title: The Impact of a Volunteer Postpartum Doula Program on Breastfeeding Success: A Case Study.
abstract: Bloomington Area Birth Services (BABS), centered in Bloomington, Indiana, is a community-based program that provides comprehensive education and support for new breastfeeding mothers, infants, family members, and the community by working together with local hospitals, midwives, obstetricians, pediatric offices, and social service agencies to create a seamless continuity of care for families. To help with continuity of care in the community, BABS established a volunteer doula program (birth and postpartum), allowing BABS to combine the services of a community lactation center with birth and postpartum doulas. This article describes the volunteer doula program and highlights one client's story in an effort to encourage and motivate other communities to focus their limited dollars on the development of a volunteer doula program.
authors.affiliation: Bloomington Area Birth Services, Inc, Bloomington, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Georg'ann
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cattelona
authors.affiliation: Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA cfriesen@bsu.edu.
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Friesen
authors.affiliation: Indiana State Department of Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Laura J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Hormuth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D059037:Doulas; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support; D014838:Volunteers
keywords: breastfeeding; breastfeeding support; centralized perinatal services; doula services; lactation consultants; postpartum doula