Doula Program
Doula Services
We are committed to supporting members and their families before, during, and after pregnancy. As our members’ healthcare partner, we now offer doula services.
Blue Shield Promise doula services are part of our effort to improve access to pregnancy care. Our goal is a healthy outcome for parent and baby.
What is a doula?
Doulas are birth workers who provide help to birthing persons through pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. They can also help in the event of miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion. Doula services are in addition to medical care from your obstetrician or midwife.
How a doula helps during pregnancy
During pregnancy, doulas can connect you with community resources and help you create a birth plan. They can also help you with birthing techniques.
How a doula helps during labor and delivery
Your doula is present during childbirth for physical and emotional support. A doula is your advocate. They help you talk with hospital staff and make sure your wishes are known. They also provide nonmedical help with labor.
How a doula helps after pregnancy
A doula can help you with breastfeeding, healing, and recovery. They can offer advice on infant care for up to 12 months after the end of pregnancy. A doula also provides support for a stillbirth, miscarriage, or abortion.
Your covered services
Doula services require a written recommendation from your primary care doctor or other licensed provider of the healing arts.
To allow better access to doula services, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Medical Director, Karen Mark, MD, provided a standing recommendation for the initial set of doula services for any Medi-Cal member who is pregnant or was pregnant within the past year.
The standing recommendation allows the following visits:
- 1 initial visit with your doula
- Up to 8 additional visits; these can be a combination of prenatal and postpartum visits
- Support during labor and delivery (including labor and delivery resulting in a stillbirth), abortion or miscarriage
- Up to 2 three-hour postpartum visits; these are in addition to the 9 visits above (1 initial, 8 prenatal/postpartum)
Members can get doula services up to 12 months after the end of pregnancy.
If you need more doula visits, up to nine additional post-partum visits are available with a second recommendation. Please call your primary care doctor or our Maternity Care Management team for assistance.
To get started, please reach out to the Blue Shield Promise Maternity Care Management team at (888) 802-4410 (TTY: 711). We are here from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time, Monday through Friday.