| Support Letter for HR.633 11S..2465 the Delivering Optimally
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Urgent Labor Access (DOULA) for Veterans Affairs Act of
2A23. This bill would establish a pilot program with the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide pregnant and
post-parturn women veterans access to doula service in an
effort to foster better child and unmaternal health outcomes.
Pregnancy labor and delivery and the early days of
motherhood can be difficult in the best of circumstances but
for women veterans they can be further complicated by
physical and mental health conditions related to military
service-this includes anxiety depression PTS due to combat
or military sexual trauma musculoskeletal problems and
neurological issues. Doulas act as advocates before during
and after pregnancy helping expectant and new mothers
navigate their birth experience and empowering them to
self-advocate for their care. |