Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Allegheny Health Network has chosen to limit birthing people to one support person, and not allowing exceptions for doulas. 

We as a community of women, men, birthing people, partners, midwives, doulas, support people, and other community members are urging Allegheny Health Network to allow doulas back into Allegheny Health Network locations as an additional support person that provides clinical outcome improvements and proven benefits. 

Infectious Disease Teams have advised AHN to make exceptions for cases like Labor and Delivery or End-of- Life, but they have failed to do so consistently. The Infectious team stated they believe AHN should “allow visitors in cases where it would benefit clinical outcomes” which evidence shows- doulas do.

The CDC States "If restriction of all visitors is implemented, facilities can consider exceptions based on end-of-life situations or when a visitor is essential for the patient’s emotional well-being and care." (CDC)

There is no time like the birth of a child, especially for the birthing people who MUST be in the hospital because of risk factors that “patient’s emotional well-being and care” could be more in the hands of the doulas. That is part of what their role is.

The Association of Women's Health Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses states "AWHONN supports doulas as partners in care and acknowledges their ability to provide physical, emotional, and partner support to women. AWHONN opposes hospital policies that restrict the presence of a doula in the inpatient setting during an infectious disease outbreak." [AWHONN}

We have numerous accounts from both Birth patients as well as Bereavement patient of either extreme dissatisfaction in the lack of doula access, or transfer of care to Magee completely due to this policy. Other community birthing places like The Midwife Center and Magee Hospital are setting the pace with proper masking, temperatures, and documenting doulas as members of the care team for patients, showing it is possible to do safely. Maternal Mortality in the US, especially among people of color- is rising, doulas help to reduce interventions directly linked to increased chances for complications that may lead to or result in death. 

Birthing families are being blocked from receiving the benefits that their doulas provide, Doulas are a part of evidence-based care that can promote an easier and shorter birth experience, with less interventions, to help them leave the hospital quicker and to have the best care possible. See evidence on clinical outcome improvement with doulas here- ( Evidence For Doulas

The last time a hospital should begin to remove life-saving health benefits is during a pandemic. The increased risks of interventions, cesareans, NICU stays, and patient traumatization that will happen due to our restrictions. The addition of doula care will not drastically increase the volume of people in the hospital setting. We propose doulas be not considered into the visitor count. We propose doulas be screened similar to all other medical staff. Other local hospitals are executing this safely, and follow infectious disease team recommendations. 

Lastly- we would like to work on policy change that brings doulas back safely for not only clinical outcome improvement, but also patient satisfaction, birth happens only once per child- there is no time like the present to confirm the use of doulas at Allegheny Health Network. I encourage leaders to consult with the Infectious Disease team as the Subject Matter Experts.

We urge you to confirm the use of doulas in Allegheny Health Network hospitals now, the outcomes of birthing people of Western PA depend on it. 

Please see a link to another petition this petition was based upon we would like to give credit to the author of this petition for assisting with the phrasing of our petition in PA.