November 02, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
In the United States, the Department of Defense just announced new benefits for military families. Effective January 1, 2022, military personnel and their dependents in the United States and the District of Columbia covered under many TRICARE insurance plans will be eligible to receive care from certified birth doulas, certified lactation consultants and certified lactation counselors. These benefits will be provided as part of the benefits package under TRICARE, an assortment of health care plans available to people in the military. Overseas families will have these benefits made available to them on January 1, 2025.
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May 21, 2019 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
With ever-increasing scrutiny on methods to improve maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, particularly for Black families and families of color, insurance companies, state Medicaid programs and other health care services funding programs all around the USA are exploring (and in some cases have already initiated) doula care as a covered benefit.
The research study reviewed today runs a theoretical model looking at both the cost-effectiveness and the cost savings when a nulliparous woman has professional labor support for their first birth and the impact on the second birth.
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March 28, 2019 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Many of our Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educators (LCCEs) and Lamaze International members are also birth and/or postpartum doulas. I reached out to our members to learn more about how they find filling both these roles works for them.
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May 30, 2017 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
This months Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators honors International Doula Month with an activity that reinforces Lamaze Healthy Birth Practice #3 - Bring a loved one, friend or doula for continuous support.
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May 23, 2017 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
May is International Doula Month and both birth & postpartum doulas are being celebrated for the important contributions they make to maternal-infant health & the family's birth & postpartum experience. Childbirth educators play a key role in introducing expectant families to the role of the doula.
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