More Black women choosing doulas to combat high maternal mortality rates

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Louisiana ranks second when it comes to maternal death rates, and Black women make up more than 60% of those deaths. Now many Black women are choosing to have doulas during their birthing process to try and lower that number.

"Birthing doesn't have to be a scary thing, but we do have to make some changes, and those changes that start with us," said Courtney Anderson, a registered nurse and founder of My Mommy My Baby.

Anderson says pregnancy should be an exciting and joyous time but can be one of the scariest for Black women.

"When they become pregnant, they have fear, 'Oh my god, I have to go into this system that I already don't trust, they're not going to listen to me, what's going to be the outcome?'," said Anderson.

Statistics from the Louisiana Department of Health show four Black mothers die for every white mother in our state.

"Having a provider that looks like you is important in receiving care," said Victoria Williams with Birthmark Doula Collective.

Williams says more African American women are moving toward doulas. The National Institute of Health says that 60% of doulas said that 50% or more of their patients are Black women.

Louisiana ranks 47 out of 48 in maternal mortality rates of all races, exceeding the national average. This is something Williams says can change with the right advocacy.

"All births should be just births, without a collective community, we can't stick with that message," added Williams.

According to LDH, racial disparities do exist and Black women only made up 37% of all births in Louisiana, yet Black women accounted for 62% of all pregnancy-associated deaths. LDH says many of those deaths were preventable.

"The disparities come because it's structural racism, it's advocating for their needs and knowing they can advocate for those needs."

More information on Birthmark Doula Collective and My Mommy My Baby can be found on their websites.