One of the nation’s leading beauty brands has announced an initiative geared toward Black maternal health.
On Thursday, Baby Dove launched a collaborative effort with Sista Midwife Productions, a birth advocacy and consulting agency, to spearhead a directory strictly for expecting mothers in search of a doula.
Dubbed the “Black Doula Directory,” the mission is to address recent national conversations around African American women, who are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications compared to their White counterparts.
The directory will focus on providing Black mothers with the tools and resources to significantly improve the health outcomes for women before, during and after the birthing process.
“The Black Doula Directory provides access to doulas, (women, typically without formal obstetric training, employed to provide guidance and support to a pregnant woman during labor) to improve health outcomes during the birthing experience,” according to a Happi report. “Research shows that with the support of a doula, moms are two times less likely to experience birth complications, four times less likely to have a low-birth-weight baby and are more likely to experience overall positive health outcomes during the birthing journey.”
The directory comes on the heels of Dove’s recent efforts to close the Black maternal care gap while providing access to Black doulas from all over the world, including Canada, Australia, England and Germany. At the time of this writing, there are more than 1,000 qualified Black doulas available to assist expecting mothers, with the intent to double the number by 2024.
“At Baby Dove, we believe Black moms have the right to superior care at every step of their journey, which means making quality care accessible and affordable is a top priority in closing the Black maternal care gap in the US,” Neha Minj, brand director for Baby Dove told Happi. “We are hopeful that the Black Doula Directory, created in partnership with Sista Midwife Productions, will limit barriers to accessing Black doulas who can provide quality care to Black families across the country.”
Founder of Sista Midwife Productions, Nicole Deggins, CNM, MSN, MPH echoed Minj’s sentiments, adding that “providing an easier way for Black families to identify and connect with Black doulas who look like them and have similar lived experiences is a critical part of improving Black maternal health outcomes and experiences.”
She continued: “Having access to qualified Black doulas, can allow for Black moms and birthing families to be even more empowered to make decisions about their birthing experience and care.”
To learn more about the joint initiative with Sista Midwife Productions, please visit here and feel free to let them know Shine My Crown sent you!
