Did You Know? Medicaid Covers Birth Doulas in Washington State!
- petrinolyndsey
- Jun 27
- 3 min read
By Llamamma Mothercare | www.llamammamothercare.com
If you’re pregnant in Vancouver, Washington, and enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid), here’s something powerful you might not know:
You can receive doula support—at no cost to you.
That’s right. Thanks to changes in how Washington State supports birthing families, Medicaid will now pay for doulas to walk alongside you during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Let’s break down what that really means—and how it could support your birth story.
What is a Doula?
A doula is a trained support person who offers emotional, physical, and informational care throughout pregnancy, labor, and early parenting.
We’re not doctors or midwives—we don’t catch babies or make medical decisions. Instead, we walk with you through the entire process, helping you feel grounded, informed, and supported.
At Llamamma Mothercare, our doulas offer heart-centered care that honors your intuition, your body, and your choices.
What Does a Doula Do?
Here’s what you can expect from doula support:
During Pregnancy:
Help preparing your birth plan
Guidance on comfort measures and labor positions
Emotional support for fears or questions
Local resource referrals (childbirth education, lactation, mental health, etc.)
During Labor:
In-person, continuous support from early labor through delivery
Comfort techniques (massage, breathwork, counterpressure, rebozo, etc.)
Encouragement for both birthing person and partner
Helping you understand your options in the moment
After Baby Arrives:
Postpartum visits at home
Help with feeding (breast/chest or bottle)
Recovery support, emotional check-ins, baby care basics
Connection to mental health, lactation, or parenting resources
Why Does Doula Care Matter?
Birth doulas are more than just “nice to have.”
They’ve been shown to make a real difference in outcomes—especially for people facing medical bias, trauma, poverty, or limited access to care.
Evidence shows doula care leads to:
Shorter labors
Lower rates of cesarean birth
Fewer interventions (like Pitocin or epidurals)
Higher birth satisfaction
Increased breastfeeding success
Lower postpartum depression rates
Why Is Medicaid Paying for Birth Doulas Now?
The Washington State Health Care Authority (which oversees Medicaid/Apple Health) made this change to reduce health disparities—especially for BIPOC families and low-income birthing people who face higher risks in pregnancy and birth.
It’s part of a larger movement to bring equity and community-centered care into our healthcare system.
Who Qualifies?
If you’re pregnant and enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid), you qualify for birth doula services.
If your baby is less than 12 months old you qualify for a doula.
No referral is needed.
All you need to do is find a doula who is approved to bill Medicaid in Washington.
Llamamma Mothercare is an approved provider.
We offer heart-centered, culturally responsive doula care to Apple Health families in Vancouver and Clark County.
Why Llamamma?
At Llamamma Mothercare, we center your experience. Our approach is gentle, trauma-informed, and rooted in relationship. You are never just a “patient”—you are a whole person navigating one of the most sacred transitions in life.
We especially welcome:
First-time parents
Survivors of trauma
People in recovery
LGBTQ+ families
Single parents
Teens and young adults
Medicaid-eligible families
Ready to Learn More?
We’d be honored to walk this path with you.
Serving Vancouver + Clark County, WA
Accepting Apple Health (Medicaid)
Sliding scale available for private pay clients
Because you deserve to be seen, heard, and held in birth.
You don’t have to do this alone—and now, you don’t have to pay to get the care you deserve.
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