TrueCare supports maternal health

TrueCare provides doula support to improve maternal health outcomes

In 2024, TrueCare launched its doula services aimed at tackling the alarming racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes. As a mission-driven health care provider that serves the diverse communities of North San Diego and South Riverside Counties, TrueCare aims to improve childbirth experiences by providing emotional, informational, and physical support to patients, ensuring they have the care and advocacy they need throughout pregnancy, delivery, and beyond.

Over 800 women die in the U.S. each year as a result of pregnancy or its complications. With this tragic reality comes significant racial and ethnic disparities in maternal deaths. Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women. In 2022, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 49.5 deaths per 100,000 live births and was significantly higher than rates for white (19.0), Hispanic (16.9), and Asian (13.2) women.

Doula support has been shown to improve maternal health outcomes, particularly for women from marginalized communities. Research indicates that women who receive support from a doula during childbirth are more likely to engage with their healthcare providers, have lower rates of cesarean deliveries, and experience greater success with breastfeeding. This kind of personalized, continuous support has been proven to reduce stress and promote a more positive birthing experience.

TrueCare’s doula program is built on trauma-informed care and prevention. By providing, education, advocacy, and emotional support, TrueCare doulas empower women to make informed decisions about their birthing plans and navigate any challenges they may face during pregnancy and beyond. The doulas also empower patients to advocate for themselves in every stage of labor, ensuring that their voices are heard and respected.

TrueCare doulas, trained by the San Diego County Midwives Doula Program, assist patients’ hand-in-hand with their provider from prenatal to post-natal care, in addition to offering loss support. These vital services have traditionally been accessible only to those who can afford the out-of-pocket cost. TrueCare’s unique program makes doulas available at low- to no-cost to all patients enrolled in the health center’s prenatal program, including those with Medi-Cal or private insurance, as well as self-paying patients.

In addition, TrueCare’s doulas are bilingual, offering services in both English and Spanish to accommodate the diverse communities they serve in North County. This ensures that language barriers do not affect a woman’s ability to comfortably express her needs and access the support and information essential for their care.

With the continued growth of the program, TrueCare is striving to create a more equitable healthcare landscape for women in North San Diego and South Riverside Counties. By addressing the root causes of maternal health inequities and providing comprehensive, culturally sensitive care, the organization is working toward closing the gap in maternal health outcomes and ensuring that every woman, regardless of her race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, receives the support she needs for a healthy birthing experience.

For more information, or to join TrueCare in the advancement of equitable healthcare, please visit truecare.org.