Helen Diallo, a Monterey resident, intimately understands the mix of emotions that come with pregnancy and childbirth, having experienced both joy and heartache. As an African American woman, Diallo empathizes with the fears and anxieties that many expectant mothers of African ancestry face. Drawing from her own experiences, she has been supporting pregnant and postpartum women through a WhatsApp group, connecting them with experts and each other.
Now, Diallo is taking her passion a step further by pursuing certification as a doula through a program at the Parenting Connection of Monterey County (PCMC). Studies have shown that trained doulas can significantly improve birth outcomes and reduce anxiety for pregnant women, leading to fewer C-sections.
The road to recruiting doulas for Medi-Cal patients in Monterey County hasn’t been easy. It took incentives and bonuses to entice doulas to sign on as providers, with only two doulas joining in April after over a year of efforts. However, a recent $800,000 grant from the Central California Alliance for Health to PCMC aims to change this by establishing a training program and support hub for doulas.
PCMC will offer paid training for doula trainees, mentorship, continuing education, and assistance with billing once the trainees become certified. By providing emotional and financial support, the program hopes to address the burnout and challenges that doulas often face in their work.
With the collaborative efforts of PCMC, along with other nonprofit partners, such as the Maternal Mental Health Task Force and Birth Network of Monterey County, the initiative has successfully recruited trainees who are eager to make a difference in maternal care. Diallo, along with many other trainees, sees this opportunity as a way to support mothers during their vulnerable yet magical journey of bringing new life into the world.
Source: Monterey County Now
