide free birth doula services to any pregnant SDUWLFLSDQWDW0DU\¶V&HQWHU7KURXJK WKHSURJUDPSDUWLFLSDQWVDUH FRQQHFWHGZLWKYROXQWHHUGRXODV IURP1LFROH¶VQHWZRUNRIGHGLFDWHG
30—PATHWAYS—Winter 21-22
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