Doulas are trained professionals who provide non-clinical emotional, physical and informational support for birthing people, before, during and after labor and birth. During the prenatal period doulas share resources and information about the labor process, facilitate positive communication and self-advocacy. During labor and birth doulas provide hands-on comfort measures to assist with pain management. Doulas also provide post-partum support to help with transitions into parenting, breastfeeding, etc.
The primary objectives of the BOMB Doula program are:
- Improve maternal and infant mortality rates for enrolled mothers
- Diversifying mothers’ options to pregnancy support through Doulas
- Increase breastfeeding education and initiation rates for mothers
- Connection to routine prenatal and post-partum cares and health benefits
- Support pathways to socioeconomic stability
- Support and educate partners/fathers alongside mothers during pregnancy
- Increase engagement with healthy behaviors (i.e. mental health, prenatal visits, exercise, smoking cessation, safe sleep practices, etc.).
- Reproductive Life and Birth Planning
The program works with mothers at or before 30 weeks pregnant through birth and 12 weeks postpartum. This program serves residents of the City of Milwaukee.
Mothers can also be enrolled in the doula program in addition to other MCH home visiting programs, contact us at 414-286-8620 for more information.