Families across Minnesota are being denied their right (MN Patient Bill of Rights Statute 144.651) to evidence based care from a doula of their choice.

Doulas are not currently listed as essential personnel, and it’s forcing birthing families to choose between their spouse/partner and their doula. According to the MN Patient Bill of Rights, patients have the right to be accompanied by a family member, a doula of their choice, or both. Current hospital policies are denying patients their legal right to a doula.

Now with the stay at home order being lifted and restrictions being eased, Hospitals are still refusing to change their “one support person” policies and continuing to violate patient’s right to doula care. It’s difficult to imagine being allowed to have a beer at a local bar with 10 of your friends, but not being afforded your legal right to have the support of your doula and spouse/partner in childbirth.

Evidence to support Doula care:

https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/

Doulas are heavily supported with evidence showing a 39% decrease in cesarean rates, shorter labors, improved APGAR scores for babies and less NICU stays, as well as increased success rates in breastfeeding. [https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/ 

Doula-assisted mothers were four times less likely to have a low birth weight (LBW) baby, two times less likely to experience a birth complication involving themselves or their baby, and significantly more likely to initiate breastfeeding.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3647727/#idm140533420524544title

 The Association for Women’s Health of Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses states:

“AWHONN recognizes that doula services contribute to the woman’s preparation for and support during childbirth and opposes hospital policies that restrict the presence of a doula during a woman’s active labor.

‘Doulas are not visitors and should not be blocked from caring for patients in the antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum period. Most doulas have been contracted by patients weeks to months ahead of time and have established provider relationships. They are recognized by AWHONN and ACOG as essential personnel and part of the maternity care team,’ said AWHONN member Nancy Travis, MS, BSN, RN, BC, CPN, CBC, Florida Section Chair.

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. 

In addition, the CDC states that, “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."  We believe this statement provides for exceptions in the case of doula support for birthing people.  

We contend that doulas are a critical part of the birth team, they are not visitors, and should not be excluded from the birth room, -even during pandemic protocols. Birthing people need support in the hospital system. 

Doulas lead to better birth outcomes, reduction in birth trauma, higher breastfeeding rates, shorter labors, and healthier patients. They are ESSENTIAL!

We ask that Governor Walz put out a statement to support improved outcomes for families with doulas. More specifically that hospitals would uphold a patient’s right to a family member, and a doula of the patient’s choice.