We need to speak an uncomfortable truth. Women—and especially black women—are too often not heard or cared for well in our maternity system. Doulas are a part of the solution and doulas may be even more important (urgent even) for black families.

You may be surprised to find out that black women are FOUR TIMES more likely to die from a birth related issue than their white peers. (In the state of Illinois, black women are SIX TIMES more likely to suffer a birth related death than a white woman.) Those are terrible statistics, but that is the reality that families of color face.

Recognizing risk is the first step to mitigating risk.

These statistics are not linked to socio-economics - which is everyone’s quick answer to explain the disparity in outcomes. In fact, research consistently shows that black women cannot earn or educate their way out of this reality.

We see you.

As doulas, we don’t treat everyone the same - we shouldn’t. One of the things that makes working with a doula so valuable is that we provide relational support. That means doulas work with the person (people) sitting in front of us. We find out how each family wants 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 not addressing the added risk a black client faces during pregnancy, birth and postpartum - and then helping their client meet that reality head on.

Why black doulas?

Black families want to work with a black doula as they may have familiarity and understand their story in a personal way. It takes a lot of energy to become a parent, having a birth team that brings knowledge of the issues facing black parents can protect energy for the actual birth (and parenting) of a baby. Educating a doula on the issues of racial disparity in birth is not the job of expecting families. Hiring a black doula eliminates this concern while allows energy for other things - and there is no shortage of 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 or may not be a black doula..

Let us know.

All of us here at Great Expectations love our work, love expecting families and love their new babies. And we see color. If you are a black family expecting a child, we are educated on maternal mortality rates and what it means to black families, we also 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!

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