ST. LOUIS, MO - SSM Health Women’s Health Services at St. Mary’s Hospital – St. Louis and DePaul Hospital – St. Louis have partnered with On Up to provide obstetrical patients with a new care offering. Through a grant funded by The City of St. Louis’ Department of Public Health, the OB Care Centers at both hospitals are now providing expecting patients with a trained doula to support them throughout their pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care.
The partnership between SSM Health and On Up provides expecting patients with doulas who will serve as birthing support partners and advocates for the patient’s health and wellness needs. Serving as a resource to guide and support patients through their birthing journeys, the doulas will be an additional physical and emotional support system at no additional cost to the patient. This program was inaugurated to support patients with outlying factors that contribute to high-risk pregnancies.
“SSM Health Women’s Health Services is committed to providing safe and respectful care to all birthing people who choose our prenatal centers and hospitals to bring their most precious bundle into the world,” said Dr. Carolyn Pryor, MD, FACOG, SSM Health Medical Director for St. Louis Maternal Services. “We are pleased to announce that with the support of a grant received from the City of St. Louis Department of Health, we will be able to offer doula services at no cost to qualified patients who receive care at our prenatal care centers at SSM Health DePaul Hospital – St. Louis and St. Mary's Hospital – St. Louis. Doulas can provide non-clinical emotional, physical, and informational support to birthing people, starting during pregnancy, and continuing during the postpartum period. We will be collaborating with community-based doulas who will be incorporated into the health care team to provide the best care possible for our patients. Our goal is not only to provide additional support for our patients, but to improve healthy birth outcomes by reducing rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, and NICU admissions; increase early and regular attendance at prenatal visits and increase breastfeeding initiation.”
Each doula in the program has been orientated to SSM Health’s Women’s Health Services and has received specialty training to effectively support patients with substance use disorders and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) infants. In the program, patients connect with doulas early in their pregnancy and continue to build relationships throughout their prenatal experience. Doulas are present in person, by text, and virtually. The grant supports over 200 patients to receive care within the program.
On Up supports pregnant and postpartum women and birthing people with individualized doula support, in-person and virtually. Doulas provide supporting care alongside the clinical care provided by obstetricians and midwives.
