Dr. Ann Peralta DrPH, MPH

Dr. Ann Peralta (she/her) has spent her career dedicated to empowered decision-making. Ann is the CEO and Founder of Partner to Decide, a non-profit dedicated to improving equitable access to shared decision-making in perinatal care. Ann has an MPH in Maternal and Child Health and a DrPH in Management, Leadership, and Policy from Boston University’s School of Public Health. Ann has worked in maternal, adolescent, and child health for over 15 years. From 2011-2021, Ann worked at Peer Health Exchange, improving and growing their national adolescent health education program, most recently as their Vice President of Partnerships. Before that she led programming at Fitness Forward, a non-profit dedicated to childhood obesity prevention, and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bolivia. She grew passionate about shared decision-making after she was pregnant with her first child and faced the decision herself of if and when to have induction of labor. Her shared decision-making tool on induction of labor has been featured in Emily Oster’s ParentData newsletter, Scary Mommy, Birth, and International Doula.

Session

YOUR CHOICE: A Decision-Making Tool for Induction of Labor

Induction of labor for gestational timing (going beyond 39, 40, or 41 weeks) is a common intervention and one that pregnant and birthing people often feel pressured to have. As doulas, you have a unique role in supporting your client to learn more about induction, and the evidence behind different timing options. Doulas are also in a unique position to support clients in making the choice that is right for them.

In this session, Dr. Ann Peralta (DrPH, MPH) will share a decision aid she created with a team of providers (midwives, obstetricians, family medicine physicians, and nurse practitioners), listening deeply to a very diverse group of pregnant people (the majority people of color, majority people with Medicaid insurance, majority people born outside the US) through interviews.

We will discuss how the decision aid was made, what steps were taken to ensure an equitable improvement in shared decision-making, and how you can use the tool in your doula practice to support people facing the decision of whether or when to have an induction of labor. The decision aid is available in three languages, is written at a grade 6 reading level, and features inclusive language and images.