Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller announced Cook County Health’s first ever doula program that will help reduce the stresses of pregnancy, especially for Black and Latina women.
(Provided photo)
Miller, who represents Homewood on the Cook County Board, said she “was a tireless advocate” for the program aimed at improving maternal health. The new program was announced Dec. 3.
“The program is the result of a journey that I led to host two maternal health hearings to confront the stark disparities in maternal mortality rates, especially as the pandemic exposed and worsened them,” Miller said. “I listened, learned and acted. I secured $1 million in funding in the FY 2024 budget to make this initiative a reality.”
This free doula program “directly addresses the alarming fact that in Illinois Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white or Hispanic women,” Miller said. “More than 90% of maternal deaths are preventable, yet they continue to occur at staggering rates.”
The doula program will offer access to free, culturally tailored doula care that can reduce birth complications, shorten labor and improve postpartum experiences. The role of the doula will be to educate patients and their families on what to expect before the child is born. A doula can assist during labor giving emotional and physical support. After the birth, the doula can help the new mother understand how her actions can help her and her baby.
“The program isn’t just a milestone, it’s a lifeline,” Miller said.
