Doula Support benefit now available to eligible members
Doula support program
Becoming a mother was something Caroline had wanted for more than a decade. When she finally saw a positive pregnancy test after years of in vitro fertilization (IVF), she was beyond elated. As a single mom by choice, she knew her next step was to assemble her support squad.
For Caroline,1 that included a doula.
“In my first trimester, the most important thing was picking my team,” Caroline said. “I picked my OB, and importantly, I picked my doula.”
Caroline said her doula, Ale, helped her through every step of her journey — answering questions during her pregnancy, helping to translate medical jargon after every doctor’s appointment and making her feel empowered in her decisions during labor.
UnitedHealthcare is helping more members access personalized support throughout their pregnancy, labor and postpartum. Most eligible members can choose any trained doula they prefer for services during pregnancy, labor or postpartum, and then submit receipts for reimbursement up to the amount covered by their employer’s plan.
“Doula support has been shown to improve outcomes, to support women from a mental health perspective and to lessen complications related to C-section and preterm birth,” said Dr. Lisa Saul, National Chief Medical Officer of Women’s Health for UnitedHealthcare. "By removing financial barriers, we hope to encourage more members to utilize these services to help support their journey.”
What is a doula?
A doula is non-medical, trained birthing professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a person before, during and after childbirth. A doula can help support the birthing and postpartum experience by offering comfort, clarity and resources for decision-making along the journey, alongside a person’s midwife or medical provider.
What are the benefits of a doula?
The benefits of using a doula are well-documented. Research shows doula care can lead to better birth outcomes, reduce unnecessary interventions and help address racial and systemic disparities in maternal health.2
“The biggest benefit of having a doula support a birth is really informational and evidence-based support,” Ale said.
Ale has been part of hundreds of births over the years and looks at her role as a doula like a “guide” — one who can help provide information on where to birth, what options are available, what to expect and ultimately, be an advocate for their journey to ensure they feel supported.
Unlike other medical professionals that are part of one’s care team, a doula is there to focus on emotional and physical support.
How does a doula make a difference?
For Caroline, her doula Ale was instrumental in her entire birthing experience. One that stretched into 27 hours and ultimately an unplanned C-section.
“My doula supported me in a way that I can't imagine anyone else being able to do,” Caroline said. “Nothing about my birth went to plan. And everything went right — and that’s because I had a doula.”
Caroline said her doula helped her feel in control in a chaotic situation where decisions had to be made quickly and stress levels were rising.
“I walked away feeling so empowered from what could have been a very scary situation,” she said.
Ale’s role a lot of times is to be a calming presence and to level set in an overwhelming environment.
“I am a non-emotional party in the birth process,” Ale said. “I can take the information given and help people translate it to something that they can understand while they're laboring.”
After years of IVF, hours of labor and an emotional birth experience, Caroline welcomed a healthy, beautiful baby boy, Johnny. She credits Ale with helping transform what could have been a traumatic experience into one that felt — in her words — “perfect.”
“I could not be more thrilled that UnitedHealthcare is providing a doula benefit for eligible members,” she said. “I want every person giving birth to have the support that I had and that includes a doula.”
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