Elevate Community-based Doula Work

Over the past five months, I’ve been lucky enough to interview the doulas at BirthMatters and hear their stories. One thing has been made abundantly clear: community doulas provide invaluable and necessary support for mothers of color. 

I imagine that the prospect of giving birth and bringing a baby into your life is terrifying for most, even more so now as we enter year three of the COVID pandemic. Black maternal mortality rates continue to rise and women of color have become more vocal in sharing their difficult birthing stories. The medical system is not designed with women nor mothers as a priority – mothers of color especially. As a Black woman, I’ve seen firsthand from families and friends that navigating the experiences of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum require a type of care that doctors aren’t providing. Community doulas are filling this gap through support, education, and most importantly, companionship. 

Research shows that prenatal education and feelings of autonomy are associated with positive recollection of birth experiences. Any of the doulas at BirthMatters will tell you that educating and providing the tools for self-advocacy is crucial in maintaining a sense of choice and control before, during and after birth. I would go even further and say the reliability and trust mothers can place into their doulas helps provide the confidence to self-advocate and feel empowered throughout all aspects of pregnancy and postpartum. 

It’s difficult to encapsulate the full impact of a doula, but I will try: a community doula is a pillar of support, a friend you can call on, and a source to inspire strength. Even though I have never experienced a pregnancy, they inspire me to be a better support for my community and give me hope for the future of maternal care.

Written by:

Courtney Brown (BirthMatters Fellow), Brown University