Doulas: The Pros and Cons of Incorporating Them Into Your Maternal Care Model

When it comes to maternal care model builds, many different options are available to health IT companies. One option that is becoming more popular is the inclusion of doula services. But what exactly is a doula, and what are the pros and cons of integrating them into your maternal care plan? Let’s take a closer look.

What is a doula?

Doulas are trained professionals who provide physical, emotional, and informational support to parents during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Many doulas are also lactation consultants and can help with breastfeeding. Integrating doula services into your care model could add value from a health IT investment perspective. Your solution could make it more attractive to investors, given the current statistics surrounding maternal mortality.

The advantages of having a doula on your team

There are many advantages to having a doula as part of your care model. First, they can provide much-needed support during labor and delivery. Doulas are trained to help expectant mothers with pain management techniques, positioning, and even massage. They can also offer emotional support and guidance throughout the birthing process.

Doulas can provide continuity of care and support, especially important for high-risk pregnancies. They can help manage stress and anxiety levels, provide support during labor and delivery, and assist with breastfeeding after the baby is born. Doulas are also trained in infant care and can provide support and guidance to new parents.

Another significant advantage of having a doula is that it can help to reduce the risk of complications during labor and delivery. Studies have shown that women who receive continuous support from a doula are less likely to experience complications like cesarean delivery, forceps delivery, or vacuum-assisted delivery. They are also less likely to need pain medication, and their labors tend to be shorter.