Doula care has become essential to maternal health services. A doula can offer non-medical physical, emotional, and informational services to expectant mothers during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. Doulas also play a crucial role in improving birth outcomes and providing culturally competent care, particularly for Black women, women of color and immigrants.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women in the U.S. are three times more likely to die during childbirth than white women. In New York City, this disparity is even more pronounced, with Black expectant mothers being nine times more likely to die due to pregnancy or childbirth complications compared to their white counterparts.
Women like Charline Ogbeni and ChrisAnn Williams-Lawrence recently shared the story of giving birth in New York, and as women of color, their fears and concerns resonated similarly. Both women expressed feeling unheard and uncared for during their hospital stays, and if not for the support of their doulas, their childbirth experiences would have been significantly more traumatic.
This personalized care model helps bridge the gaps in traditional medical systems, addressing disparities and ensuring that all mothers receive the attention and support they deserve.
Given the alarming statistics highlighting the urgent need for alternative maternal healthcare, the following organizations and programs are working to improve birth outcomes through doula services and culturally competent care.
Supporting Our Mothers Initiative (SOMI)
The Supporting Our Mothers Initiative (SOMI), founded by Charline Ogbeni in 2021, offers comprehensive doula services. Charline, a birthing and postpartum doula and lactation specialist, provides emotional support, advocacy, and assistance to families from the prenatal stage to pre-college, focusing on improving outcomes for Black women. Based in Queens, New York, Charline travels throughout the state to offer her services.
Services include:
- Arranging doctor’s appointments
- Preparing meals
- Managing household chores
- Offering extensive, customized support to meet the specific needs of mothers
For more information or to apply, visit SOMI’s website.
Ancient Song: Championing Birth Justice for Black and Latinx Communities
Ancient Song is a national birth justice organization committed to eliminating maternal and infant mortality and morbidity among Black and Latinx communities. Their mission is to ensure that all pregnant, postpartum, and parenting individuals of color have access to high-quality, holistic doula care and services, regardless of their ability to pay. Through their comprehensive doula training, community education, and robust advocacy for policy change, Ancient Song tirelessly supports reproductive and birth justice. Their efforts aim to provide equitable care and support for all, fostering healthier outcomes for mothers and infants.
- Antepartum Doula
- Birth Doula
- Postpartum Doula
- Support for Abortion and Loss
For more information, please contact Ancient Song at 347-778-3490 or email info@ancientsongdoulaservices.com
Caribbean Women’s Health Association (CWHA)
The Caribbean Women’s Health Association (CWHA) is dedicated to reducing infant and maternal mortality and improving overall health outcomes through community-based initiatives in neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by these issues. CWHA provides essential services to at-risk pregnant, postpartum, and interconceptional women/birthing people, their infants, families, and young adults. Through outreach, care coordination and support, community events, workshops, and training, CWHA aims to increase knowledge and empower the community.
Services include:
- Infant-safe sleep practices
- Breastfeeding education and support
- Parenting skills development
- Women’s health services, focusing on chronic disease prevention and management and reducing intimate partner/domestic violence
- Birth justice advocacy
- Buffering the effects of toxic stress and trauma, including care coordination and referrals
- Labor and delivery support, including free birth and postpartum doulas
Please visit the Caribbean Women’s Health Association website for more information.
By Your Side NYC Doula Program
The By Your Side NYC Doula Program is part of a larger initiative by New York State to address maternal health disparities. Launched with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul, the program includes a Medicaid Fee-for-Service Doula Directory and allocates $4.5 million to regional perinatal centers. This program ensures high-quality perinatal and infant care, covering doula services for pregnant, birthing, and postpartum mothers.
For more information or to apply, visit NYC.gov.
Citywide Doula Initiative (CDI)
Mayor Eric Adams has increased funding for maternal and infant health initiatives to $30 million annually, including the Citywide Doula Initiative (CDI). Since its inception in 2022, CDI has provided in-person and virtual doula support to 953 families. Participants in the program have experienced lower rates of cesarean sections and preterm births compared to the citywide averages.
To enroll in the Citywide Doula Initiative or to see if you are eligible for services, email CDI@health.nyc.gov or call 1-844-653-3852 (1-844-OK-DOULA)
The availability of doula services and initiatives across New York City signifies a critical step towards addressing maternal health disparities and improving outcomes for Black women, women of color and immigrants.
Also Read: Caribbean Doulas Empower Black Women And Their Maternal Health Journeys in NYC
