Why Black Doulas Matter
We need to speak the uncomfortable truth that women—and especially black women—are too often not heard or taken seriously by our maternity system. Doulas can help and that may be even more important (urgent even) for black families.
You might be surprised to read that black women who are giving birth are FOUR TIMES more likely to die from a birth related issue than their white counterparts. (In the state of Illinois, black women are SIX TIMES more likely to suffer from a birth related death than a white women.) That’s not good, but it is the reality that families of color face.
This reality is not linked to socio-economics - which is everyone’s quick answer to explain the poorer outcomes. Research consistently shows that black and minority women cannot earn or educate their way out of this reality because it is linked to systematic racism.
We see you.
As doulas, we don’t treat everyone the same. One of the unique things doulas do, and one of the things that makes our work so valuable is that we provide relational support. That means we work with the person (people) sitting in front of us. We find out how they want to be cared for and supported during their pregnancy and birth and help it happen. We are there in your home during pregnancy, possibly during early labor and through every shift change at a hospital birth. We know the families we work with and our work with families look different with each and every family.
If that person sitting in front of us is black, they know it. No one is surprised by their own skin color, and talking about it is a doula must do. Any doula would be remiss if she didn’t address the added risk a black client faces during pregnancy, birth and postpartum - and then helping them meet that reality head on.
Why black doulas?
Black families may choose to hire a black doula simply because they may share a familiarity and understand their story in a deep and personal way. It takes a lot of energy to become a parent, being surrounding with a birth team that already has knowledge of the issues facing black parents protects energy for the actual birth (and parenting) of a baby. Educating people on the issues of being black and giving birth in the US is not the expecting families job and not something that is their responsibility as they work with a doula. Hiring a black doula eliminates this concern saving energy for other things - and there are so many other things when a baby is coming.
That being said. A black birthing person can choose whoever they want as their support, and that may not always be a black doula.
The all black birth team in DFW.
In DFW, it is possible to have an all black birth team. OB, midwife, doula, childbirth educator, photographer, chiropractor, belly binder…all of color. It’s a really cool thing that not a lot of other places have yet. Could we do better her in North Texas? Absolutely, and we are working on it.
At Great Expectations, we do have black doulas and black educators and are happy to refer to all the other resources available across our metroplex.
Let us know.
All of us here at Great Expectations love our work, love expecting families and love their new babies. But we see color too. If you are a black family expecting a child, we understand if you desire a black doula. It is also important to us that we have black doulas as part of our team and in our birth network. We hope that when you get in touch with us, if you are looking for a doula of color - that you let us know. We have amazing doulas we can connect you with on our team!
