[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 82 (Wednesday, May 12, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S2492]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 209--RECOGNIZING THE WORK AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF DOULAS 
      TOWARDS IMPROVING PREGNANCY, BIRTH, AND POSTPARTUM OUTCOMES

  Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Ms. Collins) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 209

       Whereas doulas can play an important role in--
       (1) maternal care; and
       (2) addressing maternal mortality and morbidity in the 
     United States;
       Whereas doula support includes continuous non-clinical 1-
     on-1 emotional, physical, and informational support around 
     the time of birth, including during pregnancy and postpartum;
       Whereas doulas empower mothers with information about 
     pregnancy and childbirth;
       Whereas studies have shown that doula-assisted mothers are 
     4 times less likely to have a low birth weight baby, and 2 
     times less likely to experience complications during 
     pregnancy;
       Whereas research indicates that, with the support of 
     doulas, women are--
       (1) more likely to have vaginal births; and
       (2) less likely to require epidural anesthesia;
       Whereas, in 2013, the Expert Panel on Improving Maternal 
     and Infant Health Outcomes in Medicaid and the Children's 
     Health Insurance Program of the Centers for Medicare and 
     Medicaid Services identified providing coverage for 
     continuous doula support during labor as a potential strategy 
     to enhance maternal and infant care management;
       Whereas the presence of a doula during pregnancy, 
     childbirth, and postpartum helps foster shared decision-
     making for birthing women by facilitating communication 
     between women and their providers;
       Whereas a doula provides continuous support during labor 
     and delivery and can alert hospital staff to signs and 
     symptoms of complications that require immediate medical 
     attention, thus lowering the risk of escalating complications 
     for the mother and baby;
       Whereas access to doula support services, especially in 
     underserved communities, may contribute to--
       (1) improved birth outcomes, both physically and 
     emotionally; and
       (2) lower health care costs by reducing the risk of--
          (A) low birth weight babies;
          (B) complications that might otherwise go unnoticed;
          (C) low-risk cesarean deliveries; and
          (D) epidural anesthesia;
       Whereas training members of underserved communities to 
     become doulas and support mothers in their own communities 
     can--
       (1) help provide employment opportunities for improving 
     maternal health; and
       (2) build trust and reduce adverse consequences of racial 
     bias for pregnant and postpartum women of color; and
       Whereas community-based maternal health care models, 
     including doula support services, in collaboration with 
     obstetrical care, show great promise in improving, and 
     reducing disparities in, maternal health outcomes: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the important role of doulas in providing 
     respectful, responsive care to all women, including women in 
     underserved communities who lack access to maternal health 
     services;
       (2) acknowledges that doula support services provide 
     continuous physical and emotional support to help mothers 
     achieve healthy pregnancies and safe deliveries and 
     recoveries;
       (3) urges greater recognition for the important role that 
     doulas play in--
       (A) supporting improved pregnancy, birth, and postpartum 
     outcomes, including maternal mental health;
       (B) reducing health care costs and working towards the 
     elimination of health disparities; and
       (C) overcoming barriers for assisting low-income women of 
     color and women in rural areas with access to health and 
     social supports;
       (4) designates the week beginning May 9, 2021, as ``Doula 
     Week'' to raise awareness for, and advocate for the benefits 
     of, doulas and the support services doulas provide; and
       (5) recognizes the importance of access to doula support 
     services, especially in underserved communities.

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