Doulas and Midwives Combat Statistics by Supporting Expecting Black, Hispanic and Non-White Mothers Amidst Pandemic
The demand for doulas and midwives has increased. (Picture by Nappy.co)
As the nation moves forward in new normals, inquiries for doulas and midwives have increased. More states are adapting to the needs of pregnant women in today's climate. Expecting mothers are faced with various considerations that may not have been present before COVID. Virtual visits replaced in-person prenatal classes. Hospitals are ensuring women in labor will not mix with patients in the emergency room. And, some hospitals are adopting no-visitor policies for women giving birth.
In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Stork Maternity Consulting offers postpartum doula support, lactation support, nanny assistance, massage therapy and classes for expecting and postpartum families. The facility allows two support persons during labor/delivery, one which can be a labor doula.
Kayla Anderson. (Picture provided by Kayla Anderson)
Kayla Anderson, a postpartum Registered Nurse and postpartum doula for Stork Maternity Consulting, said she has witnessed a change in most of her patients.
"I would say the pandemic has affected mothers in various ways," Anderson said. "Pregnancy is generally a rollercoaster of emotions. The presence of COVID has intensified the experience for many."
According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2020 report, pregnant women are more likely to be infected with the virus, specifically Black and Brown mothers. This is in addition to the increasing rates of women dying each year due to pregnancy or childbirth in the United States. The maternal death rate among Black women was 37.1 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2018.
“A challenge I see is a mothers' unwillingness to release their expectations or beliefs regarding the birthing/postpartum experience. The fewer expectations, within reason, the better,” said Anderson.
To combat these results and change the projective to a more positive one, Clinical Director Jodilyn Owen and Co-Founder Tara Lawal of Rainier Valley Midwives wanted to guide Black, Hispanic, Indigenous and other non-white expecting mothers.
"We saw a significant increase in the number of inquiries from expectant mothers," Owen said. "We wanted to do our part to help women give birth in a safe environment amid the pandemic."
Rainier Valley Midwives is located in Seattle, Washington and is a healthcare facility that provides community-based, reproductive and pregnancy care. Unlike doulas who provide emotional, physical and mental health support for mothers, midwives have medical training and focus on birthing a healthy baby. Both are needed and are based on preference.
The facility partners with obstetrics nurses and visits homes to run newborn screenings. They also check on wound healing, assess vitals for mom and baby, and conduct postpartum mental-health screenings.
Krystal Brown. (Picture taken from Facebook)
Anderson, Owen and Lawal aren’t the only ones who understand that this is a trying time for expectant mothers. Krystal Brown is working to make changes from within the inside by recently purchasing Lovers Lane Birth Center in Richardson, Texas.
Lovers Lane Birth Center is a midwife center. Brown had been working for the center for two years before transitioning to Executive Director making her the owner of the 11th Black-owned birthing center in the U.S.
Her goal is to bring more exposure to the center, so mothers can know about all of the resources available. She wants to give mothers a “full look” to make an informed decision. For example, Gestational diabetes—a form of high blood sugar affecting pregnant women—is a common and treatable cause of pregnancy, but most women don’t know what it is and the options available.
“We discuss everything we’re going to do before we do it,” said Brown. “I’m very informal with them. I want you to feel like you can talk to me. I talk to you like I talk to my mama [because] when you’re uncomfortable you don’t share.”
Brown encourages her patients to educate themselves, but to also know that they can reach out if needed.
“You don’t know what you don’t know,” she said. “We’re here and we got options.”
The intimacy of meeting in person makes Brown question what community is anymore, but she’s working to keep that community feeling alive through virtual tours, and small in-person center visits.
If you’re looking for more information on doulas and midwives, visit Stork Maternity Consulting here, or Rainier Valley Midwives here, or Lovers Lane Birth Center here.