Black women are dying exponentially in childbirth.
Black children are dying disproportionately at birth.
Black women are most likely to get fibroids, cysts, and other complications that lead to the need for early sterilization (hysterectomy).
Black people are most likely to be misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed by non-Black doctors.
Enter: Doula
A doula is a trained companion who is not a healthcare professional and who supports another individual through a significant health-related experience, such as pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and breastfeeding.
Mothers with doulas are28% less likely to have Cesarean sections (reducing risk associated with major surgery)
31% less likely to use synthetic Oxytocin (labor-inducing medicine, e.g., Pitocin)
9% less likely to have pain medicine (i.e., epidural)
34% more likely to rate their birth experience favorably
EVERY TEEN BIRTHGIVER SHOULD HAVE A DOULA. We need to train, certify, and mobilize Black doulas into our communities for the sake of Black birth givers and their babies.
