Approximately one in three mothers in the U.S. undergoes major surgery — a C-section — during childbirth. Employers can help reduce this number by offering access to a doula as part of their health benefits package.
New research from virtual health clinic Maven found that virtual doula support can reduce C-sections by 20%. For Black mothers — an especially vulnerable population in the healthcare system — and members with a prior C-section who seek to deliver naturally, this number increases to 60%, comparable to in-person care during pregnancy. The study, which pulled data from almost 9,000 of Maven’s members, found that in as few as two virtual doula appointments prior to labor, the birthing experience can be improved.
