Allow Doulas Back In The Delivery Room

Allow Doulas Back In The Delivery Room

Started
May 1, 2020
Petition to
Governor of the State of Ohio Honorable Mike DeWine
Signatures: 3,383Next Goal: 5,000
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Why this petition matters

Started by Rachel Mueller

We are asking as a collective of Doulas and Birthing families in Ohio, that asymptomatic Doulas be reinstated alongside the birthing person's chosen birth partner, as key professional members of the maternity care team, offering support to birthing people, irrespective of the birthing person's COVID19 status. Please reinstate Doulas within all maternity hospitals throughout the State, in addition to the birthing person's chosen partner for the duration of their labor, delivery and postpartum stay. We believe that the issue of such an Order is fundamental to ensuring that the human rights of birthing people are respected and upheld during this challenging time and that Doulas are afforded the professional recognition that they deserve. We base our request to amend visitor policies and to reinstate Doulas in addition to the birthing person's chosen partner upon a wealth of human rights legislation, the guidance of professional organizations who work to protect the rights of birthing people, and the widely documented research evidence which identifies that the physical and emotional support provided by Doulas positively impacts birth outcomes. Doulas are of particular importance to the maternity care team during this pandemic as the support they offer promotes increased rates of physiological birth that ultimately reduce the risk of exposure to COVID19 through shorter hospital stays and reduce staff burden. They also improve birth outcomes and the holistic health of birthing people and their families. We request your support to protect the human rights of birthing people. Reinstatement of Doulas into the maternity care system as a matter of urgency. Our families desperately need us. 

Support now
Signatures: 3,383Next Goal: 5,000
Support now

Decision Makers

  • Honorable Mike DeWineGovernor of the State of Ohio