SoonerCare now covers doula services, expanding support for expecting mothers in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Expecting moms enrolled in SoonerCare can now take advantage of a resource that works to help pregnant women and mothers, Doula services are now completely covered for SoonerCare patients in Oklahoma.

Fox 25 spoke with a Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula, Dominique Zak, from Hands On Demand Doula in Arcadia, who says she is so excited and proud to offer her Doula services to SoonerCare patients, and she says Doulas provide mothers with emotional, educational, and physical support during pregnancy and postpartum.

According to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Doulas are trained non-medical birth workers who help support women through pregnancy,

"A Doula is a trained companion, who provides continuous one-on-one support to the birthing person, throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period," said Zak.

Doulas can also advocate on behalf of their patients during labor and delivery,

"We're definitely there just to be their advocate, to make sure that they know all of the options available to them throughout their birth," Zak said.

Doulas help prepare mothers for their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum both mentally and physically,

"We have lots of comfort techniques that we can offer, most people just on average who choose to have a doula are 60% less likely to ask for an epidural," said Zak.

According to the Office of Health and Policy, women supported by doulas experience fewer pregnancy complications,

"Far less likely to have negative birth outcomes, they have lower C-section rates when their babies are born generally, they have less complications at birth and are usually not required to go to the NICU," Zak said.

This summer the OHCA expanded pregnancy and postpartum care, including covering doula services in Oklahoma,

"In 2021, more than half of the babies born in Oklahoma were born covered by SoonerCare," said Zak, "So having this is just going to expand the reach of people who are able to have doula services and for SoonerCare clients, it is completely covered."

Oklahoma is joining just ten other states covering Doula services through their Medicaid program,

"I'm very proud of Oklahoma for being one of the states to offer doula services," Zak said, "Far too many people are going into birth feeling scared and nervous, not knowing what the procedures are, there is a definite health benefit for mothers and babies who choose to have doula service."

For more information on Doulas services, click here.

For information on Dominique Zak's Doula services with Hands-On Demand Doula, click here.

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