IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 395 

Recognizing the work and contributions of doulas towards improving 

pregnancy, birth, and postpartum outcomes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 11, 2023 

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin (for herself and Ms. PRESSLEY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 

Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the work and contributions of doulas towards 

improving pregnancy, birth, and postpartum outcomes. 

Whereas doulas can play an important role in— 

(1) maternal health; 

(2) maternal mental health; and 

(3) reducing maternal mortality and morbidity in 

the United States; 

Whereas doula support includes continuous non-clinical 1-on1 emotional, physical, and informational support during 

pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum; 

Whereas doulas empower mothers with information about 

pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, breast feeding, and infant care; 


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•HRES 395 IH 

Whereas doulas can speak up for and serve as navigators for 

mothers during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and 

postpartum; 

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 continuous doula support has been shown to shorten 

the duration of labor and delivery; 

Whereas research indicates that, with the support of doulas, 

women are— 

(1) more likely to have spontaneous vaginal births; 

(2) less likely to require epidural anesthesia and 

other interventions; and 

(3) less likely to experience postpartum depression 

or another postpartum mood and anxiety disorder; 

Whereas 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 from 2013, and the recommendations for 

Maternal Health and Infant Health Quality Improvement 

in Medicaid from 2020, identified providing coverage for 

continuous doula support during labor as a potential 

strategy to enhance maternal and infant care management; 

Whereas the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal 

Medicine reported that the continuous presence of a 

doula during pregnancy is one of the most effective tools 

to improve labor and delivery outcomes; 


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•HRES 395 IH 

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 the presence of a doula can provide vital emotional 

and physical support after a stillbirth; 

Whereas a doula can provide pregnant and postpartum 

women and their partners with critical information about 

urgent maternal warning signs, as recommended by the 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 

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) primary and repeat cesarean deliveries; and 

(D) epidural anesthesia and other interventions; 

Whereas training members of underserved communities, including rural areas, to become doulas and support mothers in their own communities can— 

(1) help provide employment opportunities for improving maternal health; and 


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•HRES 395 IH 

(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 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the important role of doulas in 

3 providing respectful, responsive care to all women, 

4 including women in underserved communities, in5 cluding rural areas, who lack access to maternal 

6 health services; 

7 (2) acknowledges that doula support services 

8 provide continuous physical and emotional support 

9 to help mothers achieve healthy pregnancies and safe 

10 deliveries and recoveries; 

11 (3) urges greater recognition for the important 

12 role that doulas play in— 

13 (A) supporting improved pregnancy, birth, 

14 and postpartum experiences and outcomes, in15 cluding maternal mental health; 

16 (B) reducing health care costs and working 

17 towards the elimination of health disparities; 

18 and 


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•HRES 395 IH 

1 (C) overcoming barriers for assisting low2 income women of color and women in rural 

3 areas with access to health and social supports; 

4 (4) recognizing the Doula Week to raise aware5 ness about, and advocate for the benefits of, doulas 

6 and the support services doulas provide; and 

7 (5) recognizes the importance of access to doula 

8 support services, especially in underserved commu9 nities. 

Æ 


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