Big companies in Washington, like Microsoft and Walmart, are starting to pay for doula services as part of their health benefits. Doulas are people who give support to women during childbirth. This change is important because it can help fix some unfair health problems that affect people of different races.
Having a doula can lead to safer and healthier births, and this is especially true for families of color. But not everyone has been able to get doula help in the past.
Microsoft, which has its main office in Redmond, Washington, started giving employees up to $1,000 to pay for a doula in early 2021. This helped Hollie Sherfey, who works there, have a better experience with the birth of her second child and avoid feeling anxious afterward.
Walmart, which has more workers than any other company in the U.S., also offers up to $1,000 for doula services. This is a big deal for places where it’s hard to find good health care, and it’s becoming even more important as some places are closing down where women can go to have their babies.
There’s also a push to get Medicaid, the government health insurance program, to pay for doula services in Washington. This would help a lot more people because Medicaid covers many births in the state. A group called the Doulas for All Coalition is working with the state’s health department to make a system that doulas need to pass to get paid by Medicaid.
With these big companies offering doula benefits and the chance that Medicaid might do the same, we’re moving toward making sure all moms can have the support they need for a safe and healthy birth, no matter their race.
See: “More Washington companies offer doula services in health benefits” by Megan Burbank on the Crosscut website (February 15, 2024)
