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About Us
The Doula Exchange is owned and managed by a certified nurse midwife who is also a certified doula who has
been caring for women and pregnant individuals in North Carolina for more than 20 years. We are excited to
partner with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina to offer doula services as a covered benefit for their FEP
members. Our objective is to empower pregnant people to actively participate in and make informed decisions
about their bodies, pregnancies, babies, and births. Our doulas are committed to providing comprehensive, compassionate support throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, ensuring that families
feel supported throughout their journey.
This partnership creates opportunities for doulas to educate, support, and advocate for families across North Carolina who might otherwise lack access to these vital services. This initiative marks a significant step toward addressing
health inequities, particularly as North Carolina undergoes transformative changes in its Medicaid and healthcare systems. We are paving the way for a more equitable and supportive maternal/perinatal healthcare
landscape for all families in our community.
Together, we will enhance the impact of doula support and demonstrate our appreciation for the vital work that doulas provide. We are committed to helping hospitals and providers understand the true value of doula services,
ensuring that these dedicated professionals receive fair and appropriate compensation.
The Core Team
A strong doula-client relationship is grounded in trust and lived experience increases a pregnant person's involvement in their care and decision-making, resulting in overall improved outcomes.
Our Mission
The Doula Exchange is committed to increasing positive birth outcomes for women and gender-expansive birthing people. Offering high-quality, personalized support throughout the prenatal, labor, and postpartum periods. We aim to promote a positive birthing experience by fostering a supportive environment that respects each client's unique needs and preferences.
We will continue to strive to improve the birth outcome for all birthing people and change the narrative of perinatal health disparity for Black and Brown communities
The Goal of the Partnership
The Doula Exchange partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC aims to achieve the following key objectives:
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Ensure that all pregnancies reach full term (37 weeks or more)
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Enhance overall member experience and satisfaction
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Improved infant APGAR scores
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Striving for infant birth weights to be 6 pounds or more
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Promote and support breastfeeding or chestfeeding
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Reduced NICU admissions
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Decrease readmissions for birthing parent
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Faster, stronger parent-infant bonding
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Lower cesarean section rates
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Mitigate postpartum depression and anxiety
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Achieve zero perinatal and infant mortality and morbidity
Striving toward these objectives will foster a more supportive environment for families,
resulting in a healthier and happier community as a whole.
Venus Standard
MSN, CNM, APRN, FACNM, LCCE, CD(DONA)
CEO & Founder
Lynell Hodges
Tamala Grissett
Shauda Fennell
Shawna Howard
MPH
BA
BA, CD(DONA)
MPH, CD(DONA)
Nikia Lawson
BSW, MA, CD/BDT(DONA)
BS, LCCE, FACCE, IBCLC,
CD/BDT(DONA)
BA, CD(DONA)
MPH, CD(DONA)
Tonya Daniel
Tiara White
Asia Brannon
Dr. Sapna Varkey
PhD, MPA
Program Manager
Doula Trainer
Doula Trainer
Data Evaluation Specialist
Director of Community Engagement
Director of Doula Engagement & Certification
Client Support Specialist
Program Intern
Program Intern
Danielle W. Murray
BS, CD(DONA)
Social Media Manager
