Healthy Moms and Healthy Babies

The Anne Arundel County Department of Health is working to increase the number of healthy pregnancies and healthy babies by promoting awareness and improving access to County health resources. Our goal is for all babies in Anne Arundel County to be born healthy and thrive.

KISS Video Car Seat Assistance Program Appointments



Medicaid Doula Program

African American Woman with Doula

What are doulas?

Are you pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant? If so, a doula could be helpful for you. Doulas provide support and information to birth parents before and after birth, as well as during labor. Your health care provider or your health plan can help find the right doula for you.

A doula, or birth worker, is a trained professional who provides physical, emotional, and informational support to birthing parents. This support can happen before, during, and after birth. Doulas serving Maryland Medicaid members will provide person-centered care that supports their racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity.

Doulas are non-clinical providers, and cannot perform the work of a nurse-midwife, nurse practitioner or doctor.

How do I know if I am eligible for doula services?

To be eligible for doula services, you must meet all the following:

  • ​Be a Maryland Medicaid member
  • ​Be pregnant, or have been pregnant within the last 180 days

Talk to your health care provider or call your health insurance provider for more information, or visit: health.maryland.gov/mmcp/medicaid-mch-initiatives/Pages/DoulaProgram.aspx


CenteringPregnancy Model of Group Prenatal Care

CenteringPregnancy is a group-based prenatal care model in which facilitators support a cohort of eight to ten women of similar gestational age. These visits consist of discussion sessions covering medical and non-medical aspects of pregnancy, including nutrition, common discomforts, stress management, labor and birth, breastfeeding, and infant care.

CenteringPregnancy has been shown effective in:

  • Increasing breastfeeding rates
  • Reducing low birth weight
  • Reducing preterm birth rates
  • Decreasing prenatal visit no-show rates
  • Increasing entry into prenatal care during the first trimester.

CenteringPregnancy has also demonstrated that it is effective among populations of color, who disproportionately experience adverse birth and pregnancy outcomes. An essential element of Centering Pregnancy is its promotion of patient engagement and community-building, a component that can be missing from traditional prenatal care delivery.


Certified CenteringPregnancy Sites in Anne Arundel County

Luminis Health Women's Collaborative Care
Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center Inc.
2000 Medical Parkway
Annapolis, MD 21401
CenteringPregnancy
Accredited
University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Group - Glen Burnie
University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Group
300 Hospital Drive
Ste 130
Glen Burnie, MD 21061
CenteringPregnancy, CenteringParenting
Accredited

Additional Pregnancy Resources