Hybrid Maternity Clinic Oula Gains Recognition
Oula, a prenatal clinic that blends midwifery and obstetric services, has been named to the 2026 New York Digital Health 100 list. The clinic's model uses digital tools to facilitate communication between patients and care teams for birth planning and personalized support. The recognition reflects a broader trend of combining in-person and virtual care to improve access to maternal healthcare.
- Oula was co-founded in 2019 by Adrianne Nickerson and Elaine Purcell, who developed the concept for the clinic while they were both pregnant and setting out on their own family planning journeys. - The company has raised nearly $50 million in total funding, with a recent $28 million Series B round co-led by Revolution Ventures and Maverick Ventures. Notable investors include Chelsea Clinton's fund, Metrodora, and the Female Founders Fund. - Oula reports a 26% lower C-section rate, a 61% lower preterm birth rate, and a 50% better low birth weight rate compared to New York City benchmarks across its first 1,500 births. - The clinic's collaborative practice aligns with joint statements from the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), which advocate for greater cooperation to improve maternity care. - A retrospective cohort study of over 23,000 low-risk hospital births found that midwifery care was associated with significantly lower rates of intervention, including a 30% lower risk of cesarean delivery in first-time mothers compared to obstetrician-led care. - The emergence of models like Oula occurs as the U.S. maternal mortality rate remains high, with a rate of 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births for Black women in 2023, significantly higher than for other racial groups. Over 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. are considered preventable. - The company accepts most major insurance plans, including Medicaid, which is utilized by one in five of its patients. Oula's patient population is 54% nonwhite or Hispanic, and 10% identify as LGBTQ+. - Oula currently operates three clinics in New York City in partnership with Mount Sinai West and has expanded to Norwalk, Connecticut, in collaboration with Stamford Health. The company plans to use its latest funding to expand to more markets.
