Aim’s doula program addresses maternal health challenges
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STEUBENVILLE -- According to the March of Dimes, the numbers are bleak in Ohio: 13,914 babies were born preterm in the state in 2024.
Ohio ranks 37th out of 52 (including all states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico) for preterm births with a rate of 11.0%.
The state’s infant mortality rate is 7.2 deaths per 1,000 live births, ranking 48th nationally, and the maternal mortality rate of 24.5 deaths per 100,000 births has worsened in the last year.
Aim Women's Center is working to combat the numbers in Jefferson County. Its community doula program is one of several across the state addressing significant maternal and infant health disparities.
The program launched in 2024 and has grown to serve 49 women in just under two years. Centers for Disease Control studies identify doulas as trained, nonmedical professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional and informational support before, during and after childbirth. The CDC recognizes doula care as an evidence-based strategy to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce racial disparities. CDC research shows doula support provides benefits including improved breastfeeding rates, fewer interventions during birth, better maternal health, higher rates of birth satisfaction and a decrease in postpartum depression and anxiety.
Doulas do not provide medical care and do not replace medical providers such as physicians, midwives and nurses. However, they provide supplemental support outside medical providers’ scope during the prenatal period, labor and delivery and postpartum period.
The National Academy for State Health Policy reports that doulas improve birth outcomes, support birth equity, positively impact social determinants of health and reduce disparities in maternal and infant health. By providing labor support, doulas help reduce maternal stress, encourage optimal fetal positioning and shorten labor, which promotes a healthier, more stable transition for the newborn.
Women who had doula-supported births had a 97.9% breastfeeding initiation rate compared with 80.8% of the general Medicaid population. According to dona.org, doulas reduce cesarean births by 26% to 56% for full-term births. Infant health benefits increase with doula care, according to Evidence Based Birth, including reducing the frequency of low APGAR scores by 38%, ensuring better oxygenation and improving overall clinical status.
Aim Executive Director Rebekah Cohen Morris said that while much evidence supports doula care, the clients who seek Aim services cannot afford it. Medicaid covers $1,200 of the care, which can cost up to $2,500.
“We thought it was a critical component of care that we needed to offer our expectant mothers,” Cohen Morris said. “The evidence supporting the benefits of doula care to the mother and the infant is indisputable. We’ve received excellent feedback from the participants in the program, so we know firsthand that the outcomes are positive.”
The Aim doula provides prenatal education, birth planning, 24/7 on-call labor support, postpartum visits including wellness checks and breastfeeding coaching and mental health screening. These services combine to provide a positive birth experience for mothers and better health outcomes for mothers and children.
Cohen Morris believes the program continues to grow because of its effectiveness.
“We are responding to a pressing community gap with a cost-effective, evidence-based solution, rooted in data and local need,” she said.
One Aim maternity home resident who recently gave birth with the assistance of the Aim doula gave a rave review.
“My experience with my doula was truly beautiful and empowering,” she offered. “Throughout my labor, she was a constant source of strength, using affirmations like ‘you got this’ that resonated deeply and kept my spirits high. She expertly guided me through various positions, helping me find comfort and progress until my daughter arrived. Her presence was invaluable; if I were to have another child, or if a friend or even a stranger were to, I would wholeheartedly recommend having a doula beside you. Even with a partner present, a doula brings a unique wisdom and she’s supported countless women through this transformative journey.”
A new doula-led childbirth series starts Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. It is open to Aim and non-Aim clients, and registration is required. For information about the Aim doula program or other services, visit aimwomenscenter.com or call (740) 283-3636.