November is Prematurity Awareness Month.
As champions of community-based doula care, we want to highlight the role of doulas in reducing preterm birth rates and advocate for doula care as a part of the solution to rising preterm birth rates in the United States.
Baseline Data
Every year, hundreds of thousands of babies are born prematurely (i.e., before the 37th week of pregnancy). Data from March of Dimes revealed that in 2022, 10.4% of births in the U.S. were preterm. Preterm birth rates were higher in Black, American Indian / Native Alaskan, and Hispanic populations, falling at 14.6%, 12.2%, and 10%, compared to a rate of 9.4% in the white population. These disparities reflect broader patterns of health inequities in maternal and child health outcomes across the nation.
Premature birth can lead to a series of health risks for the baby, including potential developmental delays, chronic respiratory problems, and vision and hearing impairment. Premature babies are also at a higher risk of infant death. Reducing preterm birth rates is one of the ways doulas can help foster safer and healthier births.
Research on Doulas and Preterm Births
Research shows that doula support correlates with lower rates of preterm births. One study found that women who had doula care had a preterm birth rate of 4.7%, compared to a rate of 6.3% for women who did not. A similar study found that preterm birth rates were 6.3% for women with a doula and 12.4% for those without one.
Studies have also found that doula care significantly lowers the likelihood of preterm birth. One study reported that women with doulas were 22% less likely to have a preterm birth than women without doulas, and another study found that doula care led to a 29% lower risk of preterm birth.
This data highlights the positive impact doula support has on reducing preterm births, ultimately leading to healthier babies and communities. This research reaffirms what we already know about doulas’ critical role in facilitating safe and healthy births for birthing people and their babies, giving us yet another reason to advocate for accessible community-based doula care for all.
This blog was authored by Kanan Brent, HC One’s Content Strategist and Board Liaison.
Sources:
The Effect of Doulas on Maternal and Birth Outcomes: A Scoping Review
Doula Services Within a Healthy Start Program: Increasing Access for an Underserved Population