Black Birth Equity Fund: Action for Black Maternal Health

As part of our commitment to help close the gap in care and improve health outcomes – for Black expectant mothers, birthing individuals, and their babies – we have started the Black Birth Equity Fund. We hope to help open up access to doula services as lifesaving care. If you’re an expectant Black mom or birthing individual, or want to apply for a Black birthing person in your life, apply for a grant hereclick here to apply for grant.  

On our mission to catalyze systemic change, we’re also collaborating with leading advocacy groups like Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA). Together, we can advance superior care – with and for Black moms and birthing people.

Did you know

• Black women are 3-5x more likely to die of pregnancy related causes than white women¹
• 60% (or more) of pregnancy related deaths could have been prevented ²
• Black babies are 2x more likely to die a premature death compared to white babies³

Today, the US has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the developing world. Black women are more likely than White, Asian or Latina women to die from pregnancy-related complications, no matter their income or education level. There are so many factors that come into play, but one reason is that a number of Black moms and birthing individuals do not have the same access to or quality of care. And the heartbreaking truth? Many of these deaths could’ve been prevented.

That’s why doulas are so important – to help close the Black maternal care gap, and in turn help to reduce Black maternal mortality. A birth doula is trained to give physical, spiritual, and emotional support during the birthing process. And after birth, a postpartum doula continues this non-medical support. A certified doula is a communicator: from helping moms and birthing individuals express any concerns or feelings to flagging conditions that might usually go unchecked in a child birthing situation. This is where a doula is so vital for Black moms and birthing individuals – making sure no issue goes unnoticed. The benefits of a doula can be endless, and lifesaving.

Looking for help in navigating your perinatal journey? To find the right doula for you, we recommend searching through the National Black Doulas Association. Their team connects Black birthing families with the support they’re looking for.

How the Black Birth Equity Fund is helping close the Maternal Care Gap

Our fund is designed to give hundreds of Black expectant mothers and birthing individuals access to lifesaving support through doula services. It’s an initial step in our efforts to close the Maternal Care Gap. To kickstart our efforts, we initially pledged $250K USD in 2021, and are now proud to officially announce our doubled investment as of September 2022 –  totaling $500K USD.

We’re honored to partner with leading advocates such as the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) to help progress superior care and ignite more structural change. The Black women-led organization is on a mission to shift culture around Black maternal health, rights, and justice for the better.

Get Involved

Follow @BabyDoveCare and visit hereclick here to apply for grant to apply for our grant if you are a Black expectant mom or birthing individual. And if you have baby showers coming up, choose our gift set to care for your new mom and their little one, and support Black maternal health across the US.

Sources

1. Petersen EE, Davis NL, Goodman D, et al. Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Pregnancy-Related Deaths — United States, 2007–2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2019;68:762–765. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6835a3external icon

2. Gruber, K. J., Cupito, S. H., & Dobson, C. F. (2013). Impact of doulas on healthy birth outcomes. The Journal of Perinatal Education. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3647727/

3. IBID