Maternal Health

UCLA doctors, the local doula community, and Confident Girl Mentoring are working to improve the health and save the lives of women and babies using prevention, information and access to culturally sensitive medical facilities.

BCHE’s Maternal Health Program, in collaboration with UCLA, Confident Girl Mentoring, and local doulas, works to address systemic maternal health disparities and improve access to culturally sensitive care. The program’s latest initiative advocates for Medicaid-credentialed doulas who are also Certified Lactation Consultants (CLCs) to bill for breastfeeding and lactation services—services that have traditionally been limited to licensed healthcare providers like nurses and doctors. By including CLC-certified doulas, the program diversifies the maternal and infant health workforce, which is expected to improve outcomes for both mothers and babies. This initiative also aims to reduce healthcare costs by minimizing the need for additional medical interventions.