Celebrating Our Black Doulas

It’s black history month but today on the blog we are also focusing on the present and celebrating the Black doulas on the DPG team!

No one reading this should be surprised why it’s so important to celebrate black doulas and why black women especially need doulas! In case you or someone you know needs reminding of reasons why we need more black doulas, check out this HuffPost article or this Parents magazine article.   

In celebration, here are some wise-women quotes from our amazing team:

“As a black birth worker and mother, I understand the obstacles we as black birthing women face in the birth rooms, but what about the racism and ignorance we receive a birth workers? I recently attended a birth of white client, and while I sat by her bed, supporting her through her labor, her white mother decided to grab my braids in her hand and closely inspect them. She asked a series of questions ranging from how its done, how long do I keep my hair like this, and “is it your hair or yarn?” As I uncomfortably shifted in my chair, my smile waning, I brushed off her comments and tried to remain professional and keep space for my laboring client. Her mother also continued with the microaggression and inappropriate comments as we discussed hair color of the soon to be born baby (black, blonde or red), as she asked (with a wink) “Oh what color were both of your babies born with?” There was no longer strength to muster up a smile. I stared at her with a blank look on my face.

As black people, we tend to brush off comments, questioning their intentions, and if we heard what we thought we did. Not to risk being told we are “playing the race card” or being “overly sensitive,” even though our instincts are usually right.

Black women, as birth workers and birthing persons, I encourage you to stay strong as we continue to bring awareness to the disparities that face our community and fight for equality and respect in all birthing spaces.”- Jacquelin Knigton in her blog Diary of a Black Birthworker

“As a black woman who is also a doula and lactation consultant my main goal is to inform and educate! I’m a firm believer in allowing people to make the best choices for themselves but that can not occur without increasing the knowledge on birthing and breastfeeding.  Discussing my professions with my family and friends has allowed me to help them process and analyze birthing experiences from present day to over 30 years ago. A consistent theme in my family includes women not knowing what to expect and therefore not being able to effectively advocate for themselves… but that has changed!

As a black doula it brings me so much joy to serve black families and create a pattern of informed decision making! That alone keeps our other families safer and allows for us to be empowered in birthing.  It creates an expectation and a blueprint for generations to come! I hope that we continue to do the work, to reach back to those being reared behind us and share the knowledge of birthing. “- Charnise Littles, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Birth Doula

“Space needs to be held to allow for black mothers to be held, loved and nurtured so that she can hold, love and nurture her baby.  Oftentimes that space holder is a black doula.”- Kim Stinger, Licensed Massage Therapist, Placenta Encapsulator, Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula

“Birth inequities don’t have to exist, but they do.  We shouldn’t have a black maternal mortality crisis, but we do.  Black mothers should feel empowered & supported throughout there pregnancy, birth and after delivery, but they often don’t, especially when interfacing with medical staff and navigating through our biased medical system.  Black mothers, their babies and there families should be valued in society, but oten they are not. I am committed to changing the world we live in through my work as a birth doula and holding black mothers up in love, support, and empowerment.  “- Celina Sargusingh Cruz, Birth Doula

“As a doula and a soon to be mama, I feel so blessed to have the knowledge that I have surrounding pregnancy and birth as I embark on this journey into motherhood!  As a black woman, learning of the disparities related to pregnancy and childbirth for black women was eye opening to me and it is one of the main reasons I decided to become a doula.  I take joy in knowing that my child will soon be brought into this world in a calm, safe, supported, and empowering environment, and I am committed to providing nothing less for all my clients!” Lashell Chaffins, Birth Doula