Fact:
Nearly 30% of teen mothers will be pregnant again in their teen years.
The Community-Based Doula Project

The Community-Based Doula Project
The Community Based Doula Project began in December 2002 and continues today in partnership between the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (G-CAPP) and Families First.

The Community-Based Doula Project provides home-based services to pregnant adolescents ages 10 to 19. Services are offered in English and Spanish in the Southeast Atlanta, Southwest Atlanta, and Tri-Cities communities.

What is a Doula?
A Doula is a woman from the local community, recruited and trained to provide emotional and physical support to both the teen mother and baby during pregnancy, delivery, and the weeks after birth

  • Doulas are extensively-trained paraprofessionals whose primary function is to offer non-clinical support for both the young mother and the child.
  • Doulas counsel the pregnant teens and their families on the birthing process, breastfeeding, encouraging the mother-child relationship and child and infant development.
  • Doulas do not replace a midwife, the father, or the grandparents. They enhance the experience of childbearing.
  • Doulas live where they work. The advantage of having a Doula who is recruited from the same neighborhood is her ability to understand the spoken language, and share values, attitudes and experiences with the girls she serves.
  • Doulas impact health care. With a Doula’s support and knowledge of the birthing process, young women can better access prenatal care, develop a birth plan, and choose to breastfeed.

    What difference does a Doula make?
    Research shows parents who receive Doula support:

    • have a lower incidence of emergency c-sections
    • have shorter labors with fewer complications
    • feel more secure and cared for
    • are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
    • have greater success with breastfeeding
    • have greater self-confidence
    • have less postpartum depression
    • have lower incidence of abuse
    • have significantly better maternal and infant health at six weeks after birth
    Community-Based Doula Outcome Data
    In 2007, G-CAPP Doulas provided support to 104 teen mothers. When comparing the outcomes of the doula clients with Georgia data, it becomes evident that the G-CAPP Community-Based Doula Project improves maternal child health outcomes and saves Georgia tax payers money due to lower delivery complications.
    • 15% of the doula teen clients had c-sections compared to 30% of women in Georgia, saving more than $5000 per birth.
    • 5% of births to doula teen clients were of low birth weight, compared to 13.5% of births to GA teens, saving at least $14,500 per birth.
    • 64% of doula teen clients initiated breastfeeding compared 56% of US teens, saving families at least $100 per month in the cost of formula.
    • 96% of participants expressed that services received effectively addressed their unique needs.
    • 96% of participants felt that their overall family circumstances are better now than before or are getting better because of the Community-Based Doula project.

    For more information or to make a referral please call the Doula House at 404-477-0500.

    For more Doula information:
    www.dona.org
    www.cappa.net
    www.childbirthinternational.com
    www.birthworks.org
    Please be aware that these links do not constitute endorsement.

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