African American pregnant woman and doula or birth support coach. A pregnant woman with pink hair and a pink shirt is smiling and sitting on a sofa on an outdoor patio. Her doula, a mixed-race woman, is kneeling in front of her and touching her round belly. Both women are in their 30s.
Walmart employees can now receive doula services eligible for benefits if they choose to use them during pregnancy. The new policy will reimburse you up to $1,000.
“This benefit covers up to $1,000 for doula services during pregnancy and joins a suite of benefits offered through the Life with Baby program available to employees enrolled in Walmart’s health plan. ” states the 2022 news release. “Life with Baby gives you free access to resources like one-on-one coaching from a nurse, tools to track your daily progress, helpful articles from leading experts, and special baby gifts. Our goal is to make the process of welcoming a new child easier, safer and less stressful.”
The benefits package offering first began in Georgia last summer and was recently expanded to Walmart affiliates in Louisiana, Indiana and Illinois. The company also focuses on infertility treatment through Kindbody, which provides family planning benefits.
As Walmart points out, access to doula care, especially for Black mothers, can lead to better birth outcomes.
“According to the National Black Doula Association (NBDA), having a doula as part of the birth team reduces C-sections by 50%, shortens labor time by 25%, and reduces the need for other medical interventions by more than 50 minutes. %,” the news release states. “Doulas provide physical, emotional, and informational support to birth families. They act as a liaison between medical professionals and families,” said Tracy Collins, NBDA CEO and founder of the organization. and ultimately help foster a healthy birth outcome.”