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 fol-
lowing 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-on- 
1 emotional, physical, and informational support during 
pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum; 
Whereas doulas empower mothers with information about 
pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, breast feeding, and in-
fant 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 Med-
icaid 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 manage-
ment; 
Whereas the American College of Obstetricians and Gyne-
cologists (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, child-
birth, and postpartum helps foster shared decision mak-
ing for birthing women by facilitating communication be-
tween 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 med-
ical attention, thus lowering the risk of escalating com-
plications for the mother and baby; 
Whereas access to doula support services, especially in under-
served 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 un-
noticed; 
(C) primary and repeat cesarean deliveries; and 
(D) epidural anesthesia and other interventions; 
Whereas training members of underserved communities, in-
cluding rural areas, to become doulas and support moth-
ers in their own communities can— 
(1) help provide employment opportunities for im-
proving 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, in-
cluding doula support services, in collaboration with ob-
stetrical care, show great promise in improving, and re-
ducing disparities in, maternal health outcomes: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the important role of doulas in 
providing respectful, responsive care to all women, 
including women in underserved communities, in-
cluding rural areas, 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 experiences and outcomes, in-
cluding maternal mental health; 
(B) reducing health care costs and working 
towards the elimination of health disparities; 
and 
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•HRES 395 IH 
(C) overcoming barriers for assisting low- 
income women of color and women in rural 
areas with access to health and social supports; 
(4) recognizing the Doula Week to raise aware-
ness about, 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 commu-
nities. 
Æ 
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