Starting Tuesday, a team of full-spectrum doulas with Chicago-based startup Partum Health will be working around the clock alongside the doctors, midwives and nurses at the University of Chicago Medicine Family Birth Center in Hyde Park.
"This is just a really exciting way that we have been able to partner to take legislation in a way that it actually touches patients and is going to be improving health equity and birth outcomes, patient satisfaction and efficiency in a hospital," said Dr. Melissa Dennis, Chief Medical Officer at Partum.
She said having doulas on staff 24/7 means patients don't have to worry about pre-arranging doula support. Historically, patients would have find doulas and pay for them on their own.
Partum Health
"Now, what we're doing is creating an environment where, when patients show up to the family birth center, there will be a doula available to support them in labor if they have not pre-arranged to have a doula supporting them," Dr. Dennis said.
Doulas are trained non-clinical professionals who offer personalized physical, emotional and informational support to patients. Dr. Dennis said research shows that when patients work with doulas, they have a better birthing experience.
"Most of our doulas who we have hired are from the community or have always served the community in the South Side of Chicago and are committed to health equity and to ensuring that these voices are heard," she said.
She said it's part of a larger goal where a higher standard of care is the new standard of care.
"This is just a way that they have that additional support that they need to make this the safest and most joyful experience that they can have while entering to give birth," she said.
