"Doulas clearly improve clinical and service quality; they provide an absolutely safe way to reduce cesareans and other invasive birthing interventions."
Coming to Term: Innovations in Safely Reducing Cesarean Rates. Medical Leadership Council, Washington D.C. 1996
Infant Mortality Prevention Network Outreach Worker Doula Training
In 2003, this project focused on eliminating or lessening the effects of racism and stress in an effort to improve birth outcomes. March of Dimes funding helps provide culturally appropriate prenatal outreach and doula support for Native American, African American and Latino families.
Open Arms Perinatal Services, in collaboration with the Infant Mortality Prevention Network (IMPN), Seattle Midwifery School (SMS), and Pacific Association for Labor Support (PALS) received funds in order to provide basic outreach worker training as well as doula training and certification for Network members.
These members were outreach workers who currently serve African American, American Indian, and Latina women in King County. Recognizing the connections between racism, stress and poor pregnancy outcomes, Network members seek to provide support to women, to buffer the effects of racism and enhance their chances of delivering healthy babies, and to reduce racial disparities in infant mortality.
12 infant mortality outreach workers from the African American, Asian American, and American Indian communities. The project trained 20 women and 2 men, 11 of whom pursued certification. Doula training allows IMPN members to provide culturally appropriate labor support to their existing clients as well as to other women of color.
